The Carbon Footprint
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Virtually everything we do that requires oil, gas or electricity pumps carbon dioxide, CO2, into the air. As it rises into the atmosphere, scientists say it acts like a blanket and traps heat, warming the planet. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average household of two people produces 41,000 lbs of carbon dioxide per year.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]Here's a sample of how different lifestyle choices and building designs can influence carbon dioxide emissions:
AUTOMOTIVE
2007 Honda Civic, driven 231 miles per week, the national average: 8,177 lbs CO2per year
2007 Honda Civic Hybrid, 231 miles per week: 5,451 lbs CO2per year
RECYCLING
Waste for a family of four that doesn't recycle: 4,072 lbs CO2per year
Waste for a family of four that recycles: 2,384 lbs CO2per year
COMMUTING
Single occupant, 20 miles by car per day for 50 weeks: 5,000 lbs CO2
Single person, 20 miles per day on public transportation (rail or bus): 2850 lbs CO2
BUILDINGS
Large office building, standard features, 250,000 sq. ft.: 8 million lbs CO2per year
Green office building, new fluorescent lighting, recommissioned infrastructure, new appliances, power management: 5 million lbs CO2per year Sources: Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Technologies, American Public Transport Association, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories (Philip Haves), Staff research
