Greenfieldsite (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} greenfieldsite) wrote,@ 2007-11-04 19:06:00 |
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Carbon Footprint Calculators - Review
I thought I'd review a couple of carbon footprint calculators that were reviewed in today's Observer newspaper.
WWF Footprint Calculator
This was quick to do and told me my carbon footprint was 9.53 tonnes and my footprint was 2.47 planets. This was split 18% food, 13% travel, 40% home and 29% "stuff". This compares with an earlier calculation of 7.3 tonnes (see a recent post) and a calculation of 13.4 tonnes by the Observer reviewer.
The questions were easy to answer, but they didn't take account of actual energy use in any precise way (e.g. asking for kWH energy use). It felt like the answer would inevitably be broadbrush. It provided four eco-tips:
- Buy more seasonal food
- Walk instead of using other forms of transport
- Turn down the heating in rooms you aren't using
- Avoid over-packaged products
This demonstrates it's not very accurate as I already do the second and third of these to fairly close to the maximum and I do take the first and fourth into account in my purchasing decisions. It suggests my footprint may well be lower than has been calculated. Still, I think this is a good site to look at if you're starting down the path of trying to live more sustainably. From a personal level, it reinforces that even if I am doing better than it calculates I am still living unsustainably.
NEF Calculator
This told me that my house adds 0.82 tonnes, my car adds 0.72 tonnes and I have nothing from flying. It put me at 1.54 tonnes which was well below the current national average, the 2020 target and even the 2050 target. Unlike my earlier review and the WWF it doesn't take account of other items that add to the footprint.
The figures it produced were broadly consistent with my previous calculation. They compared with 8.14 tonnes by the Observer reviewer (who flys, which largely explains the differential).
There is obviously quite an inconsistency here.
In terms of recommendations, the largest ones were:
- fitting a wood pellet boiler for heating and hot water (0.49 tonnes)
- replace my car with a hybrid or electric car (0.51 tonnes or 0.56 tonnes respectively)
I discount the latter because account has to be taken of the carbon footprint of the production of the car, not just the running costs. I think it's probably best for me to stick with my current car for the time being, or at least sell it to someone who is right-sized for it.
Interestingly according to the recommendations cavity wall insulation or extra loft insulation would not do much for my carbon footprint (presumably because my energy use is already low), so perhaps this review has been a useful exercise after all in helping me de-prioritise those actions.
Having considered both sites, I'm inclined to think one of the most effective things I can still do to reduce my footprint is with regards to my choices of food.
I thought I'd review a couple of carbon footprint calculators that were reviewed in today's Observer newspaper.
WWF Footprint Calculator
This was quick to do and told me my carbon footprint was 9.53 tonnes and my footprint was 2.47 planets. This was split 18% food, 13% travel, 40% home and 29% "stuff". This compares with an earlier calculation of 7.3 tonnes (see a recent post) and a calculation of 13.4 tonnes by the Observer reviewer.
The questions were easy to answer, but they didn't take account of actual energy use in any precise way (e.g. asking for kWH energy use). It felt like the answer would inevitably be broadbrush. It provided four eco-tips:
- Buy more seasonal food
- Walk instead of using other forms of transport
- Turn down the heating in rooms you aren't using
- Avoid over-packaged products
This demonstrates it's not very accurate as I already do the second and third of these to fairly close to the maximum and I do take the first and fourth into account in my purchasing decisions. It suggests my footprint may well be lower than has been calculated. Still, I think this is a good site to look at if you're starting down the path of trying to live more sustainably. From a personal level, it reinforces that even if I am doing better than it calculates I am still living unsustainably.
NEF Calculator
This told me that my house adds 0.82 tonnes, my car adds 0.72 tonnes and I have nothing from flying. It put me at 1.54 tonnes which was well below the current national average, the 2020 target and even the 2050 target. Unlike my earlier review and the WWF it doesn't take account of other items that add to the footprint.
The figures it produced were broadly consistent with my previous calculation. They compared with 8.14 tonnes by the Observer reviewer (who flys, which largely explains the differential).
There is obviously quite an inconsistency here.
In terms of recommendations, the largest ones were:
- fitting a wood pellet boiler for heating and hot water (0.49 tonnes)
- replace my car with a hybrid or electric car (0.51 tonnes or 0.56 tonnes respectively)
I discount the latter because account has to be taken of the carbon footprint of the production of the car, not just the running costs. I think it's probably best for me to stick with my current car for the time being, or at least sell it to someone who is right-sized for it.
Interestingly according to the recommendations cavity wall insulation or extra loft insulation would not do much for my carbon footprint (presumably because my energy use is already low), so perhaps this review has been a useful exercise after all in helping me de-prioritise those actions.
Having considered both sites, I'm inclined to think one of the most effective things I can still do to reduce my footprint is with regards to my choices of food.
