Carbon Footprints for Individuals
Recently posted Carbon Footprint Reports for individual WinACC members are shown below.
Liz Meech, Feb 10
Individual footprint: 4.4 tonnes
Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.
Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
“Loft insulation, change to energy saving bulbs, turning off electrical appliances at the wall
”
Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
“Check tyre pressures on car, use public transport to commute to work, switch to green tariff on electricity bills and get a real-time display to monitor energy usage.”
Marco Poliafico, Feb 10
Individual footprint: 6.9 tonnes
Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.
Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
“home improvement”
Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
“carbon footprint from trips”
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.”
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?”
Richard Shingletoon-Smith, Nov 09
Individual footprint: 5.4 tonnes
Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.
Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
“Vacum type electric kettle,
Using solar heating to warm the loft water tank
Running dishwasher during the summer from hot water tank heated by solar heating”
Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
“Further insulat the lotf water tank,
Put bubble wramp insultion on rafters in the lofts
Maybe get more energy efficient fridge/freezer
Try and get my utility company (first Untilty) to change my meter as promised (ie mobile phone read)”
Claire Jones, Oct 09
Individual footprint: 1.0 tonnes
Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.
Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
“I have continued all the low-carbon behaviours I had adopted previously and have not taken any flights for over 18 months now. I have also put up thermal-lined curtains to insulate the huge patio doors in my lounge.
During the year, I have played a key role in raising the level of awareness and engagement about environmental issues in my workplace. We now have a dedicated area of our intranet, with weekly Green Tips and a quarterly Green News bulletin. In July, I launched a network of Green Champions in the Winchester office who lead by example to help encourage behavioural change, and led training sessions, attended by over 100 of my colleagues, on possible implications of climate change for the business.”
Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
“I intend to keep my carbon footprint at a low level, although do not expect to cut it much further over the next year. Instead, my focus is on encouraging and persuading others to reduce their carbon footprints. I plan to do this through continuing my involvement with WinACC and environmental issues at work. In relation to the latter, I will help to improve the data we collect to enable us to calculate our carbon footprint, and will help to develop a publicly-available statement of our environmental policy.”
Any other comments
“The Act on CO2 calculator has changed in the past year to include emissions from public transport. This means that the carbon footprint I have just calculated is not directly comparable to the one from a year ago. About one-third of the emissions included in my current carbon footprint calculation were previously excluded. ”
Anne Williams, Oct 09
Individual footprint: 11.5 tonnes
Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.
Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
“new condensing boiler fitted, replaced lightbulbs with energy saving ones, both outside doors insulated”
Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
“reduce flights taken”
Any other comments
“have done most things I can to reduce my carbon footprint in an old house”
Luke Jones , Sep 09
Individual footprint: 4.4 tonnes
Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.
Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
“Cycle to work.
Use public transport for weekend trips.”
Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
“Cut out unecessary journeys.
Be aware of carbon footprint of purchases.”
