Carbon footprint
From Norfolk RCC
Our Carbon footprint is the amount of carbon you use as an individual, household or buisness. As carbon usage has an effect on both climate change, through increasing the release of CO2 and uses up finite reserves of oil we should aim to reduce our carbon foorprint as much as possible, see the Environmental Issues page for more details.
On average it is suggested we need to reduce our carbon footprint by 9.5 tonnes each this is based off an average persons CO2 footprint of 11 tonnes (Energy savings trust) and a target CO2 footprint of 1.5 tonnes per person (suggested by Tyndall Centre for climate change research and WWF)
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Carbon Calculators
Below are links to a number of sites that offer ways of calculating your carbon footprint
- BT carbon calculator: http://www.btplc.com/Climatechange/
- WWF’s : http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/
- Government’s : http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/index.html
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Ways to reduce your Carbon footprint
- Walk, Cycle or take public transport. Transport represents 47% of the UK CO2 output since 1984 with passenger cars representing 60% of all CO2 emissions from road transport (Energy Savings Trust- Observer Magazine, 21/01/07). Alternatively try car sharing.
- Buy local. We may have got use to the idea of strawberries in December but the transport required to ship them from abroad all uses CO2. By buying local produce both food and manufactured goods you not only reduce your food miles and carbon foot print but also support the local economy.
- Reduce your electrical energy usage. By reducing the electricity needed you reduce the carbon used in it generation. The energy saving trust's websitehas some tips and low cost measures on saving energy for individuals. Also look at the ways in which your business can reduce its impact on the carbon trust's website. Community Action For Energy (Cafe) supports community energy projects.You could even start generating your own electricity from renewables sources.
