How do I off set my carbon footprint in my car?

Question

How many tree's do I need to plant to off set 1 gallon of petrol?

Answer 1

Planting trees does not necessarily offset any gasoline burned.

The trees have to grow and have water available to them.

How much carbon does a tree absorb? That is based on the amount of wood the tree adds to itself this year.

So if a tree grows to be a ton in 100 years it has on average added 10 kg of wood to itself each year. We then have to convert wood to carbon content of wood and we might have 2-3 litres of petrol per year, on average over 100 years.

In the first 10 years you might average o.2 litres of petrol because that tree does its big growth between age 20 and 60 years. During the first 10 years you could be growing 6 to 10 times as many trees on that much land.

But very clearly, if the tree is in drought, or too many trees on the land, you have to cut your offset to essentially zero.

The best way to offset your fuel consumption is to reduce it. Cut down on the number of km driven and use a vehicle that uses a minimum amount of fuel.

Remember that as trees reach maturity the forest will be consuming about the same amount of CO2 as the decomposing  leaf and limbs, dying trees will release. Someone has to remove  those trees as the trees mature.

Answer 2

Why? Why would you spend time and effort to prevent something with very little science to back it up?

Do you spray you house with bigfoot repellent?  

Answer 3

ride your bike short distant . it will help

Answer 4

idk..try guesstimating..maybe 2? Google it

Answer 5

Here's a list of simple things you can do immediately

These will start to reduce your contribution to global warming. Most of the items in this list will cost you no money at all and will in fact save you money.

Sign up to a green energy supplier, who will supply electricity from renewable sources (e.g. wind and hydroelectric power) - this will reduce your carbon footprint contribution from electricity to zero

Turn it off when not in use (lights, television, DVD player, Hi Fi, computer etc. etc. ...) find out which electrical items in your household are contribute the most to your Carbon Footprint

Turn down the central heating slightly (try just 1 to 2 degrees C)



Turn down the water heating setting (just 2 degrees will make a

significant saving)



Check the central heating timer setting - remember there is no point heating the house after you have left for work

Fill your dish washer and washing machine with a full load - this will save you water, electricity, and washing powder



Fill the kettle with only as much water as you need

Unplug your mobile phone as soon as it has finished charging

Defrost your fridge/freezer regularly

Do your weekly shopping in a single trip

Hang out the washing to dry rather than tumble drying it

Go for a run rather than drive to the gym



Fit energy saving light bulbs

Car share to work, or for the kids school run

If you buy foods out of season at the super market, then these will have either been flown or shipped in from far away - all adding to your carbon footprint

Take a look at these websites to check on what your carbon emmission is and more ways to save energy.