You may not be surprised that many of us don’t know what our carbon footprint number is, or even what a carbon footprint is. So, first let me explain just what a carbon footprint actually is (courtesy of Wikipedia):
Click here to Calculate your Carbon Footprint
“A carbon footprint is “the total set of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by an organization, event, product or person.” Greenhouse gases can be emitted through transport, land clearance, and the production and consumption of food, fuels, manufactured goods, materials, wood, roads, buildings, and services. For simplicity of reporting, it is often expressed in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide, or its equivalent of other GHGs, emitted.
Once the size of a carbon footprint is known, a strategy can be devised to reduce it. Scholars suggest the most effective way to decrease a carbon footprint is to either decrease the amount of energy needed for production or to decrease the dependence on carbon emitting fuels. ”
To put it in practical terms, think of knowing your current carbon footprint number as similar to the first day of your diet when you step on the scale and see the amount you weigh. And, how you are motivated to reduce that number. It is the jumping off point – the place to measure how far you have come from.
There are many ways we can reduce our carbon footprints. Sometimes, we can rely on alternative projects, like solar or wind power, reforestation, etc. which is known as Carbon Offsetting. So, we compensate for an emission that is made somewhere else.
Here are a few examples from my prior posts:
Hairspray Heaven - Aveda offsets the use of their aerosol hairsprays
Let’s Put on a Greener Show - the trucks that take the sets, costumes, etc. for more and more National Tours are now Touring Green
Which Came First – The Book or the Tree? - Eco-libris will plant a tree for every book you read. (this one personally helps me feel less guilty about buying books)
So…what’s YOUR number? How can you reduce it?