CARBON FOOTPRINT

A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide (CO2).  The U.S. National Average Carbon Footprint is said to be 20 tons per year per person. [i]  To put this into perspective, this is approximately the same amount of carbon dioxide emitted each year by three new cars.  All your actions have a direct or indirect impact on your carbon footprint, including your diet, and the clothes you wear.  The biggest contributors to your footprint are your travel needs, and your electricity demands at home. 

Scientists estimate that it takes between 1.2 and 3 trees to offset one ton of CO2.  It is suggested to plant three trees for every ton of carbon offset.[ii]  Trees are green machines that act as natural filters of our air.  Through the process of photosynthesis they absorb carbon dioxide (a principal contributor to global warming) from the atmosphere and store it in their trunk, branches, leaves, roots, soil and foliage, while releasing oxygen back out.

There are several websites that will help calculate your personal carbon footprint for you:

• www.carboncaring.com
• www.carbonfootprint.com
• www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html  

Tree planting can be accomplished very quickly and provides the additional benefits of preventing soil erosion, animal habitat and scenic beauty over and above CO2 absorption. 

• Prevents soil erosion
• Provides animal habitat
• Provides scenic beauty
• Provides shade and woody debris which helps cool streams and increase water oxygen levels
• Improves salmon habitat when planted along streams
• Forests are sources of wood products.  They help regulate local and regional rainfall.  And forests are crucial sources of food, medicine, clean drinking water, and immense recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual benefits for millions of people.  They provide shade and woody debris which helps cool streams, increase water oxygen levels and improve salmon habitat.

Each American would need to plant up to 60 trees to offset, or absorb, their Carbon Footprint of 20 tons of CO2 annually.

What can you do to reduce your Carbon Footprint?

• Be more energy efficient in your home - adjust your heater thermostat and air conditioner, turn off and unplug stereos, radios, TVs and DVDs when you leave for holidays, close doors to unused rooms, switch from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lighting, insulate your walls and ceilings, clean your heating and cooling appliances, wash your dishes manually or at least ensure your dishwasher is full when you run it, allow your dishes to air dry, turn your refrigerator down, select the most energy-efficient models when you replace old appliances
• Walk or bike to your destination when possible
• Recycle glass, metals, plastics and paper
• Paint your house a light color if you live in a warm climate or a dark color if you live in a cold climate
• Slow down and drive sensibly - the faster and more aggressive you drive, the more fuel your car uses
• Think twice before buying bottled water - most tap water is safe to drink. Imagine the carbon footprint of the flight/shipping of bottled water and think about the emissions due to making the bottle and/or recycling it
• Buy local whenever possible - there is no need to buy New Zealand apples in the fall
• Grow your own fruit and vegetables in your own garden
• Think twice about buying a bottle of wine from the other side of the world - Washington has many fine wines, better yet, Whatcom County has some great wineries!
• Check clothes labels before you buy, if they come from more than 1,000 miles away, keep looking!
• Avoid goods and services that have unnecessary packaging.
• JOIN FARM FRIENDS (click here)

[i] www.ucsusa.org  

[ii] www.carbonfootprint.com  

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