What are you doing to reduce your carbon footprint?

Answer 1

I am the founder of a Community development project that not only stores carbon and reduces my footprint such that I wear a highly negative shoe size, but my organization also increases the quality of life and the economic standing for many rural farmers and their families in a semi arid district in Kenya. It's my personal project, but I made a myspace page to get what I'm doing out there a bit and also to link my organization to a non-profit charity which has agreed to honor any education funds that I might attract such that I can direct these funds for the benefit of the high school students in my community. Anyways, if you want to read about it then you may go to: http://www.myspace.com/kaihome

I also noticed a couple of others that have said that they are involved in planting trees. The person directly above me stated that they run a non-profit that conducts reforestry in Britain. I don't mean to belittle their operation but it has been studied that planting trees that far north, while still storing carbon, is actually detrimental as far as its effects on Global Warming. So yes, they may be reducing people's carbon footprints via offsets, but unfortunately the further from the Equator that trees are planted the worst as far as Global Climate is concerned, especially if they are converting areas that are typically grassland, and/or of a high enough altitude that their is snow cover for part of the year as these surfaces tend to be more reflective then tree cover and reduce the warming effect more then the trees which replace it. Here is a link that goes into more detail: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2006/dec/15/ethicalliving.lifeandhealth Anyways, planting trees in Britain is of only a nominal gain compared to what can be done in equatorial regions. I wish these non-profits, ngos and corporations would do more research into the "science" of planting trees! I don't know where the other respondent to your question who talked about tree planting is conducting their reforestation, but my same complaint concerning this narrow minded idea that just planting trees may also apply? Just like most things in life, it's all about Location, Location, Location!!!

PS, if any of you readers are ever thinking of offsetting your carbon please do the research to be sure that the reforestation projects are close to the equator and that they are being planted for the betterment of the society in a sustainable fashion. Also it is very important to check that the majority of the agroforestry trees will be utilized in ways that will see a continued storage of the carbon that they remove from the environment and that if it is to be released again to make sure that it will be at the full utilization of its energy and not just left to rot. Thanks!

Answer 2

There are so many people doing nothing and produce about 20 tonnes of CO2 per year on average. I decided to do more than my share. I am the principal in a corporation that is setting up bio fuel operations based on agricultural waste (140,000 tonnes of coal displaced per year) and animal waste (400 tonnes of oil displaced per year). Energy is a by-product rather than the focus of these projects. Other considerations pay the cost of production. These projects will reduce the carbon emissions of more than a million people in my district by about 1.2% and make a profit for my shareholders. R&D for a larger (20 million tonnes of biomass per year) project started this year.

Answer 3

I have given up my car, I now cycle to most places. I use energy saving light bulbs, never have anything on standby. During the winter I try and keep ambient room temp lower at about 17C. I recycle all my paper, cans and glass. Unfortunately Manchester Council do not collect plastic so I'm struggling with that one. I also have not had any long haul flights in years and have kept plane journeys to a minimum.
Is that enough?

Answer 4

I bought a new vehicle the doubled the MPG of the old one
Remodeled the house and put in better insulation,LowE2 windows, energy star kitchen appliances, energy star washer,low flow bath fixtures, Recycle bottle, cans and plastics. Cut the miles I drive And I never fly in Private jets to be self important like Al Gore.

Danni

Answer 5

not walking around in charcoal! You can laugh later if you want.

I have not changed much but then my carbon footprint is tiny anyway, i don't have a car (cycle or train most places) Haven't been in a plane for years, can't afford to have a lot of lights on.

I would try to buy more local food but for some reason its just so much more expensive that i can't

Answer 6

Being Serious we gave up a car and share one between two now. I have started making my own compost and have planted out my garden with Vegetables. I also walk my son to school and back everyday he lives a mile and a half from his school and he is 4 years old.
we never leave a light on when we are out of the room and switch everything off standby now.
we are working to do better though.

Answer 7

we recycle between 2/3 and 3/4 of our waste and have been doing that for at least 20 years, I examine everything I do and try and think of ways to do it better by making less waste and using less energy. When I go to buy a new car I will be looking at fuel
efficiency first.

Answer 8

Taking my feet off my legs and put wheels on instead, that way i don't have a footprint anymore

Answer 9

We offer charitable non-profit CO2 offsetting in the UK, and so far think we're the only non-profit company doing this. I think the fact big business is raking in profit off the back of CO2 is what angers people and makes them suspicious. We make no profit and do it for the good of us all - we believe that's how it should be done to be genuine. This is our contribution towards reducing CO2 in the UK.

Answer 10

I don't have a car, I either cycle or walk.
Turn off electrical appliances when not in use.
Use energy saving light bulbs.
Only boil as much water as needed in the kettle
Use my own bags for shopping, not plastic carrier bags.
Recycle, reuse and compost as much as possible.
Keep the central heating down and wear thermals and extra layers of clothing in cold weather.
Lot of other things as well, all second nature to me as it saves me money and I don't like waste.