CARBON FOOTPRINT

CARBON FOOTPRINT

THINK GREEN GO GREEN OR YOU’LL BE FACING RED!!!

what is carbon footprint ???A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc. 

The carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce and has units of tonnes (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.

PIE CHART

The pie chart shows the main elements which make up the total of an typical persons carbon footprint.

EFFECTS OF CARBON FOOTPRINTT

A carbon footprint is a measure of carbon dioxide emissions associated with an entity's activities. a carbon footprint includes direct emissions, such as from driving a car, as well as whatever emissions are required to consume any goods and services. Often, a carbon footprint includes the measure of other greenhouse gas emissions as well.

1.GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

Electricity generation and transportation-related activities account for well over half of the 14 percent increase in greenhouse gas emissions in the United States from 1990 to 2008. The Federal Transit Administration estimates that switching to public transportation instead of driving would allow the average American to reduce his or her carbon footprint by 10 percent. Americans could also reduce their collective carbon footprint by changing their incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lights, preventing the emission of 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gases.

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Plant bambooBamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants around, and it sucks up four times more carbon dioxide than trees. If you need a windbreak in your yard and you live in a favourable climate, opt for bamboo.

Reduce your dependence on large appliancesThe average refrigerator in Europe is 9 cubic feet. Here in the U.S., it's a whopping 18 to 26 cubic feet. And, 26% of households have two refrigerators. Often, that second refrigerator is more than 15 years old, which means it's even more

MEASURES TO REDUCE HOME’S CARBON FOOTPRINTS

Compost your food wasteWhen food is disposed of in a landfill, it produces methane. This greenhouse gas is 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. The more food we keep out of our landfills, the less greenhouse gas will be emitted. Awareness about the benefits of vermi composting is slowly growing. It's easy, and when done right it, doesn't smell or draw rodents. In return, you get 100% organic compost and "worm tea" for your home garden

MORE WAYS TO CONTROL CARBON FOOTPRINTS

Unplug it!Unplug appliances that you don't use frequently. Most electronics have a standby mode that siphons energy even when not in use. Cell phone chargers, laptops, televisions, stereos — there's a whole list of items that should be unplugged when not in use. Try using a power strip for groups of electronic items. One flick of the switch and it's all off.

Use cold waterTry using cold water to launder things that don't need to be cleaned in hot or warm water. It takes a lot of energy to heat up water — multiply that by the number of loads, and that's a big footprint. Most major detergent makers sell detergents designed to have the same cleaning power as with regular soap. Try washing mixed loads in cold water, too.The Three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.It seems like something from a kid's sing-a-long, but sometimes we lose sight of just how much we buy. Try buying less, and reusing and fixing things when you can instead of buying new. And for a lot of people, recycling is as easy as rolling the trash bin to the curb. Just remember to do it at work, too.

Preventive Steps:

Use recycled paper and recycled printer cartridges. Try to reduce the usage of electrical appliances and don’t forget to

switch them off when you no longer need them. Purchase radial tires and keep them properly inflated. Consider purchasing a hybrid vehicle like electric motor bike or more

efficient car. Switch on electric blankets not more than half an hour before you go to

bed. Room and water heating machines are responsible for over 70% of

energy used in the home, so switching to alternatives (e.g. wood fuel, solar energy or heat pump systems) helps you and environment.

Replace the exterior lights around your home and in your garden with solar-powered ones.

Use hand towels and fabric napkins rather than paper ones. Plant trees in your surroundings. Try to use Eco-friendly products.

REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE turns materials that would otherwise become waste into

valuable resources. Collecting used bottles, cans, and

newspapers and taking them to the curb or to a collection

facility is just the first in a series of steps that geRecycling

Recycling nerates a host of financial, environmental, and social

returns. Some of these benefits accrue locally as well as

globally.Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you throw away and reuse

containers and products.

 Recycle as much as possible and buy products with recycled content.

 Practice composting by using microorganisms (mainly bacteria and

fungi) to decompose organic waste, such as food scraps and yard

trimmings.

SOME INTRESTING FACTSUp to 60% of the rubbish that ends up in the dustbin could be recycled.The unreleased energy contained in the average dustbin each year could power a television for 5,000 hours.On average, 16% of the money you spend on a product pays for the packaging, which ultimately ends up as rubbish.As much as 50% of waste in the average dustbin could be composted.Up to 80% of a vehicle can be recycled.9 out of 10 people would recycle more if it were made easier.

WAYS TO REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINTS IN SCHOOLS

MINIMISE WASTE

• School students can investigate the link between everyday actions at their school, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Using EPA's Climate CHange Emission Calculator Kit (Climate CHECK).

• Students can learn about climate change, estimate their school’s greenhouse gas emissions and conceptualize ways to mitigate their school’s climate impact. 

• Students gain detailed understandings of climate-change drivers, impacts, and science; produce an emission inventory and action plan; and can even submit the results of their emission inventory to their school .

Reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible, and compost food and other green waste.

Students can also use Portfolio Manager (Portfolio Manager is an interactive energy management tool that allows you to track and assess energy and water consumption across your entire portfolio of buildings in a secure online environment.)  to compare the energy use of school with other schools nationwide, and earn the ENERGY STAR for school if it qualifies as a top performer.

oVERVIEWThe carbon footprint offers a way to calculate our contribution to the carbon dioxide emissions that affect our climate. It measures the total amount of carbon production created by our energy consumption. Knowing our carbon footprint can show areas where we can decrease our energy consumption and, in turn, reduce our production of carbon emissions.

SIGNIFICANCEAn increase in greenhouse gases has shown the potential to raise the average surface temperature, which in turn could change weather patterns and increase storm severity. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, the main emission measured by the carbon footprint, have increased by 36 percent since 1750. Scientists conclude the majority of this increase comes from human actions. 

HISTORYThe carbon footprint concept took hold at a 1979 U.S. Senate energy committee discussion about the "environmental footprint" of government operations in Yosemite National Park. Tom Rawls, chief environmental officer for Green Mountain, is largely credited with the first quoted use of "carbon footprint" in a Seattle Times article, "Carbon Count: Forests Enlisted in Global Warming War," published November 18, 2000.

STEPS TO CONTROL CARBON FOOTPRINTChanging our Thermostat will decrease 2,000lbs carbon footprint.Adjusting our Water Heater will decrease 500lbs carbon footprint.Running Dishwasher Full will help in decreasing 200lbs carbon footprint.Don't buy bottled water if your tap water is safe to drink.

Buy local fruit and vegetables, or even try growing your ownBuy foods that are in season locallyDon't buy fresh fruit and vegetables which are out of season, they may have been flown inReduce your consumption of meatTry to only buy products made close to home (look out and avoid items that are made in the distant lands)Buy organic produceDon't buy over packaged productsRecycle as much as possible

Lower the amount of carbon footprint as much as you can!!!

THANK YOU