We all have a duty to do as much as we can to protect the environment and our atmosphere. Soon in this space we will operate our own carbon footprint calculator.
Watch this space. You will be able to calculate your own carbon emissions (carbon footprint) and know from this audit what you can do to reduce it.
What is the best order to do things in order to reduce our carbon footprint?
The conventional wisdom can best be remembered by using the acronym:
I Am Going Carbon Neutral – which stands for:
Insulate . . . A-rate . . . Generate . . . Calculate . . . Negate.
Insulate
Firstly - the best return for your money is insulation of Roofs, Cavity Walls, Windows, Floors in that priority, unless your walls are single skin (not cavities) in which case get advice as to dry-lining the walls to cut the huge heat losses you will be suffering.
If your walls are single-skin, the priorities should be Walls, Roof, Windows, Floors.
A-rate
as many of your lightbulbs and appliances as possible. It is amazing how much you can save over the lifetime of appliances. You would not replace fridges, freezers, washing or dishwashing machines bought within the last 3 years since most of them will be pretty efficient anyway. But very old machines that pre-date the energy efficiency ratings will be costing you unnecessary money. Lightbulbs are the cheapest place to start on this. Make sure you recycle old appliances properly or the CO2 emissions from not doing so will outweigh the net carbon benefits of the replacements.
Generate
as much energy through green and clean sources. Most of the options like Solar Electricity and Heat Pumps are reviewed on this site; they qualify for special home improvement loans at approximately 7.9% APR. The returns on your investments are normally about 10-12% so you can make a profit from day one! We have organised special leasing rates for businesses on solar electricity and on heat pumps. Click here for more details.
Calculate
your carbon footprint. Your footprint is the amount of CO2 you and your family create as CO2 emissions each year. It is measured in tonnes of CO2. One metric tonne is 1000 kg. The 1worldwise eco-calculator is intended to be very easy to use and enables you to see how you can reduce your carbon footprint.
Negate
your carbon footprint by offsetting your CO2 emissions when you have completed the processes above. It would be madness to offset your emissions without first doing all you can to reduce them.
1worldwise is carbon neutral
1worldwise has calculated our carbon footprint. We have applied the industry rules of priority: Insulate, A-rate, Generate, Calculate and then Negate by purchasing carbon credits to offset the 28 tonnes of CO2 that we are currently producing.
As of December 1st 2010 our headquarters is fully loft insulated, fully cavity wall insulated, double glazed, floor insulated over 2/3 of the ground area of the building. We have foil reflectors behind every radiator, and A-rated LED or A-rated Compact Fluorescent bulbs (CFBs) in every single fitting throughout the building. We have offset all energy use, flights, cars, public transport, paper and contributions to landfill.
