Carbon Footprint
Kerry
Sophie
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/0,85
99,1552237,00.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/PressRelease/www/releases/archives/american_commu
nity_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
Single occupants vs. Shared and Public transport
• Cars with a single occupant use fuel and roads less efficiently than shared cars or
public transport
Traffic
Cost
Pollution
• 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.
http://www.census.gov/PressRelease/www/releases/archives/american_community_survey_