Explain A Carbon Footprint

Your carbon footprint is an estimation of the amount of carbon dioxide emissions which your activities either directly or indirectly release into the atmosphere. William Rees coined the term in his 1992 paper published in the journal, Environment and Urbanization. Rees recognized that the impacts of one's activities reach far beyond one's immediate dwelling. A carbon footprint calculation attempts to quantify your effect on the environment.

Types

There are two types of activities which go into a carbon footprint calculation: direct and indirect sources. Direct sources include those which you control and the action of which directly releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, such as driving your car or heating your home. Indirect sources are estimations based on the energy used in order for you to buy or use different products such as the environmental cost of your dinner out on the town or the groceries you buy. The indirect activities are somewhat subjective.

Benefits

The main benefit of calculating your carbon footprint is the ability to determine an estimation of your environmental impact. It forces you to look at all areas of your life and identify ways in which your activities contribute to the concentration of greenhouse gases in the air. The best way you can use this calculation is for comparison purposes. You can do an initial assessment and then follow up to see how your carbon footprint has changed after modifications in your lifestyle. From an environmental standpoint, its benefit is in educating the general public that their individual impact matters.

Primary Contributors

Your home energy and heating and cooling costs will be the biggest contributors to your carbon footprint. If you think about it, you may not drive every day, but you certainly use electricity in one form or another. Depending upon where you live, you may spend a great deal making your home comfortable during the seasons. According to Carbonfootprint.com, your own transportation will contribute about 10 percent of your carbon footprint, with recreational activities accounting for another 14 percent.

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint

Since home energy is a major contributor, it makes sense that if you wish to reduce your carbon footprint that you should begin at home. You can reduce your energy costs by making your home more energy-efficient. Even simple things such as lowering your thermostat a few degrees can have a positive impact. Insulating your home can save energy and translate into cost savings for you.

Carbon Footprint Calculators

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Nature Conservancy have carbon footprint calculators on their websites among several other sites. MyFootprint.org uses a quiz format to determine your ecological footprint. Each site has their own methodology for determining the carbon cost of different activities. To be most effective, you should stick with one calculator to view your changes over time, following any recommendations for reducing your carbon footprint.