Carbon Footprints

Recently posted Carbon Footprint Reports submitted by WinACC members are shown below.

Paul Montgomery, Feb 10

2 person household footprint: 26.7 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.
Based on the household size, this carbon footprint equates to 13.35 tonnes per person

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
Reduced local travel by car, switched to cycle, public transport. Started lighting replacement but low energy spotlights are still expensive. However two long distance air journeys and european air journeys to visit family blow everything else away.

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
Cut air travel. Drive less - reduce long distance car journeys too, use public transport more (plan better?) Continue replacement of lamps (and other electrical applicances) as appropriate

Any other comments
I was shocked to see the carbon cost of our (untypical) air travel in 2009.

Martin Tod, Feb 10

Individual footprint: 4.0 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
Reduced gas usage by around a quarter by working out how to programme the timer on the central heating and turning the thermostat down a couple of degrees. Cut electric bills by about 7% by changing our remaining halogen lights and buying a real-time meter to help us spot things that use a lot of electricity. Cut car travel by 13% by driving less and cycling or using public transport or lift-sharing more. Cut flights by 84% by not going to the US - and going on holiday to Barcelona by train...

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
Have just changed the car to a second hand BlueMotion VW Polo (£0 car tax, 99g/km CO2), and moved to using Ecotricity for my electricity - so should see the effect of this in the next 12 months. Still want to cut heating bills further, so will turn down the thermostat even further!

Marwell Wildlife, Nov 09

Organisation footprint: 1,744.0 tonnes

Marwell Wildlife — Private organisation

Measured using the Carbon Trust carbon calculator.

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
Marwell have been working on energy efficiency measures through 2009 and increasing awareness of consumption in different areas of the park. Switch off policies and better thermostat control are already making a measurable difference

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
In the short term we are working hard to identify more efficiency savings. We are rolling out domestic energy monitors from Current Cost to monitor individual buildings and encouraging staff to use these at home for thier own monitoring. We are assessing renewable energy technologies now to see which would be suitable for use in the park to achieve significant savings

Any other comments
Our carbon footprint is for Jan - Dec 2008 and includes energy embodied in water supplies, sewage treatment, waste management and staff commuting so we are looking at all these areas for futher reductions.

Bill Gunyon, Jan 10

Individual footprint: 2.5 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
Adjusted central heating set-up so that water is heated by electricity rather than gas (but not yet working 100%).

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
Dispose of old car. Undecided as yet whether to manage without a car or buy very low emission model such as Smart diesel. Clear out junk from loft so that insulation can be fitted. Sort out water arrangement to that 100% heated by electric.

Any other comments
Not very convinced by Act On calculation.

Bob Whitmarsh, Jan 10

Individual footprint: 2.6 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
I've managed to reduce our household's footprint in the last 12 months by 26% by 1) replacing our 10-yr old petrol Rover car with a nearly new diesel Skoda Fabia car that emits only 120 g CO2/km 2) replacing old and smeary double glazing on the first floor with Band A double glazing (this also cuts out drafts) and 3) making Ecotricity our supplier of electricity (thereby halving our emisisons per kWh).

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
This heating season I've tried to control the gas CH boiler semi-manually to keep the temperature at the thermostat in the range 16-18 degC. This avoids the boiler cycling wastefully around 18degC. When the temp. drops to around 16 I just put the boiler on again. It seems to save gas. Maybe we just need a new thermostat! We certainly ought to move to a modern condensing boiler (gas is the single biggest component of our footprint) and are waiting for the old one to 'die'. Maybe in 2010? Might also go for a new double-glazed front door without holes (no letterbox and keyhole) in it which should save heat loss.

Any other comments
My real DIY calculated footprint is actually 2.8 tonnes but ActonCO2's figure is pretty close to that.

Solapower Ltd, Dec 09

Organisation footprint: 8.0 tonnes

Solapower Ltd — Public organisation

Measured using the Carbon Trust carbon calculator.

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
New organisation so none yet.

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
Try to get energy saving lightbulbs fitted. Cut down unnecessary travel. Try to get PV panels installed at office. Use less electrical appliances.

Roy Broadhead, Nov 09

2 person household footprint: 4.2 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.
Based on the household size, this carbon footprint equates to 2.10 tonnes per person

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
Changed 30 light bulbs to low energy. Used train for longer journeys.

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
Walk and cycle more. Eat less meat

Nick Tuson, Nov 09

Individual footprint: 0.6 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
sold car

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
more insulation

Any other comments
already low. Main problem is girlfriend - uses 4x more water and 3x more electricity than I do, twice heating and 3x transport - for same lifestyle!

Joanna Holland, Nov 09

Individual footprint: 2.0 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
Have always been green about my lifestyle. I don't drive and make very good use of my bicycle and walking legs. I am vegetarian, I buy local, organic food whenever I can. I try to make purchases that are of little or no packaging and only buy what I need. I never take carrier bags home from shops. I have always recycled everything I can. I have all possible energy lightbulbs in my house. I live in rented accommodation, so cannot change any of my house fxtures and fitting or any appliances already supplied. I am not really sure what else I could do?

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
I am not really sure what else I could do?

Barnaby Stonier, Oct 09

4 person household footprint: 19.3 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.
Based on the household size, this carbon footprint equates to 4.83 tonnes per person

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
We have replaced many of our lightbulbs with energy saving lightbulbs.

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
We will walk or cycle instead of using the car for short journeys and will try to use less electricity at home, especially for lighting.

Any other comments
Our home carbon footprint is below the national average but due to flights and car use our overall carbon footprint is way above average.