Carbon Footprint - The Recap

Since I first began this blog experience on October 8, I’ve learned a lot about what a carbon footprint is, and just how much information is out there in cyber space about the topic. I’ve found great websites, (some redundant), and wonderful blogs, too. I plan to keep checking in on certain blogs, and hope to work diligently at keeping my footprint to a minimum. Changing one’s habits are not easy, but I hope I’ve led you to at least think about the future, and what would happen if we don’t take action now.

Besides learning about carbon footprinting, I’ve also learned about the world of blogging. It’s huge, incomprehensibly huge. The ease of which I could change this site’s template, edit my words, receive comments and add a survey or favorite link section is amazing. I’ve been recommending blogging to many friends, if not to write one than to read one. The information out there is waiting to be read and noticed.

Carbon footprinting, reducing green house gases, saving energy, renewable energy sources, recycling, Energy Star light bulbs, carpooling, public transportation, carbon offsets, buying local, green economy; so many buzz words, so little time to make that change for our future.
What are YOU doing?

Green Businesses

As I was searching the web, blogs, advertisements and links, I came across a website that specialized in promoting green businesses. Yes, businesses of all kinds that are geared toward being environmentally friendly. Think organic foods, clean energy, organic cotton and other eco products.

EcoBusinesslinks offers a site that is easy to navigate to find anything from beauty products to solar panels in the US, with some links to the UK, too. At the bottom of the home page, there is a link to environmental news around the world, with more links to organizations and sources for up to date information. This is probably the most comprehensive site yet that I’ve seen. Worth a look-see!

Have you come across any eco-friendly businesses in your community? At community produce stands and off-beat shops I’ve found organic clothes and books. It seems like the eco business is taking off. Whole Foods Market must have tons of information in its stores. I should walk through one day and check out prices. Trader Joe’s is another great store with an organic line. Maybe these stores are in your vicinity?

Well, enjoy looking around these websites or stores. Happy shopping!

Source:
EcoBusinesslinks

Carbon Offsets

So, you know your carbon footprint because you calculated your CO2 emissions. You realize that you are recycling all you are able, you carpool or bike to destinations, you travel less by airplane, and all your light bulbs are Energy Star. You still want to make a better impact on the environment. What’s there to do?

Money can’t buy you love, but it can buy you what’s called a carbon offset. You still want to help the environment and the cause to reduce greenhouse gases, and there are legitimate companies that can help you feel better it. One I like is called Terrapass, which tells you how to green just about anything, including your wedding! The money you donate funds projects promoting clean energy, like wind farms or tree planting.

Also on this site you can enter your car information, such as year, make and model, and it calculates the emissions your car contributes to the environment. It also gives a quote of what you could pay to offset your car.

Here’s what it said for my car; I have a Chrysler 2001 Town and Country. On average, I drive it 12,000 miles, and it emits a little over that in lbs. of CO2. The amount I could pay to offset my carbon emissions? About $80 a year. The money goes towards funding environmental clean funds. Skeptic that I am, I’m not writing a check. I’d do a little more investigating to see just where my money would actually be going.

There are several carbon offset websites to visit and explore. The basic premise is great, but one has to wonder if people would rather write a check than to really change their habits at home. Nobody said it was going to be easy.

Source:
Terrapass, retrieved November 1, 2007

State Info Revealed

E: Environment Redux: To bring back

This website, Eredux.com, helps communities across the United States develop social networks to help their town “Go Green” by giving them online tools and resources to accomplish a pro-action style. By filling in your zip code, you will be directed to a local blog space which has events and resources for that particular town.

The New Jersey facts are outstanding regarding our carbon footprint. All the states are listed with green bars that signify their population, their carbon output, and their total carbon ranking. Where do you think NJ is on the scale? Top, near the top? Well, we’re 9th in population, our per capita carbon output is 41, yet our carbon ranking is 16. What does it mean?

Well, each NJ resident produces 15 tons, yes TONS, of carbon dioxide each year. We are the 16th highest polluting state, which is not a surprise since we have a high population and industry. Is anyone surprised, or appalled? Remember your carbon footprint number from the calculator? Can you now see how this affects everyone in the state, and the nation?
Check out this informative interactive site.

Source:
Eredux.com website, Retreived October 31, 2007

Renewable Energy Sources

So, as mentioned before, I’d like to talk about methods available to reduce our use of fossil fuels energy sources such as coal and gas. They are wind, water, solar and geothermal energy. I’ll briefly talk about each.

I have seen wind farms in the hills of Livermore, CA, and what a beautiful sight it is; hundreds if not thousands of windmills creating energy for the community as their white blades turn. New wind parks on and off shore are in the planning stages worldwide.
This is a renewable energy source which does not contribute to greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane).

Hydro-electric power, or water power, is used by creating dams or using tidal flows. However, the bigger issue is with the environment in developed nations and what other factors would be affected. It is recommended for small scale operations such as small farms, businesses, or homes.

We have all seen solar panels on house roofs in our area, and if you haven’t, start looking! There are a few brave folks in South Jersey who have made the jump. Special windows help trap heat in the house while the solar energy is stored in a grid system while waiting to be used. Yes, the winter months may be different due to the suns positioning, and the solar paneling need to be free of snow build up, but it works!

Geothermal energy is from the earth’s core, and can be used as heating or for electricity. It’s created by pumping oil or water into the Earth, then after it evaporates the hot gases that vent out run turbines to electric generators. Complex, yes, and if oil is used it doesn’t seem environmentally right. But on a small scale, it can be used to hear buildings. Also, certain locations cool down, meaning that they may dry up, so operations would have to be moved. It doesn’t sound like a renewable energy source if the heat at the core gets used up.

Sources:
Renewable fuel sources link from Robin Nixon’s blog, (1983-2007)

Impressive Blog Discovered

In my search around the internet for carbon footprint information, I discovered this blog by Robin Nixon, who is a freelance author, programmer, and web designer who is also very into the environment. His blog includes synopses of other articles he has found about happenings around the world, such as ethanol issues, CO2 saturation in the oceans and the hidden costs of what we can expect from climate change. He has links to the entire article at the end of his short postings, which he posts almost daily.

I was impressed with his resource page. Finding it took some searching, but if you go to his home website, then to his website link, up comes a big list of his passions…environment issues being one. I was interested in renewable fuel sources so I clicked on the link. Wow…alternate energy sources to help decrease our carbon footprint! Check out my next entry as I talk more in depth about wind, water, solar, geothermal energy as well as energy from biofuels.

So, how are you coming with decreasing your carbon footprint? Try the calculator yet? Buy those Energy Star lightbulbs? Governor Corzine just asked NJ citizens to replace at least 5 bulbs with Energy Star…maybe I’ll see you at the hardware store this weekend.

Sources:
Robin Nixon’s blog
Renewable fuel sources link from Robin Nixon’s blog, (1983-2007)

Future Job Opportunities

As I was reading my morning paper, sipping my delicious Fair Trade coffee, I came across an article in the commentary section. This man from Oakland, CA, Van Jones, is making an impact on the African American community and its youth. He has formed a group to create the Oakland Apollo Alliance, which has raised $250,000 to create a union-supported training program for youth to learn how to put up solar panels and weatherize buildings.

Why? Well, Mr. Jones has taken the green concept one step further. He is looking ahead to the time when the US will need trained people in the solar industry; a great vocation for youth to be able to do. He wants Congress to allocate $125 million to train 30,000 young people in green trades. His aim is to help poor African American families, but anyone would benefit from this training. Green trade or economy might be the new buzz word in the future. We need people like Van Jones to think ahead, to prepare, to educate people NOW before it’s too late.

Check out his website Green for All and see what Mr. Jones is doing “to combine solutions to America’s two biggest problems: social inequality and environmental destruction.”


Source:
The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 22, 2007, “Seeing Green in Going Green”, commentary by Thomas Friedman.

Green for All Website, (not affiliated)

The Movie that started it all

In 2006, a movie was released that would change the way our world would view the climate changes we are experiencing. It brought the topic to the forefront of the world stage, forcing leaders of all nations to think about their use of fossil fuels and our dependence on oil. Al Gore would go on to share the Nobel Peace Prize due to what he discovered in his research on global warming as he depicted it in An Inconvenient Truth.

I watched the movie and was horrified to see what has happened to our earth in the last century alone. Finally, the last 10 minutes of the film offered a glimmer of hope to what individuals can do to slow down the destruction of our atmosphere. The website that accompanies the movie, An Inconvenient Truth, does a great job defining global warming and what is happening around the earth. There is also a link to “Take Action”, which gives one ideas how to help locally, nationally, and internationally. It links to how one can become carbon neutral by answering questions similar to the calculator I mentioned in a previous blog.

Regardless of your political ties and leanings, it’s worth checking out. If you rent it, keep it on through the end credits, as Melissa Etheridge sings the theme song as the words are on the screen. Powerful.

Sources:
An Inconvenient Truth Website, 2006

Video and TV Influences

I found this great video on the YouTube website. Please check it out…it’s one of those videos what make you think “How did they do that?” It portrays many different scenarios of life, but focuses on the actor’s oily feet. The best scenario is of the lady in the bathtub. Now that I have your interest peaked, I know you’ll click on the link to check out the video.

So what, you may ask? It’s a reminder that we ALL have some kind of footprint that we are leaving behind. No matter what we do, we are leaving behind problems for future generations. I just heard that John Stossel from 20/20 on ABC, had comments about global warming on Friday, October 19th. From his remarks, it appears that he is trying to disprove the seriousness of global warming, that it is not a man-made issue. Does that mean the human race shouldn’t take action? He begins, “The globe is warming, it's our fault and the consequences are going to be terrible. So goes the rhetoric spouted by politicians, celebrities and the media.” I hope that his underlying tone is not political, but if anyone follows the news these days, it seems that one party is all for a reduction in CO2, and the other isn’t making legislation changes needed for businesses/organizations to decrease their footprints. I’m not going down the political path here, but the bottom line is that something has to change, and soon.

Sources:
ABCNews Website, “Man vs. Nature” article by John Stossel, October 19, 2007
YouTube Website, “Carbon Footprint Advert”

The Calculator

So, now you know what the primary and secondary footprint measures…..the next question is to find your primary carbon footprint to get a base line. I’ve found a great calculator to use, but there is some work involved to get the information. Dig out your gas and electric bills, and figure out what your annual car mileage is. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a link to a Personal Emission Calculator, which also asks questions about your recycling habits. It mentions that businesses and organizations can also do their part in helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ever thought about your habits in the workplace? Reducing paper, your light bulbs, energy use, recycling?

Allow yourself 10-15 minutes to complete the online calculator. After I completed the exercise, I noticed that my footprint was reduced significantly because I recycled, but if I went one step further by using Energy Star light bulbs, then it would help the environment even more.

After you are done filling in the necessary blanks, you’ll see your totals at the bottom. Are you surprised? Shocked? Concerned? Take some time to reflect on what you discovered.

Source:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website, Personal Emission Calulator

The Red Meat Issue

One item I want to address from my last post is about reducing the consumption of red meat. I received a comment that I agree needs to be clarified. Why red meat? What about chicken, pork, etc? Well, I did a little research, and found this out…it’s a bit of a stretch, but I can see the point. In the Green Lifestyle Handbook, by Jeremy Rifkin (1990), he mentions that grain fed meat production is expensive, from the production of the grain to the overfeeding of the cattle and water waste, “a one pound steak that provides 500 food calories requires the expenditure of 20,000 calories of fossil fuel energy.” A blogger can spend days talking about US meat production and wastes which occur, but I’m trying to stick to carbon footprinting.

Another point is that these suggestions seem moot in the face of other countries that are not doing their part to reduce green house gases. I want to stress “The Power of One”, yes, change starts simply with one person and grows from there. Like voting, it’s a copout to think your vote doesn’t count, so why bother. Come on! Take a stand, whether you see the results now or never, the small step you make now will benefit someone down the road…..eons from now….your descendants.
It’s a water bottle, a light bulb, a plastic bag. It couldn’t be easier.

Sources:
Green Lifestyle Handbook, by Jeremy Rifkin (1990)

Secondary Footprint explained

As I mentioned previously, the secondary footprint measures CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use, from the manufacturing and distributing of these products. What exactly does this mean for us as consumers? It boils down to considering where the products we buy have been made, and the materials and processes used to make them. This seems to require a lot of thinking, but once we understand the concept, it’s an easy choice to make. Here are some tips to consider:

☼ Use your tap water instead of buying bottled - your tap water is most likely just fine to drink, yet millions of us buy water in plastic bottles. The emissions used to make the bottles, recycle them and transport them to your store are high. Check your tap water first.
☼Buy local food and produce – Check the label before you buy food at the market. Buy local as often as possible because it travels fewer miles, reducing the emissions used for transportation.
☼Plant a garden to provide fruit and vegetables.
☼Reduce your consumption of red meat.
☼Check clothing labels. If it comes from beyond 1000 miles, the process of transporting it to your store has used fossil fuels.
☼Avoid items that come in unnecessary packaging. The manufacturing of the packaging alone is wasteful.

Yes, the production as well as transportation of an item is just as important as the item itself regarding carbon footprinting. Try one tip a week, or month; start slow and then you’ll realize just reducing a little of your secondary footprint isn’t as hard as you may have thought.

Check this quick video out from Treehugger that describes how one person is reducing her secondary footprint.

Source:
Carbon Footprint website, Secondary Carbon Footprint
Treehugger video, "Reducing the Impact"

Definition of Carbon Footprint

So what is a carbon footprint, you ask? I found a great site Carbonfootprint.com that simply says that it is a measure of the impact human activities have on our environment in terms of how much greenhouse gases are produced. This measurement is in units of CO2, carbon dioxide. This footprint is made up of two parts, the primary or direct footprint, and the secondary or indirect footprint. Here’s a quick breakdown of what it means:

☼ Primary measures our use of car and plane use through emissions of CO2 – burning fossil fuels.
☼ Secondary measures CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use, which are associated with the manufacturing and distributing of these products.

So now, what does that all mean? Are there ways we can begin to eliminate some of our impact? Actually, there are some very easy things we can do to reduce our primary use, such as:
Carpool, car-share, use public transportation, and fly less. More drastic measures would include using solar and renewable energy sources.

Look for my next post as I explore ways to reduce our secondary or indirect footprint.

Source:

Carbonfootprint.com

First day jitters

Welcome to my very first blog! It seems overwhelming, this task to discover just what carbon footprinting is and how I'm contributing to the slow destruction of my planet. How can we get the word out to change our habits NOW to benefit those that will come after us? Is it hard to do, figuring out what our carbon footprint is? Please follow along with me on my journey to help define this concept, and to try to eliminate or slow down the footprints we are making on a daily basis. I look forward to sharing with you what I've learned during this process. I hope to find websites, books and articles on carbon footprinting so we all can become better aware.