Going Green
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint is the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event or product. An individual, nation or organization's carbon footprint is measured by undertaking a greenhouse gas emissions assessment. Once the size of a carbon footprint is known, a strategy can be devised to reduce it.
A strategy to reduce your carbon emissions is called a carbon offset, or the mitigation of carbon emissions through the development of alternative projects such as solar or wind energy or reforestation, represent one way of managing a carbon footprint.
Some small steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint:
- Turn it off when not in use (lights, television, DVD player, computer, etc.)
- Turn down the central heating slightly (try just 1 to 2 degrees C)
- Turn down the water heating setting (just 2 degrees will make a significant savings)
- Check the central heating timer setting - remember there is no point heating the house after you have left for work
- Fill your dish washer and washing machine with a full load - this will save you water, electricity, and washing powder
- Fill the kettle with only as much water as you need
- Unplug your mobile phone as soon as it has finished charging
- Defrost your fridge/freezer regularly
- Do your weekly shopping in a single trip
- Hang out the washing to dry rather than tumble drying it
- Go for a run rather than drive to the gym
Recycling
Recycling involves processing used materials into new products in order to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The essence of recycling is the cyclical movement of materials through the system, eliminating waste and the need to extract more virgin materials. Supporting recycling means feeding this loop by not only recycling, but also supporting recycled products. We can now find high recycled content in everything from printer paper to office chairs.
Alternative Power
The Sun
As the power of the other alternative power sources comes from the sun, it makes the most sense to use the sun as a power source directly. The energy from the sun is a clean and renewable energy source, representing a feasible alternative to fossil fuels which pollute the environment.
With a grid-connected solar system, the sun’s energy is collected by the mono-crystalline solar panels and converted into DC electricity. The inverter turns the DC electric current from the solar panels and converts it to AC electrical current, powering your household appliances. An on-grid system enables a property owner to generate some or all of their daily electrical energy demand on their own roof, exchanging daytime excess power for future energy needs (i.e. nighttime usage).The best part is that any extra electricity not used is redistributed to the power grid, giving you a credit towards your utility bill.
Wind
In reality, wind energy is a converted form of solar energy. The sun's radiation heats different parts of the earth at different rates-most notably during the day and night, but also when different surfaces (for example, water and land) absorb or reflect at different rates. This in turn causes portions of the atmosphere to warm differently. Hot air rises, reducing the atmospheric pressure at the earth's surface, and cooler air is drawn in to replace it. The result is wind.
Air has mass, and when it is in motion, it contains the energy of that motion ("kinetic energy"). Some portion of that energy can be converted into other forms of mechanical force or electricity that we can use to perform work.
Water
Hydropower is using water to power machinery or make electricity. Water constantly moves through a vast global cycle, evaporating from lakes and oceans, forming clouds, precipitating as rain or snow, and then flowing back down to the ocean. The energy of this water cycle, which is driven by the sun, can be tapped to produce electricity or for mechanical tasks like grinding grain. Hydropower uses a fuel—water—that is not reduced or used up in the process. Because the water cycle is an endless, constantly recharging system, hydropower is considered a renewable energy.