How to reduce your carbon footprint

Carbon calculators covert energy derived from the burning of fossil fuel into CO2, thus providing the amount of pollution which that activity generates. The daily individual activity when converted to CO2 is referred to as the personal carbon footprint.

Since we are coming round to accepting that what we sow today our children will reap tomorrow, it is important to have the means to measure the damage we are creating and take remedial action to minimise further harm.

Several websites, a good number of which are state sponsored, contain information about greenhouse gas and include an online CO2 calculator. I have included a couple of these sites below.

The aim of such sites is to promote ways to reduce the carbon emissions on a personal level through simple, everyday changes which if adopted by everybody will have an enormous impact.

The example demonstrates the average CO2 generated annually by a family of four and the reduction of CO2 by a minimum collective effort (see table above).

A few pointers on how to save money and reduce CO2 emissions:

At home use energy saving bulbs. Switch off what is not in use. Use natural light whenever possible. Do not leave appliances in stand-by mode. Use the water heater only when it is needed and switch off when not required. Boil only the amount of water required.

Switch off battery charges when not in use. Increase or decrease the cooling-heating temperature by two degrees.

Use the car only when necessary. Walk to get your Sunday newspaper. If possible use public transport or car pool to get to work.

Make a list of the errands and plan the route. Whenever possible avoid peak traffic hours. For instance go to the supermarket in the afternoon or in the evening, thereby avoiding frustration and saving on the fuel bill.

If the above actions are adhered to a reduction of 10 per cent Co2 emissions will be achieved. If such changes are adopted by 80 per cent of the Maltese families, gas emissions will be reduced by 98,000 tons per annum!

The web addresses are:

www.mycarbonfootprint.eu/
www.promotionsproduct.com.au/index.htm
www.footprint.wwf.org.uk/