reduce your carbon footprint.com
The average household creates 10 Tonnes of CO2 per year in UK and 22 Tons of CO2 in the US as a primary carbon footprint. A secondary footprint of around 2 Tonnes exists just by the way we shop.
Reduce your carbon footprint.com is set up to give information on how everyone can reduce their production of damaging carbon dioxide.
Carbon dioxide is one of the gases responsible for Climate Change and targets are being set by the government to reduce the amount of carbon entering the atmosphere.
Scientists agree the Earth's climate is being directly affected by human activity, and for many people around the world, these changes are having negative effects. Carbon dioxide levels today are nearly 30 percent higher than they were prior to the start of the Industrial Revolution.
Throughout history ice has advanced and retreated but now, according to NASA, the polar ice cap is now melting at the rate of 9 percent per decade.
Arctic ice thickness has decreased 40 percent since the 1960s. The current pace of sea-level rise is three times the historical rate and appears to be accelerating.
The table below shows just how much Carbon Dioxide is produced from the use of domestic electrical equipmnt.
Appliance | Power (W) | Usage/day (hours) | Cost/year (GBP) | CO2/year (Kg) | Notes |
6 x 18W Low Energy Light | 18 | 4 | 17 | 99 |
|
Washing Machine | 930 | 1.5 | 41 | 227 | 4 washes per |
35 | 12 | 17 | 92 | ||
| 6 x 100W light bulbs | 100 | 4 | 96 | 532 | |
Standard Size Fridge Freezer | 35 | 24 | 33 | 187 |
|
Kettle | 2200 | 0.2 | 15 | 81 | 5 boils per day |
Electric Oven | 1800 | 1 | 72 | 396 |
|
Microwave Oven | 1700 | 0.2 | 11 | 62 |
|
Television | 290 | 4 | 47 | 257 |
|
Digital TV box | 23 | 24 | 22 | 121 | If continuously |
Video Games Console | 45 | 1 | 2 | 11 | not including |
Computer | 250 | 2 | 20 | 110 |
|
Power Shower | 7500 | 0.1 | 30 | 165 | 6 Mins per day |
| Tumble Dryer | 2400 | 1 | 55 | 302 | Used 4 times per week |
Vacuum Cleaner | 630 | 0.5 | 4 | 18 | twice a week |
CD Player | 85 | 1 | 3 | 18 |
|
Clock Radio | 15 | 24 | 14 | 81 | if continuously |
Hair dryer | 2000 | 0.1 | 5 | 29 |
|
|
| Total | £505 | 2894Kg |
|
Carbon dioxide calculated at 586 Tonnes per GWHr (figure supplied by Association of Electricity Producers)
Average gas usage of 18000 KWhs, costing approximately £580, and creating 3424 Kg of CO2
Driving an average car (1.8L petrol) creates 3840 Kg of CO2, this gives a household average of 10158 Kg. Thats 10 Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide!