How Big is Your Carbon Footprint?
SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
The words “carbon footprint” may remind you of enormous dinosaur prints but the comparison might not be far off the mark.
The term refers the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG)–or carbon dioxide–emissions released by any event, organization, product or individual. The term is often used when discussing the “ecological footprint” left on the environment. As it turns out, New York City reportedly has one of the lowest per capita of any major U.S. city according to a Brookings Institute study (via Wired Science). Given the city’s size and level of frenzied activity, that’s something to brag about (over 80% of our carbon emissions come from buildings and lighting–issues which are being addressed by a number of initiatives (via Sustainable Business).
Addressing these emission levels via a financial instrument known as carbon offset is becoming serious business. The need to comply with environmentally-focused government regulations is an imperative for companies. And voluntary carbon offset investment is another growing market. Companies like Belgrave Trust offer carbon footprint offsetting for individuals and companies. If carbon offsetting is not your thing, if nothing else, it makes us think about what we do every day and how it impacts our environment.
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