Carbon Footprint Test Resources What is a Carbon Footprint

							                             Carbon Footprint Test Resources:


What is a Carbon Footprint Test?
A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the
environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of
greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels
for electricity, heating and transportation etc.

The carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually
produce and has units of tonnes (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.




                         The pie chart above shows the main elements which
            make up the total of an typical person's carbon footprint in the developed world.



A carbon footprint is made up of the sum of two parts, the primary footprint (shown by
the green slices of the pie chart) and the secondary footprint (shown as the yellow
slices).


1. The primary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning
of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation (e.g. car and
plane). We have direct control of these.


2. The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole
lifecycle of products we use - those associated with their manufacture and eventual
breakdown. To put it very simply – the more we buy the more emissions will be caused
on our behalf.
Source: www.carbonfootprint.com
Where can I find out my Carbon Footprint??

There are a number of websites that offer free Carbon Footprint Tests:

www.carbonfootprint.com
www.nature.org
www.safeclimate.net


What do I do with my carbon footprint?

Once you know what your carbon footprint is, there are a number of things that
you can do to help eliminate your environmental impact:

1. Electricity usage in your room. Turn off appliances when not in use, this
includes lights, television, DVD player, Hi Fi, computer etc. etc. ...
2. Saving heat energy. If you have a heating control in your room turn it down a
degree or two. Do not keep the window open when the heating is on other
than for necessary ventilation reasons. If you think there is a fault with the
heating and/or control in your room, especially if it is too hot – report it to the
Porter’s lodge immediately.
3. Cooking. Try and reduce the number of pots you cook in and the number of
rings/hobs you need. Share cooking with a friend. Avoid leaving hobs or the
oven on for any longer than absolutely necessary and always remember to turn
them off when you have finished cooking.
4. Using hot water. Mix the temperature of the water as it fills your sink and only
use as much water as you need for washing up what you have. Do the washing
up communally to avoid wasting hot water and hence energy – can you use a
lower wash temperatue? Keep showers as short as you can.
5. Hot drinks. Fill the kettle with only as much water as you need for your drink(s).
6. Rechargeable gadgets (mobile phone, iPod, etc.). Unplug your charger as
soon as it has finished charging.
7. Shopping. If you buy on-line and have it delivered, consolidate your
purchases with others to minimize the number of times the delivery van has to
visit.
8. What you eat and drink. Buy locally produced food if you can. Out of season
food purchased in a supermarket will have been flown or shipped from far away
– this adds to your carbon footprint.
9. Clothes. Try to buy clothes and products from closer to home (look for the
Country of manufacture and try and minimize the distance) – the greater the
distance traveled from the place of manufacture to you adds to your carbon
footprint.
10. General traveling. Use the bus, coach or train in preference to driving or
flying. If you have to travel by car try to share with others.
If you can’t do this all the time why not have a ‘green day’ once a week when
you actively think about your Carbon emissions and do something about it. Any
of the above will be a great start.
                Adapted from “Minimise your carbon footprint”
              http://www.carbonfootprint.com/Minimise_cfp.html