What I like about this story, apart from the fact that an entire community is getting into reducing their carbon footprint together, is that some of the ways they are reducing their energy emissions are so simple. They’re worth noting, for sure, things like taking the car in for a tune up, washing clothes in cold water and turning off and unplugging electrical appliances that are not in use. All of these simple little things will save you money too.
(I went for a quick once over in my house and turned off the Playstation, a video recorder, a CD player, the speakers on my computer, a night light that was left on in the daytime – and that was just a quick two minute check)
There are a few interesting estimations included in the challenge information of what a few careless actions might cost you in terms of money and carbon emissions. Consider this: limiting the time you allow your car to idle to 10 seconds could save you $70 a year and 21 kilograms of carbon dioxide; reducing the speed you drive on the highway by 5 kph saves approximately $24 and 8 kilograms.
Sounds like a terrific incentive and one that more communities could take up in a bid to combine in the fight to shrink the global carbon footprint. If nothing else it will save the need to see an ecopsychologist.
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Ecopsychology, according to the New York Times, is a new form of therapy that examines the normal personal relationship issues but goes on to also encourage the patient to develop a relationship to nature. Apparently there are people out there who are so anxious about the state of their carbon footprint that a trip to an ecopsychologist followed by the purchase of a solar hot water system will allay their fears and help them feel better about themselves.
For those of you who feel a little more in control of your carbon footprint, nice work. Deep breath in, deep breath out. Don’t forget to turn off the light – our session is over for the time being.
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It's gratifying to read about big companies like Sony pledging to drastically reduce their carbon footprint and, not only that, urging other companies to join them. Twelve companies such as Nokia, Hewlett-Packard and Nike have all signed up to the Tokyo declaration to pledge to do their bit to limit global warming. They’ve all pledged to support a worldwide reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050.
It’s a good start and Sony is following through, having set itself a target of reducing emissions by 7% by 2010 from their 2000 levels have already cut annual carbon emissions by 9%.
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Nine percent reduction is pretty good you’ve gotta admit, but UK company Totally Fitness has aimed to go a whole lot better than that with an announcement that they are working with co2balance.com to calculate their carbon footprint to take action to reduce their emissions and then offset the remaining amount. They plan to become carbon neutral very shortly.
The company provides fitness equipment to stars such as Julia Roberts and Jim Carrey as well as to hotels and hospitals. They believe that people are becoming more mindful of the environmental outlook of companies they purchase goods from.
The carbon offsets that will help take their carbon footprint down to zero will include energy efficiency projects in Kenya, renewable energy projects in East Africa and tree planting in various locations throughout Europe.
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