Open any new publication and you are sure to find a reference to carbon footprint and the impact that this footprint has on the environment, from destroying the polar ice caps to altering the weather. There is little doubt that the evidence is irrefutable; mankind has done some real damage to the planet and its ecosystems.

What is a carbon footprint and what is a carbon neutral company? Well, your carbon footprint is the amount of C02 (Carbon dioxide) that you and your business are putting into the environment. The direct causes are business activities including manufacturing, processing and service industries, also leisure activities and our own homes.

We can all reduce this impact by using less electricity, gas, oil and water and by buying materials locally to cut down on transportation. Flying less, driving smaller cars, recycling and buying food that is in season all have a positive impact on your carbon footprint.

However don’t think that recycling has no effect on the environment because there is a carbon cost to recycling although less than manufacturing a new item. If you are carbon neutral you are offsetting the amount of carbon dioxide you produce by providing (or getting others to provide) a positive impact on the environment.

Tree planting is a good way to offset carbon dioxide production as is the use of renewable energy from wind, solar power or wave power and the use of renewable sources of fuel such as sugarbeet, oilseed and all other bio-fuels. If you can balance the amount of CO2 produced by these offset methods you are considered to be carbon neutral.

If this is part of a comprehensive environmental management system such as ISO14001 the rewards are even greater.

There is no doubt global warming is a happening thing and our lives are about to change as a result. We already know how gasoline prices have skyrocketed and how oil and energy have become big news on almost every news bulletin. But there’s a side to global warming most of us don’t know about that can earn you a massive extra income at home.

Welcome to Carbon Credits. It’s been called the “Black Klondike” but it’s predicted to be worth much, much more than the Klondike gold rush ever was. And just like the Klondike, as word spreads there will be a frantic rush of people clamoring for a piece of the action. However, unlike the Klondike this mother lode of carbon credits is set to grow and grow. As of now the carbon market is conservatively valued at about $50 billion and that figure is expected to grow to $2 trillion by 2010 and to at least $5 trillion in less than ten years.

Going green comes at a price and Carbon Credits, CFI’s – Carbon Financial Instruments and Consumer Green programs are already thriving and growing. Currently less important but also scheduled to grow in leaps and bounds is the Renewable Energy Credit market. We’re seeing solar panels and wind generators sprouting up on rooftops and in backyards all over the country as the move to renewable energy gains momentum.

Every unit of electricity that is generated by renewable energy sources gives rise to a REC that can be monetized and traded. If you ever wondered how City Halls can afford to pay homeowners to install solar panels and solar water heaters, think Renewable Energy Credits.

Carbon Credits is a potentially huge new industry that is poised to take full advantage of the green response to global warming. From financial traders specializing in CFI’s and Carbon Engineers advising on Carbon Footprint reduction through Green Consultants advising on Consumer Green programs, Carbon Credits is an industry set to be with us for decades to come.

With all the talk today about global warming, pollution and going green, most people are becoming overwhelmed with the vast amount of information out there about how to reduce what is known as your “carbon footprint.” Well, it’s not as complicated as one might think. First, let’s start by defining just exactly what a carbon footprint is.

A carbon footprint is a calculated figure that is determined by various factors in which one might be impacting the environment. Factors include how often you drive an automobile, what you do for a living and how your home is heated. When individuals take proactive steps to reduce their carbon footprints, the effects are collectively felt. Here are some simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint!

First, look around you, right now. Are there appliances on that you aren’t specifically using, for example, the television buzzing in the background? Turn these appliances off. You won’t miss anything, and you’ll even save a few cents here and there on your electric bill.

No matter where you are in the world, there’s a good chance you have either your heat or central air running. If it’s the air conditioning, turn up the temperature a degree or two. If it’s the heat, turn it down a few degrees. If your systems have timers, use them because unless you’re at home, it’s not necessary to heat or cool your home as much.

Water, water everywhere… so the old verse goes. Unless we conserve water, however, we’re going to feel just as helpless as that author caught at sea with no water to drink. So wait until your washer and dryer are full to run them, and only fill water glasses with as much as you are going to drink. Turn the water off when you’re brushing your teeth. Take shorter showers, and stop flushing tissues; use the wastebasket instead of the water it takes to flush the toilet for no reason.

We all know that smog is unsightly and unhealthy, but smog is just a visible representation of the much deeper damage caused by CO2 emissions. So try to do a weekly trip to the grocery store instead of many short trips. If you’re in the market for a new car, consider a hybrid model. Take public transportation when you can, or try to cycle and walk if you’re going a short distance. The benefits of this will help you as well as the environment.

Another way is to register a website with a .eco extension when it comes available. The concept behind the establishment of this new dot eco top level domain is that Dot Eco LLC will donate over 50% of domain registration proceeds back to fund scientific initiatives and research in climate change, ocean analysis, economic policy, and other environmentally-related areas. Also, remember to host your website with a green hosting company.

These are all small steps you can take immediately to reduce your carbon footprint. Make these small changes in your daily lives and you too will officially be green.

Taking care of the environment has become a priority today. Many generations did not realize how large an impact people were having on the environment. Today a great deal of damage ha been wrought upon the Earth and people are looking for ways to help it heal. Many different inventions that have helped to modernize mankind have unwittingly been a detriment as well. Electric tumble dryers are no exception.
 
While they helped to speed the process of doing laundry they were also helping to add to the problem of global warming. So, what can you do to reduce the impact that you are having on the environment? By using a clothes airer you will make a big difference in the size of your carbon footprint. An airer has little to no impact since it has no emissions at all. Where the manual dryer is hard on the environment during its creation and when it is used the clothes airer has no emissions to add to the problem of global warming.
 
Another aspect to clothes airers is that many can be found that have been made from recycled materials. This can also take a great strain off of the environment by keeping the materials out of landfills and putting them to better use. The airers of today are made out of either wood, polycarbonate material, or metals all of which are highly recyclable. This means that if any were to happen to your airer it could be recycled itself.
 
Why not consider using a clothes airer and helping the environment rather than continuing to increase your carbon footprint? It is both easy to do and you can feel better about taking care of the Earth so future generations can enjoy it as well.

Not many people heard the term Carbon Footprint, what it is and what the relation in global warming is is what I will share to you.  

A carbon footprint is the total set of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual or organization and it can also be a result of an event or product. It has units of tons or kilogram of carbon dioxide equivalent. In the simplest point of view, a carbon footprint is a measure of the affect or impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change and global warming.  

Carbon footprint is made up of two parts  

1. The Primary Footprint is an assessment of our direct emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the burning of fossil fuels. It includes domestic energy consumption and transportation such as car and plane. We have direct control of these footprints.  

2. The Secondary Footprint is an assessment of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use every day. In short, the more products we buy, the more emissions will be caused on our behalf.  

One of the biggest producers of carbon emissions is electricity. Therefore, every time you turn the television on or make a coffee you are adding to global warming. Now is the right time to reduce our footprint and we can do it anywhere and anytime especially in our own home.  

Let’s start by doing these simple things.  

1. First and foremost, sign up to a supplier of electricity from renewable sources like solar, wind and hydroelectric power. By doing this you will reduce your carbon footprint contribution from electricity to zero.  

2. Turn electrical appliances when not in use. Turning down the central heating and water heating setting by just 2 degrees will make a significant saving. Fit energy saving light bulbs.  

3. Fill your washing machine and dish washer with a full load. By doing this will save you water, washing powder, and electricity.  

4. Share a car, use the bus or train rather than your car and for short journeys either walk or ride a bicycle. If you travel less, you travel more carbon footprint friendly.  

5. Change your buying habit. Do your weekly shopping in a single trip and buy only seasonal foods. Foods out of season will have either been flown or shipped in from far away and all adding to your carbon footprint. Buy local fruit and vegetables, or you may even try growing your own.  

6. Buy organic produce and don’t buy over packaged products and recycle as much as possible.  

7. Think about what type of activities you do in your spare time. Avoid Saunas, Health clubs, restaurants and pubs, go-karting and other similar activities. Doing any of these can cause an increase in carbon emissions.  

8. In your workplace, turn off monitor and computer and even lights when you are away or leaving from your desk. Don’t print unnecessary documents and if it is possible to print two pages to a side and double sided, do it.  

Reducing carbon footprint is just a matter of attitude. By doing these simple tips will make a significant impact on slowing global warming. You can be a source of inspiration to others and before you know it, they are following the right path because you lead them.  

Global warming is said to be the greatest challenge of the 21st century. With a quarter of UK carbon emissions emanating from road transport, fleets are at the forefront of efforts to drive down CO2.

This message was underlined by the Budget in March 2008. Alongside new carbon-based tax measures designed to raise more than £2 billion from vehicle users, the Treasury published a major report on the future for low carbon cars – the King Review.

If formally adopted by the Government, the King Review is expected to become the roadmap for cutting CO2 emissions from passenger cars by an ambitious 30% in the next five to ten years. It urges the Government to create a framework in which low carbon vehicle technologies can go from ’shelf to showroom’ as quickly as possible and where fiscal incentives and public education create a ready market for new, low emission products.

Currently, the Government’s policy is to ‘encourage the polluter to pay.’ Drivers can expect rising BIK taxes on greenhouse gases and higher operating costs for environmentally inefficient vehicles, for example higher congestion charges and VED. For businesses that reduce their carbon footprint there will be opportunities to take advantage of tax breaks, as well as a lower fuel bill!. For example, a fleet of 200 drivers, averaging 15,000 business miles per year produces over 700 tonnes of CO2 during a year. If the fleet reduced its annual emissions by 20%, through measuressuch as mileage reduction and buying lower-emission vehicles, it could save over 140 tonnes of CO2 (and around £60,000 in fuel purchases).

How do I know what my fleet’s current CO2 is?

Wanting to reduce your fleet’s carbon footprint is one thing, but knowing what it currently is, is essential. Fuel cards are a powerful tool in this respect, they enable fleet operators to capture and analyse data on CO2 emissions, worked out on the actual fuel consumption of every vehicle, and the fleet as a whole. This gives companies a starting point, and from this, plans and targets can be set and monitored over time.

What can I do to reduce my fleet’s carbon footprint?

There are a number of ways to reduce carbon emissions, mainly surrounding vehicle choice, maintenance, driver behaviour and the journey taken. By looking at each area in detail it will allow you not only to reduce CO2 but to enjoy additional business benefits – such as a reduction in repairs, wear and tear costs, an improved driver risk rating and a lower fuel bill.

What can my drivers do to reduce their C02 footprint?

Your drivers play a very large role in determining your fleets’ CO2 emissions. They do this through the way they drive; their attitudes and expectations; and the cars they choose.

Let drivers know that reducing CO2 is an important goal for your business, and that they are expected to drive efficiently and avoid making unnecessary journeys. Include statements to this effect in the fleet policy and driver handbook.

Drivers must start to realise the link between fuel consumption and C02,

it is therefore essential for them to understand and act on the following points: Check your revs – Change up between 2000 – 2500 rpm. Revving your vehicle’s engine wastes fuel; Avoid fast getaways at the traffic lights – accelerate slowly when the light turns green. The faster you accelerate the more fuel you will consume. Avoid revving your engine before you turn it off.

Anticipate road conditions and drive smoothly – Avoiding sharp acceleration and heavy braking. This saves fuel, tyre wear and reduces accident rates. Drive smoothly – aggressive driving increases fuel consumption and produces more CO2. Avoid accelerating or braking too hard – this can reduce fuel consumption by more than 10% in urban areas.

Use air conditioning sparingly – As it significantly increases fuel consumption.

Drive away immediately when starting from cold – Idling to heat the engine wastes fuel and causes rapid engine wear. Turn the engine off when you’re in a queue for a long period of time, or waiting for someone. Restarting a modern engine uses effectively no extra fuel.

Avoid short journeys – A cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel and catalytic converters can take five miles to become effective.

Avoid excess idling – Idling gets you nowhere but still burns fuel. Turn the engine off when you’re in a queue for a long period of time, or waiting for someone.

Stick to speed limits and make your fuel go further – Driving at 85 mph rather than 70 mph uses 25% more fuel. It may be tempting to drive fast over long, empty roads but fuel-efficiency drops significantly over 70 mph. Use cruise control if you have it – on major roads this helps you maintain a constant speed and, in many cases, will improve fuel consumption.

Plan your journeys – To avoid congestion, road works and getting lost.

Check your tyre pressure regularly – Under-inflated tyres are dangerous and can increase fuel consumption by up to 3%.

If you’re stuck in a jam, switch off – Cutting the engine will save fuel and stop emissions.

Plus – before you drive:

Remove roof rack when not in use – they increase drag significantly. If fully loaded, a roof rack can push up emissions by 30%. Keep your boot or back seat clear of unnecessary items that add weight to your vehicle.

Are you looking to lower your carbon footprint? If so then you would certainly not be on your own. Global warming is an extremely real problem and every day we are bombarded with advertisements telling us how we can help. However, many people are still confused as to what they can actually do to make a difference.

Within this article, you will find out how you can help to lower your own carbon footprint. There is always something that you can do; it is just a matter of understanding the things that really make a difference.

How to Lower your Footprint

There are so many ways in which you can lower your carbon footprint. Basically, your carbon footprint is known as the amount of greenhouse gases that you use on a daily basis. There are various activities that we do every day that contributes towards our carbon footprint such as turning lights on, using electrical appliances, and throwing away our waste. Once you realize exactly what it is that is contributing to your carbon footprint, it is then that you can figure out how to lower it.

First, think about the amount of heat that you waste. Heat escaping from your home can be a problem and not only that but it can cost you a lot of money too. You will be using more energy to heat your home if it isn’t properly insulated and that will cost you more on your energy bills. So ensuring that your loft is insulated, that your windows are double-glazed and that there are no draughts coming in through your doors will all help you to lower your carbon footprint.

Choosing energy efficient appliances will also help a great deal. You can purchase energy efficient washing machines, refrigerators and microwaves as well as entertainment systems. So why not switch to an energy saving appliance as soon as you can afford to?

It is the Small Changes that really matter

More often than not, it is the small changes that you can make which will help the most. For example, did you know that overfilling your kettle could be wasting a lot of energy? By just filling up as much as you need you could save a considerable amount of energy annually. If you find that you use your kettle a lot throughout the day then why not invest in a flask? That way you can keep a large amount of water heated up all throughout the day. Recycling your plastic goods mean they get reused instead of going straight to landfill.

Turning lights off when they are not in use is another handy tip to lower your carbon footprint. Recycling your waste instead of simply just throwing it in the bin will also help.

Overall, there are so many ways in which you can help the environment. If you make just one change, it will make a lot of difference. So why not start lowering your carbon footprint today?

The term carbon footprint has been growing in popularity over the past several years, primarily due to the heightened awareness of climate change. A carbon footprint consists of the net greenhouse gases emitted by an entity, individual, organization or nation. Personal carbon calculators define a carbon footprint as the net carbon dioxide attributable to an individual over a one year period. Since there are many different greenhouse gases, the specific gas(es) must be converted to tonnes or kilograms of equivalent carbon dioxide.

Very often, the term carbon footprint is confused with another term called ecological footprint. Carbon footprint only considers net greenhouse gases emitted, whereas ecological footprint is much more encompassing. The ecological footprint is a calculation of productive land and water required by an individual, both in terms of usage and also to absorb wastes that the individual produces. A carbon footprint is specified in tonnes or kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent. An ecological footprint is expressed in terms of global hectares.

An ecological footprint is broken into four consumption categories: carbon, goods and services, housing and food. The carbon category includes transportation and home energy use. An ecological footprint can also be broken down by ecosystem types or biomes. These consist of forestland, pasture land, cropland and marine fisheries. In addition to consumption categories, waste must also be considered. Scientists have calculated the average per capita ecological footprint to be approximately 23.5 global hectares. On a renewable basis there are only 15.7 global hectares available meaning that we are collectively overshooting the Earth’s ecological capacity by almost 50%.

There are several ways of reducing both an individual’s carbon footprint and ecological footprint. One significant but controversial way is to shift from a meat to a vegetarian diet. According to a recent study, it was determined that a vegetarian diet was more environmentally friendly than a meat diet. It requires approximately 0.18 global hectares per person while a meat diet (high fat) requires almost five times as much, or 0.85 global hectares per person per year. There are many contributing factors for the meat diet, including deforestation and energy required for processing / transportation. And don’t forget cow flatulence. Scientists have estimated that the meat consumption life cycle contributes 18% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. More emissions results in larger effect on the climate.

Another method of reducing one’s ecological footprint is to buy local fresh food from farmers markets and preferably organically produced. It is important to eliminate transportation and refrigeration costs as much as possible. Organic foods eliminate the environmental impact of pesticides (including transportation and packaging). Farmers markets generally incorporate less packaging materials and food is fresh with no refrigeration or electricity requirements. More environmentally friendly all around.

When purchasing a new house there are many green initiatives that should be considered. Take advantage on the house orientation towards the sun for heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. Consider rooftop gardens and soil-less turf on outside walls as was showcased by the Beijing Olympic exhibition hall. Passive solar heating, water efficient fixtures, sustainable building materials and other green design features should be incorporated where possible.

It is estimated that households can reduce their water footprint by 60% just by adopting more conservative water usage. To further reduce your carbon footprint beyond what has already been suggested, try changing your driving habits; avoid excessive acceleration/deceleration, drive with your lights off if possible, turn off the air conditioner. And don’t forget to take mass transit at every opportunity.

So you want to keep your lawn looking good, but at the same time want to not pollute the environment with a bunch of smokey, loud gas-powered equipment?  Here are a few tips to consider:

Mowing – This is definitely the hardest part to do without gas, but you do have a few options.  For very small patches of grass, you might consider grass shears… basically a big pair of scissors.  This is really only viable as a touch-up, for extremely small areas, slow growing grass, and the incredibly patient.  Your next step up is a manual rotary mower.  This is just like the “old fashioned” push mowers from the 1950’s.  They work great, they are good for your grass, and you get a cardiovascular workout at the same time.  For bigger acreage, consider an electric lawnmower, either plug in or battery powered.  For large acreage, consider using animal control.  Either adopt a pet sheep/goat, or find an “animal mowing service”, where sheep or goats are let loose on your property to give it a good mowing on a regular basis.

Edging – A manual edger, which is nothing more than a blade on the end of a handle, can actually make a nice edge if you have the patience to give it a try.  There are several electric edger options, either plug-in or battery powered.  I have had great luck with battery powered units that run on a motorcycle-battery.  They are quiet, easy to start, and work surprising well.  Expect 15-30 minutes on a charge… if your yard is bigger than that, consider other options.

Blowing – Use a broom, of course!  Also consider using grass clippings as mulch, which will help your lawn and is good for the environment.

Maintaining a lawn can be some work, but with some clever choices and a bit more work, you can ditch the smelly and noisy gas-powered equipment in favor of a greener alternative.

All household has had share of carbon footprint which is accounted from daily energy used for fixtures and appliances down to basic stuff. As defined in Wikipedia, carbon footprint is “the total set of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product”(UK Carbon Trust 2008). On a daily basis, people unconsciously augment their carbon footprint from indirect result of their purchases, lifestyle and activities. While others are able to curtail their footprint, these people rather ride bicycles or walk during weekends, dry their clothes outside the house instead of using tumbler dryer; open their window to utilize natural ventilation instead of using ACU and they are smart buyers as they purchase energy efficient appliances.

As we are now gradually experiencing climate changes which was evidently a corollary from greenhouse gas emissions, this disturbing impact on environment is believed to keep on if we will not put together preventive actions. The dire certainty is that climate changes are nearly impossible to revert if it continues to get worse, that is the reason why environment advocate organizations are urging the government, policy maker and corporation to take aggressive measures to address these issues as well as persuade individuals to combat the problems starting from our very own home, indeed a collective solutions would create a positive results. In additions, those who have plan to build new home, renovate their existing houses and acquire real estate property must establish energy efficiency as the core principle of the house projects and selection of property instead of concentrating only on aesthetics. Along with this, purchasing of household-used products and basic goods such as foods, clothes, home appliances and electric devices have to be done prudently and consider items that have zero or lesser attributes of carbon footprints.

Construction of energy efficient housing doesn’t have to be expensive, designer and builder merely needs to think of innovative and sustainable approach. These includes employing high value insulation, passive cooling and heating, maximizing the use of day lighting, installing energy efficient windows, go for energy saver fixtures and appropriate orientation of building. According to the Sustainable Development and Mitigation report for Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change, “Considering energy efficiency as the guidance principle during construction of new homes results in both reduced energy bills . . . and GHG abatement”, this robust approach would not only mean a financial savings on the operations and maintenance but also assuage carbon footprint from increasing steeply. Furthermore, utilizing energy from renewable source such as wind power, solar energy, hydro power, and other natural renewable energy is a positive approach to offset carbon as there are various local areas that has abundant and cheaper renewable energy sources and owners could as well mount solar panels on the top of their roofs to support its power requirements.

Procure and use of certified energy saver home appliance is as much essential as selecting energy efficient house. As home appliances put away huge amount of electricity, in fact it share relative high percentage on the energy bills. It is very important to note that a few types of appliances increase its energy demands and decrease its performance as it gets older such as refrigerator, freezer, and ACU; accordingly, it is wise to replace those with new one. On the other hand, other type of appliances are still able to perform well even at its older life such as entertainment appliances and computers, however, despite the fact that some appliances are still running well, for some reason, some people still have a tendency to buy new item, possibly because their appliances are not anymore as efficient as it was new, while others are tired of bringing their appliances to the shops for repair, or they are tempted to purchase the latest model that virtually has many exciting features. Unfortunately, these habits of frequent purchase and dumping of a still good appliance doesn’t help, it only adds up on home’s carbon footprint as it entails relative amount of energy to produce this new appliances as well as it generate direct air pollution during production.

Basic home necessities such as foods, furniture, home products and transportation are not exempted from the accountability of generating carbon footprint. Needless to say, individuals regularly purchase basic goods in supermarket and malls, and the fact that these products comes from different region or might be imported from various countries, the transportation of these products requires relative quantity of energy. That is why individuals are encouraged to purchase locally produced products. Furthermore, people used different mode of transportation on their way to workplace and schools, selecting a more environmentally friendly and energy efficient vehicles as well as using a mass transit are best choice to reduce individual’s carbon footprint. While several famous and well-designed urban and town have developed apartments and high dense housing buildings within proximity from central business district, consequently this urban areas encourage people to use bicycle and pedestrian -friendly walkways.

Generally, reducing carbon footprint ought to start at our very own home, these requires awareness on every choices and its corresponding impact to environment as well as employing consistent ideal approach. If everyone can participate in this contemporary challenge as this collective effort would positively avert climate change from getting worse. Participation of few populations is in fact not enough as we practically need everyone’s effort to make a difference and save our environment.