CARBON FOOTPRINT

A. Definition

A carbon footprint is defined as:

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).

In other words: When you drive a car, the engine burns fuel which creates a certain amount of CO2, depending on its fuel consumption and the driving distance. (CO2 is the chemical symbol for carbon dioxide). When you heat your house with oil, gas or coal, then you also generate CO2. Even if you heat your house with electricity, the generation of the electrical power may also have emitted a certain amount of CO2. When you buy food and goods, the production of the food and goods also emitted some quantities of CO2.

B. Carbon Footprint Calculators

1. Transportation

Vehicle #1 (gasoline engine)
How much do you drive per month?	km
Average kilometers per liter	km/liter
Vehicle #2 (gasoline engine)
How much do you drive per month?	km
Average kilometers per liter	km/liter
Vehicle #3 (diesel engine)
How much do you drive per month?	km
Average kilometers per liter	km/liter
How often do you use public transportation per month?
Bus	km
Train	km
Airplane	km

2. Housing

How many square meters is your home?	m2
How many people live in your house?	p
How many kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity do you use per month?	kWh
How many kilograms of natural gas do you use per month?	kg
Muhaini’s Carbon Footprint 1. Transportation How often do you use public transportation per month? Bus km 2. Housing How many square meters is your home? m2 How many people live in your house? p How many kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity do you use per month? kWh How many kilograms of natural gas do you use per month? kg Your total amount of tons of CO2 per year is: 0.12 Roughly equals to plant 0 trees & take care them so they can live for 20-30 years! C. Carbon Footprint in general meaning Carbon Footprint is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide emitted through fossil fuels; it is usually expressed as tons of carbon dioxide or tons of carbon emitted on a yearly basis. Every body is becoming increasingly aware of the amount of natural sources that are consumed which is causing a dangerous impact on the environment and weather. A carbon footprint is "the total set of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions caused by an organization, event or product" [1]. For simplicity of reporting, it is often expressed in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide, or its equivalent of other GHGs, emitted. The concept name of the carbon footprint originates from ecological footprint discussion.[2] The carbon footprint is a subset of the ecological footprint and of the more comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). An individual, nation, or organization's carbon footprint can be measured by undertaking a GHG emissions assessment. Once the size of a carbon footprint is known, a strategy can be devised to reduce it, e.g. by technological developments, better process and product management, changed Green Public or Private Procurement (GPP), Carbon capture, consumption strategies, and others. The mitigation of carbon footprints through the development of alternative projects, such as solar or wind energy or reforestation, represents one way of reducing a carbon footprint and is often known as Carbon offsetting. Benefits By discovering your company's carbon footprint, and implementing a carbon management programme your business can help make a difference. Your company can save money by lowering operating costs and have a better management of resources By completing the carbon footprint, it enables you to set targets and reduce emissions Companies are increasingly looking at environmental factors in identifying the most suitable suppliers Managers can motivate their staff and improve recruitment Get involved with the Carbon disclosure project (CDP) and report on your companies greenhouse gas emissions Meet the environmental demands of investors and bankers Prepare your company to meet future regulations and legislation from packaging and transport, to buildings and energy consumption Demonstrate your commitment to your local community to act responsibly and minimise environmental pollution. D. How to reduce your Carbon Footprint Gardening and Home Use vegetable-based and biodegradeable cleaning products Use recycled wood chips to keep the weeds down, retain moisture, and prevent erosion. Use natural predators to control unwanted growth rather than pesticides which harm the environment. Water grass early in the morning. See more on Water Conservation in Gardens Borrow seldomly used items such as ladders, chain saws, and people. Put leaves in a compost heap instead of burning them or throwing them away. Install water barrels to collect rain water from troughs. Place a small bucket in your sink to collect water when washing produce. Use this water in the garden.       == Reduce---Reuse---Recycle plastic, paper, aluminum, glass Office Work Reduce the need to copy and print. When you need to, copy and print on both sides of the paper Reuse items like envelopes, folders, and paper clips Set up a bulletin board for memos rather than sending copies to each employee Use recycled paper and recycle printer cartridges Use Soy based ink which is very environmentally friendly. Use more reusable water bottles rather than disposable cups. Turn off power strips and lights at the end of the day. Consider flexible work schedules or telecommuting. Switch from paper towels in restrooms to continuous cloth towels (aka cabinet towel dispensers) Transportation Consider using your bike, feet, or mass transportation for most transportation needs Consider purchasing a Hybrid vehicle, an Electric Motorbike or more efficient car.. Purchase radial tires and keep them properly inflated Drive during non-peak hours If you avoid heavy traffic you will not spend a significant amount of gas during stops. The best way to warm up a modern car is to drive it. Idling hurts engines, wastes gas, and contributes to global warming and pollution. Food Increase your plant consumption. More land has to be put into agricultural production to produce meat than to produce plant products. Because the methane they belch is 23 times more effective at retaining heat than CO2, domestic animals contribute more to global warming than all human transportation combined. Buy local products. Buy goods that were produced locally rather than transported across long distances. Buy food at your local health food or natural food store. Most food in these stores is more expensive, but the bulk bins and bulk spices are often cheaper than grocery store equivalents and use less packaging. Bring your own reusable jars, bags or other containers. Be particular about the fish you eat. Many fish are over harvested or their capture has negative impacts on ocean ecosystems. In addition, some species of seafood pose health risks due to heavy metals and toxins that have built up in their systems. Choose seafood that is both sustainable and healthy. Vegetarian cookbooks  are a great place to begin exploring meat-free options such as textured vegetable protein. Some good choices for those new to meat-free eating include: Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home: Fast and Easy Recipes for Any Day by the Moosewood Collective, How to Cook Everything Vegetarian: Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food by Mark Bittman, and The Enchanted Broccoli Forest by Mollie Katzen. For Individuals Here's a list of simple things you can do immediately Turn it off when not in use (lights, television, DVD player, Hi Fi, computer etc.) Turn down the central heating slightly (try just 1 to 2 degrees C) Turn down the water heating setting (just 2 degrees will make a significant saving) Check the central heating timer setting - remember there is no point heating the house after you have left for work Fill your dish washer and washing machine with a full load - this will save you water, electricity, and washing powder Fill the kettle with only as much water as you need Do your weekly shopping in a single trip Hang out the washing to dry rather than tumble drying it Sign up to a green energy supplier, who will supply electricity from renewable sources (e.g. wind and hydroelectric power) - this will reduce your carbon footprint contribution from electricity to zero   Travel less and travel more carbon footprint friendly. Car share to work, or for the kids school run Use the bus or a train rather than your car For short journeys either walk or cycle Try to reduce the number of flights you take See if your employer will allow you to work from home one day a week Next time you replace your car - check out diesel engines. With one of these you can even make your own Biodiesel fuel. Find out more about Biodiesel. When staying in a hotel - turn the lights and air-conditioning off when you leave your hotel room, and ask for your room towels to be washed every other day, rather than every day  As well as your primary carbon footprint, there is also a secondary footprint that you cause through your buying habits. Don't buy bottled water if your tap water is safe to drink Buy local fruit and vegetables, or even try growing your own Buy foods that are in season locally Don't buy fresh fruit and vegetables which are out of season, they may have been flown in Reduce your consumption of meat Try to only buy products made close to home (look out and avoid items that are made in the distant lands) Buy organic produce Don't buy over packaged products Recycle as much as possible Think carefully about the type of activities you do in your spare time. Do any of these cause an increase in carbon emissions? e.g. Saunas, Health clubs, restaurants and pubs, etc.