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Going Green: Reduce your carbon footprint

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.

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