Environment - Calculating Your Carbon Footprint

More and more businesses are taking responsibility for their Carbon Footprint. Measured in units of carbon dioxide (CO2), the carbon footprint reflects the impact our activities have on the environment as a result of the greenhouse gases we produce.

Despite the growing awareness, global warming – the gradual increase in temperature of the earth’s surface – has been with us for a long time: at least since the industrial revolution. The problem is that as we lead ever-more sophisticated lifestyles surrounded by technological innovations it’s inevitable we consume more energy than our ancestors did say 100 years ago. It’s not just the developed western countries that are to blame; as technology spreads to countries in Africa and Asia, more and more carbon emissions are produced: improved lifestyles mean increased energy consumption.

One of the biggest causes of carbon emissions is electricity. Think about the number of electrical appliances and gadgets you find in a typical household: computers, printers, stereo systems, DVD players, TVs, electronic games. In the last 20 years alone we have vastly increased our regular usage of electricity and there is much evidence to suggest global warming is the result of human activities contributing to a build up of greenhouse gases.

Businesses and individuals are waking up to the fact that there’s a lot they can do to help minimize their usage of electricity and therefore reduce their carbon footprint. Turning off computers at night, switching the TV off rather than leaving it on standby, switching off lights – there’s a lot we can do to cut our electricity usage down.

Although the process of climate change is relatively slow, there’s little doubt that it is happening. If we sit back and do nothing, temperatures will continue to rise over time. Sea levels will rise, affecting local climate conditions, forests, crops, and water supplies.
By acting today, we can offset many of the potential problems of tomorrow. Start by calculating your own carbon footprint by visiting :

http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.html

The carbon footprint website allows you to calculate your own carbon footprint based on your household fuel bills and annual travel requirements. The site also offers some useful insight on how you can offset your own carbon emissions and/or minimize your footprint.

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[ Calculating Your Carbon Footprint ]