Carbon Footprint

KerrySophie

What is a Carbon Footprint ?

• A carbon footprint is “the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product” (UK Carbon Trust 2008)

• Greenhouse gases, are essential to helping determine the temperature of the Earth, without them the Earth would be considerably colder.

• Individuals and businesses produce carbon dioxide from daily activities such as driving, heating, and the consumption of products and services.

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/302/5651/1719

Who does it effect?

• Carbon emissions effects everyone

• Greenhouse gases are produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation.

• Simple actions such as switching the TV off standby can help reduce both fuel bills and CO2 emissions.

Reducing carbon footprint/ Carbon diets

• A low carbon diet refers to making lifestyle choices to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from energy use.

• A carbon calculator is where you can determine your carbon footprint, a measurement of how many pounds of global-warming-causing carbon dioxide you alone or you and your family are emitting annually into the atmosphere from your daily lives.

• Simple changes such as changing light bulbs to fluorescent compacts will lose around 8,500 pounds a year.

• Drying clothes on a line instead of using a drying machine will lose around 2,500.

• Taking up cycling to work or school or walking more often can result in up to a loss of 7,600 pounds in transportation emissions a year.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1552237,00.html

The Commuter

• Commuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study.

• Commuters often travel via car and often alone or via trains and buses

• It has now been proven that commuting by car is a major factor contributing to air pollution

• Most commuters travel at the same time of day, as most people work an average 9am – 5pm day. This causes the morning and evening "rush hours", with congestion on roads and public transport systems.

• Some areas have a large amount of commuters with cyclists and walkers, however, this is still no where near as much as people commuting via car.

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/american_community_survey_acs/001695.html

What is being done?

Congestion charge in London

• Aims to reduce traffic congestion and improve journey times by encouraging people to choose other forms of transport, thus reducing Carbon emissions

‘Greener Cars’

• New developments within the car industry has made it more appealing to the masses:

• performance, price, reliability, style, comfort have all been improved

Park & Ride

• Aimed at commuters, in order to reduce the congestion within large cities

•Cars with a single occupant use fuel and roads less efficiently than shared cars or public transportTrafficCostPollution

• Commuting alone by car is often a more efficient method for the people doing the commute, as their commute times tend to be lower

• Public transport often occurs delays and can become cramped and uncomfortable

• However public transport can be less stressful with regards to traffic and congestion.

• Using a train or bus is much more environmentally friendly.

Single occupants vs. Shared and Public transport

http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/american_community_survey_acs/001695.html