Carbon Footprints

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

Eleanor Bell, Aug 09

2 person household footprint: 12.4 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.
Based on the household size, this carbon footprint equates to 6.20 tonnes per person

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
Draft proofing. Energy lightbulbs. Replaced washing machine with AA rated model - using 30 degree cycle.

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
Replace conventional oil boiler with condensing boiler (possibly gas)

Any other comments
Did major energy saving measures 20 years ago (cavity wall insulation, additional loft insulation, part double glazing) but some more to do. Not keen to scrap older appliances that are still working well (fridge freezer and dishwasher). CO2 calculator didn't let me enter part double glazing or 2 people instead of 1 on long haul flight!

Gervase George, Aug 09

2 person household footprint: 5.0 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.
Based on the household size, this carbon footprint equates to 2.50 tonnes per person

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
Joined WinACC to Find out more

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
Double Glaze Windows, Fit Draught proofing to windows and doors

Graham Winyard, Aug 09

2 person household footprint: 19.4 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.
Based on the household size, this carbon footprint equates to 9.70 tonnes per person

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
Installation of photovoltaic panels Use of clothes dryer Low energy lightbulbs

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
Restrict flying to family related visits Less use of standby Investigate cycling

Tony Langridge, Aug 09

Individual footprint: 3.4 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
Working more from home, No flights, Car share when possible, starting to grow own veg

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
Reduce equipment on standby, reduce use of car, grow more veg, eat less meat

Any other comments
This is an individual footprint I also have to work to try to encourage my children to reduce their footprints in particular their flights

Kitty Todd, Aug 09

5 person household footprint: 18.0 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.
Based on the household size, this carbon footprint equates to 3.60 tonnes per person

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
draft proof sash windows more energy efficient car ~ fewer miles energy efficient dimmer lightbulbs as well as other lightbulbs ~ but they don't work

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
don't waste energy filling in carbon footprints lots of times because the site is such rubbish (Stephen) keep car miles down change to green electric supplier (? ecotricity)

Any other comments
food is not included in this calculator

Mike Mordecai, Jul 09

Individual footprint: 3.4 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
Double glazing Replaced all lightbulbs with low energy versions Getting better at turning stereo off rather than leaving it on standby

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
Reduce no of personal flights by at least 50%

Alex Templeton, Jul 09

Individual footprint: 5.6 tonnes

Measured using the Act On CO2 carbon calculator.

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
• Grown more food • Insulated loft

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
• Get wind turbine working • Get cavity wall insulation • Encourage cats to hunt

The University of Winchester, Jul 09

Organisation footprint: 4,206.5 tonnes

The University of Winchester — Public organisation

Measured using the Carbon Trust carbon calculator.

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
Centralised evening and weekend room bookings into fewer, more efficient buildings. Re-tendered waste contract to drastically increase recycling rates (up to 35 % currently since january) through co-mingled (mixed) recycling. Optimised heating levels and decreased heating periods. Developed software package to turn off teaching room pc's remotely. Purchase of an electric vehicle to collect recycling on campus. Purchase of an Energy Monitoring and Targeting software to effectively manage energy and water consumption.

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
Installation of 4 PowerPerfector units in sub-stations (estimated to reduce total electricity consumption by 10% through voltage reduction). Investment in smart meters and sub-metering to assist with energy management. Complete Building Management System (BMS) rollout to all buildings to allow automated control of buildings heating and ventilation systems. Installation of LED lighting systems and upgrading lighting controls and occupation sensors. Installation of draught-proofing systems to crittall and sash windowed buildings. Insulation upgrades across campuses. Look at alternative fuels for fleet replacements. Divert 60% of all waste from landfill. Undertake and update green travel plan and survey. Take part in Student Switch-off a national campaign to reduce energy usage in student halls (www.studentswitchoff.org.uk). Centralised printing. Implementation of water saving measures across campuses.

Any other comments
In order to reduce its carbon footrpint the University of Winchester has joined the Carbon Trust's Higher Education Carbon Managment programme. This footprint is based upon the 2006/7 Academic Year (01.08.2006 to 31.07.2007) and is the baseline year for the University Carbon Management Plan. Currently we do not include commuting to the university by staff and students due to a lack of accurate data (once an update to travel survey is complete this will be added to the baseline). The 4206.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions are split into the following areas; Building energy consumption - 3560 tonnes. Water usage - 26.3 tonnes. Waste - 437 tonnes. Fleet vehicle fuel - 38.5 tonnes. Business travel using staff cars - 51.5 tonnes. Air Travel - 87.4 tonnes. Rail travel - 5.8 tonnes. The University has an aim of reducing its carbon footprint by 30% by 2015. An updated CO2 footprint will be available at Chrristmas 2009.

Wire and Test, Jul 09

Organisation footprint: 5.2 tonnes

Wire and Test — Private organisation

Measured using the Carbon Trust carbon calculator.

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
vehicle driven at a max speed of 60-65mph instead of 70mph

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
insulate home/office

ideostone, Jul 09

Organisation footprint: 1.8 tonnes

ideostone — Private organisation

Measured using the Carbon Trust carbon calculator.

Measures taken in the last 12 months to reduce footprint
idestone is a micro business, with a small number of employees and has only been trading effectively since the beginning of 2009. Accordingly, all activities taken so far have added to the carbon footprint of the business. However, further actions that can be taken to minimise the environmental impact of the business that can be taken are considered. Use of electricity is kept to a minimum, heating is used only when absolutely necessary and other resource use is kept as low as possible. The biggest contributor to the carbon footprint is travel. We use public transport whenever possible, which reduces the impact and when car use is required (due to difficulties in reaching meeting points by public transport) we plan the route effectively and meetings are scheduled to avoid rush hour traffic (stop/start driving) if convenient to the other party.

Measures to be taken in the next 12 months to reduce footprint
Potential changes that will take place in the next year include: - Changing energy supplier to a fully renewable provider; - More effective travel planning, including aggregating journeys wherever possible to reduce travel emissions; - Carefully considering each business purchase to ensure the embedded carbon and the running costs are as low as possible - do we really need this; can the business function without it?

Any other comments
Although based on only 6 months trading, we have multiplied up the carbon footprint calculation to equate to a full year. The calculation includes employee commute but does not (at this stage) include the embedded carbon in the water supply and the supply of goods and materials to the business. We will amend the calculation as better information becomes available over the coming months. A small but growing business is likely to see an increase in carbon emissions but we will do our best to keep these to a minimum.