Twelve Steps to Help You Kick the CO2 Habit

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  • 8/11/2019 Twelve Steps to Help You Kick the CO2 Habit

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    distribute their products, saving about =>6 barrels of oil and 3,=55 trees. 'y broadening thisinitiative to > items, the company believes it can save 3,555 barrels of oil, =,?55 trees, and

    millions of dollars in transportation costs.

    8nother e:ample@ you can buy paper or wood products that adhere to internationally certifiedstandards. The 0orestry tewardship !ouncil Awww.fsc.orgB, for e:ample, is an internationalnon%profit organisation promoting responsible management of the worlds forests. The 0!

    trademark is increasingly recognised as an international standard for responsible forestmanagement. (ore than C5 million hectares in more than D5 countries have been certified

    according to 0! standards while several thousand products are produced using 0! certifiedwood and carrying the 0! trademark. witching to recycled or sustainably sourced paper can

    also lead to considerable savings, reducing both landfill use and carbon emissions. $singrecycled paper can save 3.4 tonnes of !2< for every tonne of paper and cardboard.

    2ther ways of reducing your carbon footprint include wasting less time and energy on travel.!ities can improve public transport options, companies can encourage low carbon habits Aby

    ceasing to subsidize parking or investing in hybrid technology company vehiclesB, andindividuals can car pool or use public transport. ometimes simple actions can produce a shift.

    ecure bicycle storage and changing and shower facilities, for e:ample, are often ine:pensivecompared to other parking structures but create a strong incentive for those who can

    commute by bicycle. +n larger cities with ade-uate public transport, a monthly or yearly passcan be offered instead of parking facilities. *aris and Eienna, for e:ample, offer a public bicycle

    system that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion.

    (. )et ener$ e''icient

    +mproving the efficiency of your buildings, computers, cars and products is the fastest andmost lucrative way to save money, energy and carbon emissions. This does not mean goingwithout. )nergy efficiency is about increasing productivity but doing more with less. (ore

    efficient buildings, cars and products will a direct and lasting contribution to limiting carbonemissions. !onventional buildings can account for almost 45 per cent of !2< emissions. Fighperformance, environmentally accountable, energy efficient and productive facilities are now

    economically possible.

    Eery simple measures can lead to immediate savings. Gust turning off unused lights, motors,computers and heating can substantially reduce wasted energyand money. &enerally, laptopcomputers use less energy than desktop computers and 1!7 monitors use less energy than!RT screens. 8lso consider what to do with e-uipment when its useful life is finished. omemanufacturers offer take%back or recycling. 8lso look for energy efficiency standards. 0or

    appliances, the )nergy tar rating is a way to describe efficiency. 0or many brands now, thehighest energy efficiency rating does not cost any more than less efficient products. 2riginally

    from the $nited tates, )nergy tar is now applicable in )urope.

    Think about your travel. 8dvanced web and video conferencing technology mean the time israpidly approaching when the need to travel will be substantially diminished. 8 two%day trip to

    attend a meeting 3,555 km A655 milesB away can cost about $H per cent compared to a standard incandescent bulb. The

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    advantages of !01s and other high efficiency lighting have prompted legislation to banincandescent bulbs. +n

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    The average price for carbon offsets is $H3> per tonne, but costs range from $H>%>5 pertonne. To purchase offsets, individuals or businesses pay an offset company to implement andmanage proects that avoid, reduce or absorb greenhouse gases. !limate change is a global

    problem, so carbon reductions will have the same impact no matter where they areimplemented. !arbon credits can be generated by emission%free energy generation, reduced

    demand, including energy efficiency, or se-uestration in the form of underground and forestrystorage.

    8ccording to one report, the highest -uality offsets are generated from the flaring of methanefrom landfills, since methane is an even more potent greenhouse gas than !2

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    (any private sector companies are increasingly working with non%governmental organisations,cities or governments to identify and implement best practice solutions to reduce emissions.The !arbon 7isclosure *roect Awww.cdproect.netB, for e:ample is an independent non%profitorganisation providing information for institutional investors with a combined $H43 trillion ofassets under management. 2n their behalf, !7* seeks information on the business risks andopportunities presented by climate change and greenhouse gas emissions data from more

    than