What is a carbon footprint?

Your carbon footprint is how many tonnes of carbon dioxide you emit every year from your everyday activities. Just about everything we do in life involves the use of carbon, and this makes working out our carbon footprint quite a difficult calculation. But trying to work out our exact carbon footprint is crucial if we want to cut carbon emmisions.

A carbon footprint has two parts. The primary footprint measures things like your use of electricity, heating and transport, which are things you can control (using public transport instead of a car, turning off lights you’re not using).

The secondary footprint measures the carbon emissions that come about as a result of all the products like food, clothes, entertainment and toiletries that we use. As we’re not able to control how energy efficient manufacturers and factories are, we can make this footprint smaller by making choices in who we buy these things from, and trying to buy less. For example, buying Scottish strawberries in season means that less fuel has been used to transport them than buying strawberries from another country in the middle of winter.

By following lots of the hints and tips in this channel you’ll help lower your footprint. The key is to reduce the amount of energy involved in your everyday life.

What is my carbon footprint?

You can calculate your carbon footprint using the Act On CO2 calculator at the Directgov website.

Reducing carbon at home

• Turn off lights in rooms you aren’t using.
• Use energy efficient lightbulbs – these are much cheaper than they used to be and you can sometimes pick them up for free.
• Turn the heating down by a degree or two and close the curtains – It helps keep the house warm!
• Switch off electrical equipment you are not using – don’t leave all the lights on in the house and if you’re not in the room but the radio is on, turn it off until you come back in. Switch off things like TVs and computers at the wall rather than leaving them on standby.
•  When you make a cup of tea, only fill the kettle with as much water as you need rather than boiling a load of water you aren’t going to use. If you’re cooking use a smaller ring on the hob for smaller pans, this wastes less energy.
• Save energy when you clean your clothes  – Use the economy setting on your washing machine if you don’t have a full load, and wash at 40°C or under. Avoid using a tumble dryer, they use up loads of energy. Dry clothes outside or on a clothes horse or pulley indoors.
• Buy energy efficient electrical goods – If you’re setting up home and looking to buy things like a fridge and washing machine, make sure they are rated energy efficient. This is good for the environment and will also save you money.

Reducing carbon when buying

• Walk short distances rather than drive or take the bus.
• If you’re planning a trip away, aim to use the train rather than fly. Flying is the least environmentally way to travel.
• Find out where your food has come from - buying local food rather than imported goods. This will also support Scottish farmers and business.
• Buy things with the least amount of packaging, and recycle the packaging you do get.
• Check out the reduce, reuse and recycle pages for tips environmentally friendly living.

Save trees - Cut carbon

Trees absorb carbon and produce oxygen, which is why forests are so good and deforestation so bad for the environment. Nowadays most forests used for making paper are managed sustainably, so that trees are planted to replace the ones that have been used. Always check the label of paper products you buy so you know they are from a good source, or opt for recycled paper. Don’t forget to recycle paper you’ve used as well. 

Carbon Offsetting

Carbon offsetting may be an option if you have already calculated your carbon footprint, and reduced it, but you will find there are some carbon emissions that you can't avoid. Carbon offsetting is when you pay money to an organisation who will invest in environmentally friendly schemes to offset your carbon emissions.

For example, flying is the least environmentally way to travel, but if your travelling to America and you don't have all the time in the world, it is the most sensible option. Most airlines now give you the option to offset the carbon emissions from your flight, by donating to an environmentally friendly project.

Money given to carbon offsetting schemes goes to projects which invest in renewable energy and environmental projects often in developing countries that are most badly hit by climate change. Some offsetting schemes involve planting trees, but it can take many years for the environmental benefits to be realised. The government has created the Quality Assurance Scheme for Carbon Offsetting to help you choose a good quality offset. See their website for more details.