Going Green: Reduce your carbon footprint
Dr. Andra DHANAPALA
I am certain that you might have heard and are aware of the term
"Carbon Footprint" from the television, radio, newspapers and the
Internet, but do you really know what it means? A carbon footprint is
something that is used to measure the amount of harm caused by an
individual, an entire household, an institution or business through
their damaging Carbon Dioxide emissions, or the amount of Greenhouse
Gases (GHGs) that are produced.
To try and sustain our rapidly changing environment, it is essential
that we all attempt to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions as far as is
feasible. If we don't act now, we will leave a much larger problem to
our children. The good news is that, if we all join in to stop global
warming and anticipated climate change, we can reduce its impact on our
lives, on our environment and on our future generations.
A 'Carbon Footprint' measures the total greenhouse gas emissions
caused directly and indirectly by a person, organisation, event or
product in a given time probably a year. The footprint considers all six
of the Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases; Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane
(CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2o), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons
(PFCs) and Sulphurhexafluoride (SF6).
Carbon emission is measured in tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent
(tCO2e). The Carbon Dioxide equivalent (CO2e) allows the different
greenhouse gases to be compared on a like-for-like basis relative to one
unit of CO2. CO2e is calculated by multiplying the emissions of each of
the six greenhouse gases by its 100 year global warming potential (GWP).
A Carbon Footprint is made up of the sum of two parts, the primary
footprint and the secondary footprint. 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. 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.
GHGs and Greenhouse effect
Greenhouse gases are emissions that rise into the atmosphere and trap
the Sun's energy, keeping heat from escaping. The most important of
these gases is Carbon Dioxide. Every time a human or animal breathes
out, they release Carbon Dioxide, but there is absolutely nothing we can
do about that.
However, there is something we can do about the main source of Carbon
Dioxide, in our atmosphere - the burning of fossil fuels such as coal,
petrol and wood. Methane, the second major greenhouse gas created by
rotting plants, but more importantly, by all our rubbish as it
decomposes in landfill sites.
Nitrous Oxide is the third largest greenhouse gas that contributes to
overall atmospheric warming. Nitrous Oxide is a gas that is emitted by
bacteria in the soil and our oceans and has been a part of Earth's
atmosphere for a long time. Agriculture and livestock-primarily cows,
chickens and pigs are the main source of human-produced Nitrous Oxide.
In the industrial sector, specifically production of nylon, nitric acid
and the burning of fossil fuels in internal combustion engines are the
main sources of Nitrous Oxide. In addition many chemical compounds
concentrated in the Earth's atmosphere also act as greenhouse gases.
It is these atmospheric gases that allow sunlight to enter the
atmosphere of its won accord. When sunlight hits the Earth's surface,
some of its radiation is reflected back towards space as infra-red
radiation or heat. Greenhouse Gases absorb this infra-red radiation,
which has the effect of trapping the heat in the atmosphere just above
the Earth's surface. If the atmosphere accumulated all the trapped heat,
then the Earth's temperature would continue to rise until is was totally
out of control. As long as the balance of GHGs remains the same, and as
long as the heat we receive from the Sun remains constant, then an
equilibrium is established. In equilibrium, the natural greenhouse
effect maintains the average temperature of Earth at 16 centigrade.
The natural greenhouse effect is something that is created by the
heat radiated by the Sun and other natural gases in our atmosphere.
Without them life on Earth could not survive.
This is due to many of our favourite activities polluting the
atmosphere and producing gases. It is the build-up of these gases that
is having such a devastating effect on the planet we call our home.
Enhanced Greenhouse effect
Before the 18th century's industrial revolution the mixture of gases
that made up the atmosphere remained relatively constant. However, with
the revolution came a rapid increase in the world's population and
fossil fuels consumption. This increase meant that more of the gases
that cause the greenhouse effect were released into the atmosphere.
There is now clear evidence that the levels of Carbon Dioxide,
Methane, Nitrous Oxide and Halocarbons are increasing all the time. Many
scientists believe that these increasing concentrations of GHGs will
lead to an increase in the world's average temperature. This is what
they call the "enhanced greenhouse effect" or man-made greenhouse
effect.
As atmospheric temperatures rise, this would bring changes to whole
planet and affect every nation. This makes the greenhouse effect an
international and global matter, and every country needs to play a very
vital role before the pollution to our atmosphere escalates out of
control.
Global warming
As greenhouse gases increase in the Earth's atmosphere, the whole
world experiences many environmental problems such as;
* Extreme weather events like storms would increase
* Droughts would become more severe and widespread
* Heat stress and some places on Earth would become too hot to live
* Crops and livestock would suffer
* Glacier and polar ice caps would melt
* The melting ice would cause sea levels to rise resulting in
flooding
* Human health problems would be more widespread
* Increased water vapour in the atmosphere
Over the next century, the Earth will see progressively rising
temperatures and we are already seeing the effects. There is evidence of
changing sea levels, retreating glaciers and many more incidents of
extreme weather. The overwhelming majority of scientists believe it is
not a matter of IF the climate will change, but When and by How much.
Global warming and human-induced climate change is already staring to
have a major effect on our planet. It is no longer something that we can
ignore, saying that it will not affect us in our lifetime-it will and it
does. We need to know what we can do to slow down the whole process; so
think very carefully before you go about your normal everyday
activities.
Carbon Footprint
Every person contributes carbon dioxide emissions into the air in one
way or another. Even everyday activities that seem virtually harmless
can increase your carbon footprint and add to the greenhouse gas
problem.
Here are a few activities that contribute to your carbon footprint:
* Driving your car
* Travelling
* Using electricity
* Going shopping
* Cleaning
* Heating and cooling
* Eating and drinking
* Recreational activities
When you do any of these things, and many more besides, did you know
that you are sending greenhouse gases into the atmosphere? If you think
about how many times a day you do these things and multiply that by the
number of other people doing the same things. It's a lot of pollution!
So what we can do to make a difference. How can you personally have an
impact on global warming and the sustainability of the environment? The
first thing you should do is to recognise how you contribute directly or
indirectly to the greenhouse gas problem. Then you need to figure out
how you can reduce your carbon dioxide contributions and increase your
green practices. You can do all of this by knowing your carbon
footprint.
The best way to calculate your total carbon dioxide contributions is
to complete a carbon footprint calculator. Carbon footprint calculators
measure your total carbon emissions based on what you do at home and how
you travel. You would be amazed to know how much carbon dioxide you
contribute to the air every day just by waking up and going to work.
From brushing your teeth to driving a car, all of these activities
increase your carbon footprint. You can start to reduce your carbon
footprint and begin living an eco lifestyle by following some simple
steps.
Eco lifestyle
Your lifestyle is the way that you live, and that includes everything
from how you get around and interact with people to the way that you
shop and consume food.
It takes knowledge about the environment and how to sustain it, as
well as a desire to change your old habits and attitudes, to live a
happy and healthy eco-lifestyle.
Even though driving a car is a necessity to you, your family or
society, it also produces harmful air pollutants that can pose as health
risks to humans and as dangers to the land's natural resources. The
average vehicle burns about 98 tons of fossil fuels to every gallon of
gas. And since fossil fuels are non-renewable, they can't be regenerated
fast enough to keep up with human consumption. So how can you cut down
on this serious problem and minimize your carbon footprint? The solution
is the green vehicle. Green vehicles cut down on the fossil fuels that
are burned for every mile the car drives, but each green technology has
its own set of pros and cons.
A green vehicle is a vehicle that uses alternative fuel sources to
run. A regular car uses petroleum fuel to run a car. Petroleum fuel is
also known as a fossil fuel. Fossil fuels are non-renewable energy
sources that release harmful greenhouse gases in the air. A green car
uses alternative fuel sources, such as biodiesel fuel, solar energy or
rechargeable battery electricity, to run the car.
There are popular types of green cars:
* Hybrid Car - Features a gas engine with an electric motor
* Electric Car - Uses an electric-powered motor and a battery to operate
* Hydrogen Car - Burns hydrogen to fuel the motor
* Biodiesel Car - Uses biodegradable biodiesel fuel to power the car
* Fuel Cel Car - Generates electricity by forming a chemical reaction
between Hydrogen and Oxygen.
If you unable to change your vehicle into a green vehicle try to
reduce the amount of times you travel per week. Try using public
transport as much as possible, or alternatively take to walking or
cycling as an alternative means of getting around. If you have to use
your car for work, find out about the possibilities of signing up for a
car share scheme.
The best way to conserve energy is to cut down on your energy use. A
Sri Lankan household spends a considerable amount annually on
electricity. Almost half of the energy we consume in our homes is used
for lighting, cooling and recreation purposes. Make sure your
air-conditioner, refrigerator, television, computer, microwave and other
electrical items are well-maintained and is the correct size for the
area it's used.
Unplug any appliances that are not being used and try to buy more
energy-efficient models. By leaving the refrigerator door open even for
a few extra seconds, you are wasting a lot of electricity.
Make sure you always close your refrigerator door and keep the
temperature between 36-38 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn off all lights when
you're not using them and replace incandescent bulbs with new screw-in
fluorescent bulbs to use 75 percent less electricity. Most people use
50-70 gallons of water every day in their homes. Always turn off the
running water when you are brushing your teeth, washing your hands or
doing the dishes. Repair any dripping faucets and toilet tank leaks. Try
to avoid flushing unnecessary trash down the toilet.
Going shopping
It would be fair to say that Sri Lankans are a nation of people who
love to do shopping. Day by day we are bombarded with various
advertisements encouraging us to buy the latest products in the market.
It is very easy for us to forget that many of these new products, and
indeed the ones we already use, have a major impact on the environment.
Fortunately this is an area where we can start making a difference
straightaway without it having to cost a lot of money.
For example, buying more organic produce, looking for their trade
labels, avoiding food that has a lot of unnecessary packaging and taking
your own bags to the supermarket instead of ending up with hundreds of
plastic bags.
Practically everything we buy has its own carbon footprint whether it
is transportation costs or the amount of electricity that goes into the
manufacturing of the product or its packaging. try very hard not to buy
produce that is packaged unnecessarily.
Refuse to put your vegetables or fruits into the plastic bags or eggs
that are packaged in polystyrene or other non-biogradable materials.
Start by buying local produce, for example fruit and vegetables and
local farm meat, wherever possible.
Reduce, reuse and recycle
Most people don't think twice about what they put in the garbage. The
average Sri Lankan household produces a few killogrammes of trash per
week, which adds up to few tons per year. That means over hundred
million tons of trash are produced by everyone in Sri Lanka every year!
Over 50 percent of this trash is buried in landfills. The widespread
problem across Sri Lanka is the increasing struggle to find alternative
ways to reduce the amount of trash accumulation.
Unfortunately there is no clear program in Sri Lanka yet to reuse or
recycle these garbage mountains, but inreality over half of it can be
recycled into new products. Recycling is one of the most important acts
to follow in our daily lives because it can reduce the amount of waste
in our landfills, sustain our natural resources and provide better air
and water quality.Recycling is the process of collecting materials that
are often considered trash and remanufacturing them into new products
that can be resold and used again.
It is made possible by people who separate the recyclable products
from their trash and send the items to a recycling centre where the
products are reprocessed into new items.
Recycling can also include reusing products for different purposes in
your own home instead of throwing them away.Recycling is more important
than ever because just throwing away trash in a landfill or digging a
hole and burying it is not a solution to the waste problem. Most natural
trash items such as food can break down and decompose in a matter of
weeks, leaving no trace of it in the environment. But for man-made
products like glass, plastic bags and aluminum cans it may take months
or years to break down.
Here are some averages for how long it takes certain products to
biodegrade in the earth:
* Plastic soda bottles: one million years
* Glass: one million years
* Aluminum cans: 50 to 200 years
* Paper: one to 5 months
* Disposable diaper: 500 years
* Batteries: 100 years.
There are thousands of items that can be recycled and reused as new
products. Listed below are the most common items:
* Glass Recycling - Clear glass bottles
* Plastic Recycling - Plastic bottles and milk jugs, shampoo and motor
oil containers
* Metal Recycling - Aluminum cans and scrap metal.
* Paper - Printer paper, newspaper, magazines and coloured paper.
There are also many products whose components are recyclable, such as
computers and mobile phones. And products that you wouldn't even think
could be recycled, such as automobile tires, can be broken down and
reused on roadways and for shower tiles.
Offset carbon and growing your own
Another way of helping the environment is to plant trees to offset
the carbon. Because trees breathe in Carbon Dioxide and convert it into
Oxygen - a process called sequestration - this is not only an
inexpensive but an exceptionally rewarding way of contributing to the
well-being of our environment.
Next time you sit out in your garden, just remember that all the
plants in your garden are playing their part to make this a better world
to live in.Imagine walking to your garden or your allotment and picking
a basket of fresh vegetables and, less than a couple of hours later,
they are on your plate. The taste of fruits and vegetables freshly
picked is far superior to produce bought at the supermarket which may
have been sitting around weeks or months before it reaches your table.
The aim of organic gardening is to create an environment in which
healthy plants can be grown successfully without the aid of chemicals
that would either pollute the soil or damage wildlife.If you create an
environment like this, then natural predators will do the work for you,
alleviating the need to artificially control pests and diseases.
Further, 30 to 50 percent of all your household waste could be used
to fertilise your garden. Therefore, it is well worth the effort of
starting your own compost. Making compost is often thought to be too
complex, but all you need are that right ingredients and simply let
nature do the rest. We all of us must do something positive for our
planet today. It is certain that thousands of others like us, will make
a difference if not immediately, then for the benefit of the next
generation. Be aware that the resources on our planet are not finite and
will eventually run out.
In fact, some of our natural resources have already been depleted and
it is for us to realise for that if we don't do something about it now,
our only legacy will be a trail of devastation for our children and
grandchildren. In truth, "Going Green" is no longer an option. It is a
necessity. Starting today, make it your own personal mission to do
everything possible to stop global warming - after all, it is up to us
as human beings to stop the situation getting worse.
The writer is former Senior Lecturer, University of Colombo and
University of Auckland, New Zealand. |