Task 4

Carbon Footprint Outlook

Household Carbon Footprint

Within, Michael’s household, with the use of solar panels and induction cook tops it allowed the house to run entirely on electricity. Negating the use of natural gas and heating oil. This was a reduction strategy already implemented, it simplified the energy use and allowed it to be more easily managed. Another strategy we had use was the use of compost bins in the backyard. Although there a many strategies to reduce carbon footprint, solar panels is perhaps the most significant feature. It generates electricity and money for individual. Furthermore as more people install solar panels, it lowers energy bills and the total carbon output. 

James’s household relies heavily on electricity and gas to provide comfortable living all year round which unfortunately leads to a higher carbon footprint. During the week though, all lights in the house were replaced with energy efficient globes and turned off when no one was in their respective rooms. All electrical appliances that were also not being used but still consuming power such as the Xbox One and home entertainment systems were turned off at the wall. The underfloor gas heating was turned to a lower temperature from 22 degrees to 19 degrees and the time span it was turned on in the afternoons was shortened from 4pm until 9pm to 6pm until 8pm. Lastly the dishwasher was not run until fully stacked and the clothes dryer was only used once during the week compared to the normal everyday use. Although the steps undertaken were small it still had an effect on lowering the household’s carbon footprint for the week.

Car Carbon Footprint

 In Michael’s household, the usage of a car was quite significant. Aside from university, Michael had used the car to and from work almost every day. Equaling to about 35kms and 0.01 metric tons, unlike the house carbon footprint. This was very manageable. A reduction strategy was quite simply walking, aside from health benefits this slashed the amount car usage in a car from 35km to 12.5 km. A drawback though is that the calculator doesn’t show smaller than 0.01 metric tons. 

Reliance on the car in James’ household is quite heavy and due to the cars age it isn’t as fuel efficient as other newer cars.  During the week it is being used Monday – Friday as a means of transport to work and any other social calling outside of working hours. Then of course on the weekends it takes primarily a more relaxed but sometimes heavier toll on the footprint going back and forth for various reasons. To try and reduce it, carpooling was secured with friends that drove and more walking was done when just going to the local shops. Also more trains were taken when going to work to try and further reduce the total footprint. These shared transport options drastically helped lower the individual footprint and also helped with increasing exercise and less money being used on petrol.

Public Transport Carbon Footprint: 

Public transport is relied upon when the car is not available as well as to and from work and university. The fact that James’ household lives close to their job and university, the kilometers travelled per week are mostly attributed to going out on the weekends to the city. A taxi is taken most Fridays nights to get home for convenience but a better alternative would be to just stick to trains to lower the footprint. James’ house is a two minute walk to a train station though so the strategy was to try and minimize car and taxi transport by walking to the station and catching the train.

In Michael’s household, he relies heavily on the bus, trains are rare.  However whilst 0.01 metric tons of carbon are generated, the bus is a public service. The carbon output will be generated regardless, if 30 people use this service, it is more efficient than a single person using car. Generating carbon and taking space of the road. My reduction strategy was to utilize buses more, it is a more ecofriendly system than car.

Final Thoughts

The key to managing carbon output is understanding what is generating the footprint and how this can solved.  Michael’s house was able to run solely on electricity and through routine of university and work. It allowed Michael to properly understand my carbon footprint. Furthermore using solar panels is not only ecofriendly but makes the energy bill cheaper giving an incentive to be more energy efficient. 

James’ household has quite a low carbon footprint during the week when it comes to public transport and transport in general. The main course of action of the next few months/years is to reduce overall electricity and gas use by investing in newer technologies such as partial solar panel roofing that can help with lowering footprint. This also couple with installing newer systems such as clothes driers and dish washers that have a better energy rating will help to continually reduce it. Better use of the car in future should also help to decrease the kilometers travelled per week. Using the calculator it has helped me and household to better understand the need for thought when it comes to consumption of electricity, gas, water, petrol and foods. 

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