OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
V. Ryan © 2008 - 2017
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An individuals carbon footprint is a measurement of a persons negative impact on the environment. Everyone has a carbon footprint, it does not only apply to industry and business. It relates closely to the amount of pollution a person creates through the use of energy (for example electricity) and resources such as fossil fuels. Environmental pollution can be created every time we get into a car, bus, train or plane by the burning of fuel. Every time we use something that has been manufactured we also add to our carbon footprint. |
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MANUFACTURED ITEMS AND OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT |
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A person who is concerned about reducing the amount of
pollution he/she creates may decide to use a bicycle to get to and from
work. However, even transport of this nature leaves a carbon footprint.
This is because the bicycle has been manufactured in a factory. The
factory has used electricity to power the machines that help make the
bicycle. The electricity has been created by burning polluting fossil
fuels such as oil and coal. The materials used to manufacture the bicycle
have been mined and refined. This uses electrical power produced in power
stations by burning fossil fuels, in turn creating more pollution. The
materials are transported to the bicycle manufacturing plant in large
lorries burning petrol or diesel, again creating pollution. And finally,
the bicycle is transported in lorries / delivery vans to the bicycle shop
where it is sold. If the bicycle has been manufactured in China and is
transported by ship to the UK/Europe again more polluting fuel has been
burnt to transport it thousands of miles around the world. |
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HOW IS OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT CALCULATED? |
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A carbon footprint is very difficult to measure
accurately. Generally it is the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our
everyday lives. These gases are normally produced by burning of fossil
fuels to produce the electricity or by burning fuel when we use the family
car or take public transport. |
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CARBON FOOTPRINT ESTIMATED COMPARISON | ||
A general comparison of the carbon footprint left by a
car user compared to a bicycle user can be seen below. The carbon
footprint is for a working week of five days only. |
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QUESTIONS: List a range of methods of transport such as car, bus, train, taxi, ship etc.... Put the list in order of highest polluter to the lowest. |
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