Carbon Footprint: What's Your Size? Find Solar Heating Solutions Let's Cut Carbs...Our carbon footprint, that is... The intense dialogue continues today about global warming and greenhouse gases and the impact on mother Earth. Regadless or where you are in this debate, achieving a green living or simple lifestyle by reducing your footprint makes good sense. The photo of mother Earth reminds us tht global warming affects everyone world wide. The photo is courtesy NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center and uploaded from by Woodleywonderworks. When you have an idea of what your carbon footprint baseline can we make changes toward a green living and sustainable way of living. Achieving a level of sustainable energy sustainable energy for green living means looking at the triple bottom line. Can the environment benefit? Will the economic impact lead toward a green economy? Does the the practce further the social institutions within your commnity. Let's start by making an estimate of your carbon footprint. Then let's look at some ways solar heating and energy conservation can reduce the size of your footprint. What is the Size of Your Carbon Footprint? This worksheet allows you to easily tally up your own personal "carbon budget" or "carbon footprint." Auto Transportation: Monthly Yearly travel of miles, at miles per gallon, burns gallons of gasoline annually, putting pounds of carbon (about 5 lbs/gal) into our air. Air Transportation: Monthly Yearly travel of miles via commercial airline puts about pounds of carbon into our air annually. Home Electric Usage: Monthly Yearly use of kilowatt-hours of electricity, if your power plant generates power from Eastern Coal Western Coal Gas Biomass Oil Austin Nuclear Solar Wind Hydro puts pounds of carbon into our air each year. Home Natural Gas Usage: Monthly Yearly use of Therms (Or ccf - hundred cubic feet) of Natural Gas contributes pounds of carbon to our air each year. Home Fuel Oil Usage: > Monthly Yearly use of gallons of Fuel Oil adds pounds of carbon to our air each year. Your Total Contribution Your total atmospheric carbon contribution is approximately pounds per year. That's pounds of Carbon Dioxide (CO2). In different terms, this amounts to pounds of carbon per hour, cubic feet of CO2 per hour, or cubic feet of CO2 per minute. Of course, this ignores all of the energy spent to produce all of the goods that you buy...you might want to double these numbers!

Chuck Wright Consulting LLC provides programming, hardware design, and consulting services to organizations that promote sustainability.

More freebe calculators are available:

• Carbon Calculator - Calculate your personal CO2 emissions.
  
• What's a Watt? - Energy and Power Conversion Calculator
  
• Insulation Calculator - Figure out where your home energy dollars are going.
  
• Insulation Rate of Return Calculator - Thinking of insulation as an investment.
  
• PV Calculator - Do a quick PV system sizing.
  
• Hobbyist PV cell calculator
  Electric Utility Pollution Calculator - Other environmental effects of Electric Usage.
  
• Water Heating Calculator
  
• Stack Effect Ventilation Calculator
  
• Bicycling Energy Calculator
  
  
  

  Chuck has made considerable effort to present correct information. Chuck's contact information can be found on his web site at Chuck Wright Consulting LLC.
  
  

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  Here are some examples of what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. Some only require a change in attitude other require an investment in solar heating. Take a look now.
  
  

  Solar heating provides opportunities. Start now at Solar Water Heaters Basics.
  
  Based on the carbon footprint calculator the majority of your carbon footprint comes from your home usage of electricity, natural gas or fuel oil. Here are some energy conservation ideas that can reduce the size of your carbon footprint.

  • Turn the thermostat down. Install a programable thermostat turn the heater on only when needed.

  • Use less hot water... use the dishwasher only with full loads, use low-flow shower heads, use the warm or cold setting when washing clothes, hang clothes out to dry instead of a clothes dryer.
    

  • Replace the filter on your furnace and air conditioning
    

  • Insulate the water heater with a blanket.
    

  • When it's time to replace a water heater get a high efficiency ENERGY STAR rated. If your water heater is more than eight years old consider replacing it now.
  
  

  Learn more and go to Energy Conservation First... be an energy miser.
  
  Get an energy audit. Start with a do-it-yourself audit. Get a professional if you want to invest in solar heating. Start with your local utility... you may get it done for free. Learn more at Energy Efficient Homes... start with a home energy auit.
  
  Switch over to green power. Sure you pay a premium... it's a commitment to change.
  
  

  Replace single-glazed windows with energy efficient double-glazed windows. Make sure they are high efficiency windows. Look for the ENERGY STAR lable.
  
  

  Insulate and weatherize your home. Just putting additional insulation in the attic can make a difference.
  
  

  This is just a start to make your carbon footprint one size samller.

  
  
  
  
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