How small is your Carbon Footprint? October 15, 2009
Posted by Tara in Blog Action Day, Environmental Cause, climate change.trackback
CARBON FOOTPRINT (CF):
The total of greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product is called Carbon Footprint. Carbon dioxide(CO2), methane, Nitrous Oxide, Ozone and even water vapors come under Greenhouse gases. They absorb & emit radiation within the thermal infrared range in an atmosphere, which is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. GHG therefore greatly affect the temperature of the Earth; without them, Earth’s surface would be on average about 33°C (59°F) colder than at present. While this means GHG are keeping us warm, “enhanced greenhouse effect” due to human-produced increases in atmospheric GHG is the issue we are facing today.
US Environmental Protection Agency studies reveal that electricity generated from hydroelectric and nuclear power produces far less CO2 per kilowatt-hour than from other sources like Coal and Gas. This is an example of how the CF size of a product varies. Similarly CF can be associated with everything.
What we do might not be significant in the World Terms but reducing our carbon emissions and offsetting the remainder of our CF is a proactive way of helping the world. Just coloring everything green does not make us environment friendly.. what it takes is to act and act now.. each second wasted means one second closer to DOOM, a disastrous state nobody would like to be in…
As an individual we all should try & follow some rules..
- Reduce & Recycle.
- Say NO to processed goods.. (the storage, transportation, processing and disposal in the whole product cycle increases its Carbon Footprint)
- Waste management and composting is a key.
- Plant a tree. I must have around 30 plants in our apartment.
- Avoid a vehicle when you can walk. Use electricity as judicially as you can. Harness Sunlight, solar energy. Loading the washing machine well, using CFL, avoiding tissue papers, all these are so easily doable…
These are few of the first thoughts that spring up in mind as I write… Its like a tip of the iceberg for someone who is willing to contribute.. & there definitely is a constant need to reduce our CF, the smaller the better.
Ah, & If I were to dictate terms for a corporate/company, there are few things that I would prioritize high. Like,
- Allowing work from home, if possible
- Setting up staff accommodation near office
- Providing group transport for employees travel
- Instead of opening offices in already congested cities, planning & developing new cities
- Encouraging use of video conferences over physical gatherings thereby reducing travel requirements
- Putting human sensitive lights in less frequently used areas at work
& for any employee, there are some more ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
- Prefer public transport or car pool to individual private vehicle for work
- Avoid stretching work timings
- Switch on the laptops only for work
- Minimize use of print command and photocopier
Time is very punctually ticking away.. so its not going to help anyone who is waiting for tomorrow to start an initiative..
Efforts to reduce my Carbon Footprint, in fact, should be at the back of my mind all through the day.. & regular reminders are of great help.
Posted under “Climate Change” the topic on Blog Action Day, an event that unites all the bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day on their blogs with the aim of sparking discussions around an issue of global importance.
Pictures courtesy google and the link
avoiding tissue papers..hmmm…for the rothdu me, i badly need a box in every room of the house.
lol…i am kidding…but must say, it starts with a step…so loved ur idea of a blog action day!!
of all things, tissue paper sounds like the most wanted and unavoidable stuff in use. you know yday i killed a small cockroach in the kitchen and while using a tissue to pick it, i thought of environment
we must look for alternatives.. yes we must..
yes, look for alternative.
use your hand!
use of hand is fine, but whose? thank God we are married
I liked the terms you would dictate – working from home would be great for family bonding too.
We have been using cfl bulbs for a while now…
Group transport, and even better, staying close to the work place should be encouaraged everywhere!! Traveling to work, generally for more than half an hour one way- is such a waste of time apart from the trafic problem it causesand the waste of fuel …
I too have made sure I grew a tee or some plants whereever I have lived!
They say there should be five plants were person in the cities.
amit was working from home yday and said he accomplishes more when he is working from home.. and add to that all the resources he saved and reduced his carbon footprint.. this can be a big thing if implemented seriously..
You know, I was in a dillema last year… I love this car – the Charger but ufortunately it’s a gas guzzler. I debated with myself for almost 6 months on whether I should buy it or not. But then last year, Oil prices had fallen to 35 dollars a barrell and everyone was consuming less of oil. Actually, the oil price fell so much that the entire economy of the world was seeming to be in trouble. At that time, it felt I was doing a favor to the world by consuming more and thereby increasing the demand for oil.
What I’m saying is that this is a simple example as to why controlling carbon emissions is so difficult for countries. They got to balace development and environment.
Ultimately, my worldly desire won and the environment lost and I’m sorry but the good part is my office isn’t very far from my house so I don’t drive much and I do try to do the other stuff like not taking a plastic bag from stores, using paper napkins, bathing on alternate days only oops…
You have a charger??? Woah…that car is a beast!!!!
I’ve driven it a few times. Man, it is a mean machine!!! Love it.
Err….oh yes..the environment…right! OK. So yeah, lets do our part. Cheers
see exactly those kinda thoughts lead to damaging the environment
haha
these thoughts are the main culprit then.
not us.
lets go for a spin!
if you adopt ‘bathing on alternate days’ route, you might end up doing more damage than good to the surroundings my dear
and Dubai is one place where resources are splurged to ones hearts content n more.. as if there is no scarcity, no issues, no need to conserve.. be it reclaiming the sea, use of electricity, truck size petrol guzzing vehicles..good for now but for how long?
Brilliant post, Tara.
I was kinda waiting for you to post on this topic knowing your sense of responsibility for the environment.
Saying this for the umpteenth time since yesterday. If everyone does their role in their own small way, things will be a LOT better.
Thank you Masood.. I had not registered till last evening for Blog Action.. but reading some good posts
charged me up.. Yes, this is among the issues close to my heart… Amit se poocho how much gyan he has had since yday on carbon footprint of each n every thing around us.. 
Btw, one more thought, WHO suggests use tissue papers to avoid spread of the flu!!! What to do???
Btw, one more question, why isn’t my name in the list of Celebrity Blogs on your right?
Those are celebrities I have given up reading! you are yet to reach there
Well I am not for banning the use of tissue totally at once but hey, regular washing of hands and BATHING and using hand sanitizers can help too
[...] Mindspace [...]
Taru, The picture of SUV and Carbon footprint is very true. Linked to your post.
Thank you Solu
Well written Tara
Some gr8 suggestions there .. If only all ppl @ work were as sensible!
we are where we are today because we have not been sensible
thanks Swaram
The idea of working from home whenever possible is really great. Always wondered how much time is wasted on commute and traffic unnecessarily.
And especially loved the idea of reducing processed food.
Great post!
Less of processed food and even eat less if one can
And we can also do our bit by celebrating a green and eco friendly Diwali!!
Not sure if this will show here, here’s wax candle wishing you a Happy Diwali!
May you delight
At lovely sights,
May you enjoy this festival of lights
May you splurge on luxuries all
BUT May you refuse
To ever use
Things that make a hole in the ozone layer,
And destroy the only known atmosphere
Brilliant post, like I said in my post its upto us to take things in our hands now……..
agree with everything u have written there… only thing I find difficult to implement is the car damn I love driving so much