How to Reduce Your Carbon Foot Print
There are many simple ways to reduce the footprint you leave on the planet. Learn how to reduce your footprint in each consumption category–carbon, food, housing, and goods and services—but don’t stop there. Amplify your impact by encouraging others to follow your lead. Engage your friends and community with local and global movements for social change, or start your own movement!
Reduce your Carbon Footprint
Use Cleaner Transport
- Walk, bike, or take public transit whenever possible.
- Avoid allowing your car to idle. If you’ll be waiting for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine (except in traffic). And don’t take the drive-through. Park the car and walk inside instead.
- Have your vehicle serviced regularly to keep the emission control systems operating at peak efficiency. Check your car’s air filter monthly, and keep the tires adequately inflated to maximize gas mileage.
- Avoid short airplane trips—take a bus or train instead.
Add Energy-Saving Features to your home
- Install compact fluorescent bulbs in all your home light fixtures—but remember, compact fluorescents contain mercury, so look for low-mercury models and be sure to dispose of old bulbs safely through your local hazardous waste program.
- Weatherproof your home. Make sure your walls and ceilings are insulated, and consider double-pane windows. Eliminate drafts with caulking, weather strips, and storm windows and doors.I
- nsulate your water heater. Even better, switch to a tankless water heater, so your water will be heated only as you use it.
- Choose energy efficient appliances.
Adopt Energy-Saving Habits
- Keep thermostat relatively low in winter and ease up on the air conditioning in summer. Clean or replace dirty air conditioner filters as recommended to keep the A/C operating at peak efficiency.
- Unplug your electronics when not in use. To make it easier, use a power strip. Even when turned off, items like your television, computer, and cell-phone charger still sip power.
- Dry your clothes outside whenever possible.
- Make minimal use of power equipment when landscaping.
- Defrost your refrigerator and freezer regularly.
- Choose green electricity. Many utilities give you the option to purchase electricity generated by wind and solar power for a small rate surcharge.
- Purchase carbon offsets to make up for the energy use you can’t eliminate.
Reduce your Food Footprint
- Eat more local, organic, in-season foods.
- Plant a garden—it doesn’t get more local than that.
- Shop at your local farmer’s market or natural foods store. Look for local, in-season foods that haven’t traveled long distances to reach you.
- Choose foods with less packaging to reduce waste.
- Eat lower on the food chain—going meatless for just one meal a week can make a difference. Globally, it has been estimated that 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions are associated with meat consumption.
Reduce your Housing Footprint
- Choose sustainable building materials, furnishings, and cleaning products.
- Explore green design features for your building, like passive solar heating, a rainwater catchment or grey water recycling system, and recycled materials.
- Choose efficient appliances, including low flow shower-heads, faucets, and toilets.
- Choose furnishings that are second-hand, recycled, or sustainably produced.
- Plant drought tolerant plants in your garden and yard.
- Use biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products.
Adopt Water-Saving Habits
- Take shorter, less frequent showers—this not only saves water, but the energy necessary to heat it.
- Don’t use the garbage disposal. Compost instead.
- Run the dishwasher and the laundry machine only when full.
- Wash cars rarely, or better yet, take them to a carwash. Commercial carwashes use less water per wash than home washers, and they are also required to drain used water into the sewage system, rather than storm drains, which protects aquatic life.
- Avoid hosing down or power-washing your deck, walkways, or driveway.
- Regularly look for and fix leaks.
- Turn off the water when you brush your teeth. If everyone did this simple step we would save the equivalent of the great lakes every year.
- Buy a rain barrel to capture excess rain from the gutters which can be used to water your garden.
Reduce your Goods and Services Footprint
- Buy less! Replace items only when you really need to.
- Recycle all your paper, glass, aluminum, and plastic. Don’t forget electronics!
- Compost food waste for the garden. Garbage that is not contaminated with degradable (biological) waste can be more easily recycled and sorted, and doesn’t produce methane gases (a significant greenhouse gas contributor) when stored in a landfill.
- Buy recycled products, particularly those labeled “post-consumer waste.”
What Is A Carbon Footprint?
What is A Carbon Footprint?
A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc.
The carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce and has units of tonnes (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Each of us needs to “Play a Part” to reduce our Carbon Footprint.
After all
THE ONLY THING WE HAVE TO LOSE IS CARBON.
Today, it is more important than ever to reduce our Carbon Footprint.
Not only are the developed countries producing more and more carbon emissions, but there is now a growing problem as the population in Africa and Asia start changing their lifestyles in ways that consume more energy.
We need to lead the way…
A carbon footprint is made up of the sum of two parts, the primary footprint (shown by the green slices of the pie chart) and the secondary footprint (shown as the yellow slices)
1. The primary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation (e.g. car and plane). We have direct control of these.
2. The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use – those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown. To put it very simply – the more we buy the more emissions will be caused on our behalf.
To calculate your carbon footprint - click here
For tips to reduce your footprint - click here
Follow these Links for More Information on carbon reducing technologies:
Cutting Down on Energy Consumption
Sept. 15 Is Carbon Day
Celebrate Carbon Day on September 15th!
At Carbon Day we believe that everyone should “PLAY A PART” and work towards the goal of reducing each person’s carbon footprint.
Inevitably, when going about our daily lives — commuting, sheltering our families, eating — each of us contributes to the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change.
There are many things each of us, as individuals and organizations, can do to reduce our carbon emissions.
The choices we make in our homes, offices, our travel, the food we eat, and what we buy and throw away all influence our carbon footprint and if we become conscious of these choices, we can help ensure a stable climate for future generations. We believe in sustainability and the benefits a sustainable world can bring.
September 15th has been designated as the official Carbon Day Holiday. This presents each of us with the opportunity to create an event, large and small, in our own community to educate one another about energy efficiency and how to reduce our individual and collective Carbon Footprint.
We will provide you with materials that will assist in planning and setting up your own Carbon Day Holiday event. You can register your events in our database and show how you are Playing your Part.
If you would like additional information about Carbon Day Automotive, please view our website atwww.CarbonDayAutomotive.com Play a Part™ and Plug In!
Contact
Carbon Day Welcomes all comments and suggestions on how we can improve our message.
Please be patient as we try and answer the inquiries in the order that we receive them.
We are always looking for qualified and responsible individuals or groups who would like to sponser or hold an event on Carbon Day which is Sept 15.
Please direct all correspondence to the correct party listed below.
Events
Carbon Day Events or to volunteer in other ways 800 W. Huron suite 4E Chicago, IL 60642
Phone: 312.275.5747 Fax: 312.276.4855 BenL@carbonday.com
CDA
Carbon Day Automotive – If you would like information on how to purchase an electric vehicle charging station or to become a qualified reseller.
800 W. Huron suite 4E Chicago, IL 60642 ScottE@carbonday.com
For Media Requests please contact:
Jane Kaplan Communications 400 Park Avenue, Suite D Highland Park, IL 60035 Phone–847.433.8594 Fax–847.433.8505 jane@jkaplancommunications.com
Tree Facts
- Two mature trees provide enough oxygen for a family of four
- One acre of trees removes 2.6 tons of CO2 per year
- About one third of the United States of America is covered by forests
- The average tree in an urban
Events
June 15, 2009 by carbonday
Filed under Carbonday Festivals
Welcome to Carbon Day Events
It’s Official!!!! Carbon Day is an Official Holiday since the House of Representatives and the Senate passed a resolution naming Sept 15 as Carbon Day in the State of Illinois.
Click on some of the links below to see some of the more innovative events to help sponsor, participate in, and to Play a Part in reducing our carbon footprint.
Greenie Awards | Off The Grid Music Tour | Carbon Day Holiday In a Box – Click here to host your own C.D. event
Carbon Day, LLC is a not-for-profit organization that is focused on reducing our individual and collective carbon footprints through varies climate action plans. Carbon Day Events is a division of Carbon Day, LLC that focuses on engaging individuals and businesses to recruit them for the job of making the world a greener place by starting a neighborhood, city, state, or national annual event to increase awareness on lowering carbon emissions. Carbon Day’s First Annual Holiday will be held on September 15th, 2009 to celebrate our commitment to lower mankind’s collective carbon footprint.
Events will be planned throughout the country to educate and encourage people in large cities and small communities alike to Play a PartTM in this effort. Carbon Day is looking for event organizers who share the value system that will lead to a more sustainable world through carbon footprint reduction and energy efficiency initiatives to join and host their own Carbon Day event in their community on September 15th.
If you are interested in Playing a PartTM and hosting an event for the Carbon Day Holiday and need guidance, please view our “Carbon Day Holiday in a Box” which is a step by step guide for a successful Carbon Day event. Carbon Day also requests that you register your event on our website. This allows Carbon Day to be able to track all of the events taking place nationally or even globally. Please click on the following link to do so http://carbonday.com/events/
If you would like to play a larger part participating with Carbon Day, LLC you can become a partner. The most important benefit of partnering with Carbon Day is building your ability to offset your carbon footprint. For further information and benefits of partnering with Carbon Day, please click on the following link. http://carbonday.com/partners/
Please submit your event below for the world to view and participate in your Carbon Day event. We truly look forward to saving our world one person at a time.
Venture Capital
June 11, 2009 by carbonday
Filed under Green Idea Funding
Venture Capital For Socially
Responsible Eco-Businesses
We’re looking to invest in extraordinary entrepreneurs who have the ability to build great teams and great companies.
SHARE YOUR BUSINESS IDEA
Carbon Day Capital LLC would enjoy learning about your business and considering it for Venture Capital Funding It’s easy to reach us. Email or call. Have a mutual acquaintance connect us. Before you send your business plan ideas please read our very important Details of Sustainable Companies and Writing a Business Plan.
Details of Sustainable Companies
Green start-ups with these traits often will tell us the success of a business and the likelihood of it becoming a lasting company with a sustainable business plan. We like to partner with companies that have:
Clarity of Purpose
Summarize the company’s business on the back of a business card.
Large Markets
Locate and define existing markets poised for rapid growth or change.
Upscale Customers
Target customers who are most likely to pay a premium for a unique offering.
Simple Focus
Customers will only buy a simple product with a singular value proposition.
Solve the Problem
Pick the one thing that is of burning importance to the customer then delight them with a compelling solution.
Think Outside the Box
Take the contrarian route. Create novel solutions. Go into Survivor mode Outwit, Outlast and Outplay the competition.
The Team Members
A company’s team is set in the first 90 days. All team members are the smartest or in their domain. “A” level entrepreneurs should attract an “A” level team.
Agility
Stealth and speed will usually help beat-out large companies.
Frugality
Focus spending on what’s critical. Spend only on the priorities and maximize profitability. Do not spend on premium items unless the payback will be there. EX. We had a company who was running out of cash that went to a press event and made up 250 usb drives that were custom imprinted with their logos that had way too much storage on them for the press kit they created. It cost them $10 each. They could have gone to office max to spend $1 ea for usb’s and printed out beautiful color labels on their printer and save $2250 dollars to spend on payroll or rent.
Start up money
Start with only a little money. It forces discipline and focus. A huge market with customers yearning for a product developed by great engineers requires very little firepower.
Writing a Business Plan
June 11, 2009 by carbonday
Filed under Green Idea Funding
Writing a Business Plan
We like business plans that present a lot of information in as few words as possible. The following business plan format, within 15-20 slides, is all that’s needed:
Company Purpose
- Define the company/business in a single declarative sentence.
Problem
- Describe the pain of the customer (or the customer’s customer).
- Outline how the customer addresses the issue today.
Solution
- Demonstrate your company’s value proposition to make the customer’s life better.
- Show where your product physically sits.
- Provide use cases.
Why your current
- Set-up the historical evolution of your category.
- Define recent trends that make your solution possible.
Market Size
- Identify/profile the customer you cater to.
- Calculate the TAM (top down), SAM (bottoms up) and SOM.
Competition
- List competitors
- List competitive advantages
Product
- Product line-up (form factor, functionality, features, architecture, intellectual property).
- Development roadmap.
Business Model
- Revenue model
- Pricing
- Average account size and/or lifetime value
- Sales & distribution model
- Customer/pipeline list
Team
- Founders & Management
- Board of Directors/Board of Advisors
Financials
- P&L
- Balance sheet
- Cash flow
- Cap table
- The deal
Submit these plans directly to brad@carbonday.com. All plans will be reviewed and if we are interested in the plan we will follow up with you shortly. Please keep in mind that we look at many plans each week and that we do not sign confidentiality or non compete agreements unless we enter into a letter of commitment. If you deem any information to be confidential or proprietary we suggest you do not send it but at the same time if we do not get an idea of what you are looking for we will pass over the idea.
Contact
June 11, 2009 by carbonday
Filed under Contact Us
Contact
Carbon Day Welcomes all comments and suggestions on how we can improve our message.
Please be patient as we try and answer the inquiries in the order that we receive them.
We are always looking for qualified and responsible individuals or groups who would like to sponser or hold an event on Carbon Day which is Sept 15.
Please direct all correspondence to the correct party listed below.
EVENTS:
Carbon Day Events or to volunteer in other ways
363 W. Erie Suite 400-W
Chicago, IL 60654Phone: 312.275.5747
Fax: 312.276.4855
CDA:
Carbon Day Automotive – If you would like information on how to purchase an electric vehicle charging station or to become a qualified reseller.
363 W. Erie Suite 400-W
Chicago, IL 60654
For Media Requests please contact:
Jane Kaplan Communications
400 Park Avenue, Suite D
Highland Park, IL 60035
Phone–847.433.8594
Fax–847.433.8505
Green Buildings
Buildings account for one-sixth of the world’s fresh water withdrawals, one-quarter of its wood harvest, and two-fifths of its material and energy flows (Roodman and Lenssen, 1995). “green” is an opportunity to use our resources efficiently while creating healthier buildings that improve human health, build a better environment, and provide cost savings.
What does it mean to Build Green?
A green building, also known as a sustainable building, is a structure that is designed, built, renovated, operated, or reused in an ecological and resource-efficient manner. Green buildings are designed to meet certain objectives such as protecting occupant health; improving employee productivity; using energy, water, and other resources more efficiently; and reducing the overall impact to the environment.
What Are the Economics of Green Buildings?
A green building may cost more up front, but saves through lower operating costs over the life of the building. The green building approach applies a project life cycle cost analysis for determining the appropriate up-front expenditure. This analytical method calculates costs over the useful life of the asset.
These and other cost savings can only be fully realized when they are incorporated at the project’s conceptual design phase with the assistance of an integrated team of professionals. The integrated systems approach ensures that the building is designed as one system rather than a collection of stand-alone systems.
Some benefits, such as improving occupant health, comfort, productivity, reducing pollution and landfill waste are not easily quantified. Consequently, they are not adequately considered in cost analysis. For this reason, consider setting aside a small portion of the building budget to cover differential costs associated with less tangible green building benefits or to cover the cost of researching and analyzing green building options.
Even with a tight budget, many green building measures can be incorporated with minimal or zero increased up-front costs and they can yield enormous (Environmental Building News, 1999).
What Are the of Green Buildings?
Below is a sampling of green building practices.
Preparing the site
Start by selecting a site well suited to take advantage of mass transit.
Protect and retain existing landscaping and natural features. Select plants that have low water and pesticide needs, and generate minimum plant trimmings. Use compost and mulches. This will save water and time.
Recycled content paving materials, furnishings, and mulches help close the recycling loop.
Most buildings can reach energy efficiency levels far beyond California Title 24 standards, yet most only strive to meet the standard. It is reasonable to strive for 40 percent less energy than Title 24 standards. The following strategies contribute to this goal.
Passive design strategies can dramatically affect building energy performance. These measures include building shape and orientation, passive solar design, and the use of natural lighting.
Develop strategies to provide natural lighting. Studies have shown that it has a positive impact on productivity and well being.
Install high-efficiency lighting systems with advanced lighting controls. Include motion sensors tied to dimmable lighting controls. Task lighting reduces general overhead light levels.
Use a properly sized and energy-efficient heat/cooling system in conjunction with a thermally efficient building shell. Maximize light colors for roofing and wall finish materials; install high R-value wall and ceiling insulation; and use minimal glass on east and west exposures.
Minimize the electric loads from lighting, equipment, and appliances.
Consider alternative energy sources such as photovoltaics and fuel cells that are now available in new products and applications. Renewable energy sources provide a great symbol of emerging technologies for the future.
Computer modeling is an extremely useful tool in optimizing design of electrical and mechanical systems and the building shell.
Select sustainable construction materials and products by evaluating several characteristics such as reused and recycled content, zero or low off gassing of harmful air emissions, zero or low toxicity, sustainably harvested materials, high recyclability, durability, longevity, and local production. Such products promote resource conservation and efficiency. Using recycled-content products also helps develop markets for recycled materials that are being diverted from California’s landfills, as mandated by the Integrated Waste Management Act.
Use dimensional planning and other material efficiency strategies. These strategies reduce the amount of building materials needed and cut construction costs. For example, design rooms on 4-foot multiples to conform to standard-sized wallboard and plywood sheets.
Reuse and recycle construction and demolition materials. For example, using inert demolition materials as a base course for a parking lot keeps materials out of landfills and costs less.
Require plans for managing materials through deconstruction, demolition, and construction.
Design with adequate space to facilitate recycling collection and to incorporate a solid waste management program that prevents waste generation.
Design for dual plumbing to use recycled water for toilet flushing or a gray water system that recovers rainwater or other nonpotable water for site irrigation.
Minimize wastewater by using ultra low-flush toilets, low-flow shower heads, and other water conserving fixtures.
Use recirculating systems for centralized hot water distribution.
Install point-of-use hot water heating systems for more distant locations.
Use a water budget approach that schedules irrigation using the California Irrigation Management Information System data for landscaping.
Meter the landscape separately from buildings. Use micro-irrigation (which excludes sprinklers and high-pressure sprayers) to supply water in nonturf areas.
Use state-of-the-art irrigation controllers and self-closing nozzles on hoses.
Health and Safety
Recent studies reveal that buildings with good overall environmental quality can reduce the rate of respiratory disease, allergy, asthma, sick building symptoms, and enhance worker performance. The potential financial benefits of improving indoor environments exceed costs by a of 8 and 14 (Fisk and Rosenfeld, 1998).
Choose construction materials and interior finish products with zero or low emissions to improve indoor air quality. Many building materials and cleaning/maintenance products emit toxic gases, such as volatile organic compounds (VOC) and formaldehyde. These gases can have a detrimental impact on occupants’ health and productivity.
Provide adequate ventilation and a high-efficiency, in-duct filtration system. Heating and cooling systems that ensure adequate ventilation and proper filtration can have a dramatic and positive impact on indoor air quality.
Prevent indoor microbial contamination through selection of materials resistant to microbial growth, provide effective drainage from the roof and surrounding landscape, install adequate ventilation in bathrooms, allow proper drainage of air-conditioning coils, and design other building systems to control humidity.
Building and Maintenance
Green building measures cannot achieve their goals unless they work as intended. Building commissioning includes testing and adjusting the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems to ensure that all equipment meets design criteria. It also includes instructing the staff on the operation and maintenance of equipment.
Over time, building performance can be assured through measurement, adjustment, and upgrading. Proper maintenance ensures that a building continues to perform as designed and commissioned.
.
to Ensure Success
Establish a vision that embraces sustainable principles and an integrated design approach.
Develop a clear statement of the project’s vision, goals, design criteria, and priorities.
Develop a project budget that covers green building measures. Allocate contingencies for additional research and analysis of specific options. Seek sponsorship or grant opportunities.
Seek advice of a design professional with green building experience.
Select a design and construction team that is committed to the project vision. Modify the RFQ/RFP selection process to ensure the contractors have appropriate qualifications to identify, select, and implement an integrated system of green building measures.
Develop a project schedule that allows for systems testing and commissioning.
Develop contract plans and specifications to ensure that the building design is at a suitable level of building performance.
Create effective incentives and oversight.
For Information
California Integrated Waste Management Board Green Building Web site (this site):www.ciwmb.ca.gov/GreenBuilding/. Includes the manual Designing With Vision: A Technical Manual For Material Choices In Sustainable Construction (Pub. #431-99-009). Hard copies are available from the publications clearinghouse at 1-800-CA-WASTE.
Sustainable Building Technical Manual,http://www.sustainable.doe.gov/freshstart/articles/ptipub.htm
A Guide to Irrigation Water Needs of Landscape Plants in California:www.dpla.water.ca.gov/urban/conservation/landscape/wucols/
Department of Health Services, Indoor Air Quality Web site: www.cal-iaq.org
U.S. Department of Energy Web site: www.sustainable.doe.gov/buildings/gbintro.shtml
Environmental Building News: www.buildinggreen.com/
U.S. Green Building Council Web site: www.usgbc.org
You may also order a hard copy of this publication from our catalog.
References
1. D.M and N. Lenssen, A Building Revolution: How Ecology and Health Concerns are Transforming Construction, Worldwatch Paper 124, Worldwatch Institute, Washington, DC, March 1995, p. 5. (Back)
2. Environmental Building , Building Green on a Budget, Vol 8, No. 5, May 1999, www.ebuild.com/Archives/Features/ Low_Cost/Low_Cost.html#General (Back)
3. William and Arthur Rosenfeld, Potential Nationwide Improvements in Productivity and Health From Better Indoor Environments, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, May 1998. (Back)
Fun Games and Sites
Play A Recycling Game. You have more that one to choose from – - pick and choose or try them all!
1) Clean Up the Park
http://funbrain.familyeducation.com/cgi-bin/shtml.cgi?A1=../recycle/index.html
2) Dumptown Game http://www.epa.gov/recyclecity/gameintro.htm
3) Quest of the Ring Leaders http://www.ringleader.com/quest/intro.htm
Earth Related Fun Pages
Earth Related Fun Pages:
Earth Fast facts
Wonders of the World
Earth Matters
Planetpals Recycle Center
Thinking Green Class Projects
Worldly Wise Tips
The Story of Earthday
Earthday Activity Page
Green Associations
Let’s Weather Together
A Look at Eco Books
Food Chain Chart
Earth Size Chart
Ecology Dictionary
