carbon footprint Flashcards
What is a carbon footprint?
An individual measurement of a persons negative impact on the environment.
Closely relates the the amount of pollution a person creates through their use of energy. Such as using electricity or getting a car, bus, plane or train.
How can manufactured items effect carbon footprint?
When made in factories and distributed to stores it still adds to a carbon footprint.
Factories use fossil fuels such as coal or oil. Also, the materials will have to have been refined and extracted.
The transportation also adds to the carbon footprint through delivery lorries burning petrol or diesel. However, it is much lower than a car.
How to calculate a carbon footprint?
The amount of greenhouse gases produced by burning fossil fuels. Often used for electricity and transport.
Why is a car less efficient than using a bike?
Bikes, although still effecting the carbon footprint, are much more sustainable. After being manufactured and transported, they no longer will require more fossil fuels.
However, cars require it whenever they burn their fuel.
How to reduce carbon footprint?
Recycling - used again
Transport - public rather than own or walking/bikes
Biofuels - Burning crops rather than fossil fuels.
Home grown food - Food transport reduced
Reduce abroad travel - Reduce airplane pollution.
How to reduce carbon footprint (2)?
Plant trees - reduce carbon in atmosphere
Renewable energy - solar power or wind power
Reduce packaging - use less single use plastic
