What Does it Mean to Be Carbon Neutral?
There is a lot of talk about your carbon footprint and becoming carbon neutral, but what do these terms actually mean? A carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases or carbon emissions caused by a person, company or product.
This footprint can be estimated right down to the amount of greenhouse gasses produced when something as simple as a loaf of bread is produced.
Becoming carbon neutral means having a net zero carbon footprint.
Of course, using the loaf of bread example, it is virtually impossible to mass produce bread without creating greenhouse gases, so the key here is 'net zero'.
This means that the carbon emissions that are created and go towards a carbon footprint are offset by other means.
The measured amount of carbon released in production including transportation, the energy production and industrial processes are offset, or carbon credits are bought to make up the difference.
When the carbon created equals the carbon offset, there is a state of carbon neutrality.
The first stage in becoming carbon neutral is to assess the amount of greenhouse gases produced, giving the carbon footprint.
Once the size of this footprint is known, strategies can be developed to reduce it, by looking at each stage of the production, life cycle and development process.
This reduction can come through technological improvements, improved processes and techniques such as carbon capture.
Carbon offsetting can be used to make up any shortfall and typically refers to the process of providing financial support for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as renewable energy - solar power, wind power, biomass energy and wave and hydroelectric power, or support for projects like reforestation.
For a business to be carbon neutral it is generally accepted that direct emissions must be removed and offset completely, while indirect emissions, for example from electricity purchased should be reduced through renewable energy purchases.
A strong driver towards carbon neutrality, particularly for a business should be that it will save them money.
Because energy costs have been steadily rising, by introducing long term energy use reduction processes, will both go towards lower carbon footprint and reduced energy costs.
For an individual, a sound strategy for achieving a carbon neutral state is through reducing energy use as the first process and then offsetting the rest of your carbon use.
Ways to go about this include using carbon friendly transport, including walking, cycling and sharing car trips where possible, improved home insulation and purchasing local produce to reduce the distance products are transported to reach you.
This footprint can be estimated right down to the amount of greenhouse gasses produced when something as simple as a loaf of bread is produced.
Becoming carbon neutral means having a net zero carbon footprint.
Of course, using the loaf of bread example, it is virtually impossible to mass produce bread without creating greenhouse gases, so the key here is 'net zero'.
This means that the carbon emissions that are created and go towards a carbon footprint are offset by other means.
The measured amount of carbon released in production including transportation, the energy production and industrial processes are offset, or carbon credits are bought to make up the difference.
When the carbon created equals the carbon offset, there is a state of carbon neutrality.
The first stage in becoming carbon neutral is to assess the amount of greenhouse gases produced, giving the carbon footprint.
Once the size of this footprint is known, strategies can be developed to reduce it, by looking at each stage of the production, life cycle and development process.
This reduction can come through technological improvements, improved processes and techniques such as carbon capture.
Carbon offsetting can be used to make up any shortfall and typically refers to the process of providing financial support for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as renewable energy - solar power, wind power, biomass energy and wave and hydroelectric power, or support for projects like reforestation.
For a business to be carbon neutral it is generally accepted that direct emissions must be removed and offset completely, while indirect emissions, for example from electricity purchased should be reduced through renewable energy purchases.
A strong driver towards carbon neutrality, particularly for a business should be that it will save them money.
Because energy costs have been steadily rising, by introducing long term energy use reduction processes, will both go towards lower carbon footprint and reduced energy costs.
For an individual, a sound strategy for achieving a carbon neutral state is through reducing energy use as the first process and then offsetting the rest of your carbon use.
Ways to go about this include using carbon friendly transport, including walking, cycling and sharing car trips where possible, improved home insulation and purchasing local produce to reduce the distance products are transported to reach you.
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