What is carbon footprint?
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.
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The pie chart above shows the main elements which 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.
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Calculate your Carbon Footprint (Courtesy of PG&E)
<Click> this picture for the Carbon Footprint calculator
How do we reduce our carbon footprint?
There are many simple ways to reduce carbon emmisions:
- Conservation
+ Reduce energy consumption
– Reduce heat loss in your home (check insulationsand gap around doors and windows)
– Upgrade to Energy Efficient Appliances
– Replace standard light bulbs with their equivalents (ie. Compact Flourescent Lights – CFL)
– Turn electrical equipment off when not in use
+ Re-use products – clothing, grocery bags, etc..
+ Recycle – Recycling uses less energy and produces less pollution than making things from scratch - Renewable Energy
+ Solar PhotoVoltaic (PV) system
Photovoltaic (PV) provides a clean renewable source of electricity
+ Solar Hot Water Heating System
Sun energy is collected and transferred to heat water for your home
For more information on how to reduce your carbon footprint, contact us
Wong GreenTech
Phone: (650) 353-7752
E-Mail: info@wonggreentech.com
Web: www.wonggreentech.com/contact-us