What is a carbon footprint and why should I worry about changing mine?

Question

What is a carbon footprint and why should I worry about changing mine?

Answer 1

I would definitely recommend you check out the Brighter Planet website!  They can help you learn more bout the effects your carbon footprint has on the planet, and ways you can reduce it with carbon offsets...

http://brighterplanet.com/knowledgebase

Answer 2

Your carbon footprint refers to the amount of carbon that your lifestyle uses. You want to worry about changing yours because humans are doing a lot more to alter the carbon cycle than ever before. What is probably more important is your ecological footprint, not just carbon. Your ecological footprint refers to the area of land that is needed for your lifestyle, to produce electricity, products, etc.

Answer 3

A carbon footprint is the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product or service. There are a number of more specific definitions available, and a comprehensive review of definitions can be found in ISA-UK research report 07-01[1]. A carbon footprint is usually expressed as grams of CO2 equivalents, which accounts for the different global warming effects of different greenhouse gases (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology POST, 2006). The carbon footprint is calculated using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method. This established method has been standardised under ISO 14044.

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Age-related carbon footprint

A number of studies have calculated the carbon footprint of organisations and nations. One UK (2007) study examined age-related carbon emissions based on expenditure and consumption. The study found that on average people aged 50-64 years have a higher carbon footprint compared to any other age group. Individuals aged 50-64 years old on have a carbonfootprint of approximately 13.5 tonnes/capita per year compared to the UK average of 12 tonnes.[www.climatetalk.org.uk/downloads...

Reducing a carbon footprint

The carbon footprint can be efficiently and effectively reduced by applying the following steps:

    * Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to accurately determine the current carbon footprint

    * Identification of hot-spots in terms of energy consumption and associated CO2-emissions

    * Optimisation of energy efficiency and, thus, reduction of CO2-emissions and reduction of other GHG emissions contributed from production processes

    * Identification of solutions to neutralise the CO2 emissions that cannot be eliminated by energy saving measures.

    * Reducing the amount of "Tom West's"

Answer 4

It is a myth purported by gore and his minions. Don't worry about it.

http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/monckt...

Answer 5

Your carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide and  bad gasses you put into our atmosphere every year personally. So it comes from like driving and letting out stuff from your car, and from flying. If you go onto Yahoo you can calculate your Carbon Footprint there and it will give you a estimate. Also it will give you things you can do to lower your carbon footprint, and by doing them it will tell you by how much you can potentially lower your footprint.

You should worry about changing yours because and less amount of theses gases we put into the world and less amount of pollution we will have and we will help in fighting Global Warming!!

Good luck!!

Answer 6

i am trying to get mine as big as possible, kinda like a status symbol

Answer 7

All the animals and volcanoes in the world are producing more CO2 then every car plane and human and factory. CO2 is a green house gas but an insignificant one. CO2 is not driving climate like they say it is. We are seeing an increase in temperature in all planets for one and for 2 CO2 follows temperature not the other way around.