Archive for November 2011
Understanding the Carbon Footprint and How it Affects the Environment
November 30, 2011 | 
Author First of all, the term carbon footprint refers to a measurement of greenhouse gases released by human activities based on the amount of carbon dioxide units that is produced. This helps scientists and government decision makers gauge how severe a particular human activity affects the environment by contributing to the so-called Greenhouse Effect.
You can compute your own primary carbon footprint, by taking into account your fuel consumption in your household and your travel activities per year.
In the first category which is fuel consumption per household, you should factor in the following:
•electricity consumption per year for your household
•natural gas consumption per year for your household
•LPG (liquified petroleum gas) consumption per year by your household
•household oil consumption per year by your household
•coal consumption per year by your household
•and the number of people who live in your household.
For the second category, which involves travel activities per year, you should factor in these:
•total mileage of your vehicle per year (for those who own their own private vehicle)
•total mileage of your second vehicle per year (for those who have an additional vehicle)
•miles traveled on the train per year
•miles traveled on both local buses and underground transportation systems per year
•miles traveled on long distance bus and coach per year
•yearly travel by air, in terms of short-haul return flights, medium-haul return flights, and long-haul return flights.
You can use an online carbon footprint calculator (like that found on http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.html) and enter in all these factors. The online calculator will do the computing for you so you can see just how extensively your activities affect the environment by contributing to carbon dioxide emissions.
Once you know how your activities affect Mother Earth, you can start taking steps to minimize your contribution to carbon dioxide emissions. This is very important, particularly since African and Asian countries are revving up their economies which means a proportional increase in fuel consumption.
Some things you can do are:
•look for a green energy supplier who will supply power to your household. (A green energy supplier relies on renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric and wind power, which wreaks less havoc on the environment);
•turn off electricity-dependent machines if you really do not need to use them, or at least minimize usage of these items;
•minimize your central heating by up to 2 degrees;
•minimize water heating by up to 2 degrees;
•use a timer for your central heating at home so that it turns off when you leave home;
•only turn on the washing machine and clothes dryer if you have a full load of laundry to put in;
•try reducing water to heat in the kettle if you do not need that much hot water in the first place;
•do not overcharge your cellphone;
•defrost freezers and refrigerators periodically, even before ice builds up;
•try shopping only once a week, making bulk purchases so you can cut down on car fuel consumption;
•and minimize use of the tumble dry function – rather try using a clothesline and the sun to dry laundry.
There are many other things you can do to minimize your carbon footprint. Leave less of a carbon footprint and you will leave behind a more stable environment in the wake of your activities.
Posted in Carbon accounting | 
Tags: Affects, Carbon Accounting, Environment, Footprint, Understanding | 
1 Comment »
Tackling Climate Change – Climate Change Levy
The CCL is an environmental energy tax that adds approximately 15% to a typical energy bill.
The CCL is taxable on ‘commodities’ such as lighting, heating and power used by industrial commercial customers.
‘Taxable commodities’ include:
> Electricity
> Natural gas (as supplied by a gas supplier)
> Petroleum and hydrocarbon gas in a liquid state
> Coal and lignite
> Coke and semi-coke of coal or lignite
> Petroleum coke
The levy does not apply to taxable commodities used by domestic consumers, or by charities for non-business use.
Are you exempt?
There are a number of reasons why you would be exempt from such a tax. These include being a charity, being a renewable energy user, or a company that have entered into agreements with the government to receive discounts in return for energy efficiency targets.
How is the Climate Change Levy calculated?
The levy has a separate rate for each category of taxable commodity, as is a follows:
> Electricity = £0.0043 per kilowatt hour
> Gas supplied by a gas utility or any gas supplied in a gaseous state that is of a kind supplied by a gas utility = £0.0015 per kilowatt hour
> Any petroleum gas, or other gaseous hydrocarbon supplied in a liquid state = £0.0096 per kilogram
> Any other taxable commodity = £0.0117 per kilogram
What do I need to do?
If you are in business and are making or intend to make taxable supplies, you need to contact HM Revenue & Customs and register for the Climate Change Levy.
Can I get a discount?
Customers in energy-intensive industries who have entered into Climate Change Levy agreements with the government can get an 80% reduction of their CCL.
To claim the 80% discount, you will be required to fill out a PP10/PP11 certification and send a copy of the certificates to HM Revenue & Customs and to your energy supplier before the discount can be arranged.
A Carbon Tax for France, When will it reach the rest of us?
Who will pay the tax?
The tax (called Contribution Climat-Energie) will be paid by all households and by companies who consume oil, gas and coal.
The tax will not be applied on electricity as less than 10% of electricity generation is coal powered, and the government argues there are European regulations in place.
Neither will the tax be paid by large industrial companies, as they are also covered by European wide regulations on the reduction in CO² emissions.
When will it come into operation?
The tax is planned to come into operation on 1st January 2010.
What is the rate of the tax?
The tax has been set at the rate of €17 per ton of CO² emitted, a rate half of that proposed by the committee set up by President Sarkozy to provide recommendations on the introduction of the tax.
This will mean an increase of approximately 4.5 centimes in the price of a litre of diesel and 4 centimes on a litre of petrol. Gas prices will rise by 0.4 centimes per kWh of consumption.
It is estimated it will cost each household an average of €72 per year in 2010. In practice the impact will vary significantly betweeen households, with some households likely to be paying €200 a year or more in tax, while the impact is likely to be marginal on others eg city dwellers with low carbon use.
The government have made it clear that the rate has been set lower than they would have wished, in order not to impact adversely on household budgets during a difficult economic period. It is likely the tax will be revised upwards each year as many consider the tax has been set too low to have any material impact.
What will the tax be used for?
The tax will be used to try and change the behaviour of households and companies in their consumption of fossil fuels.
The government have stated that it is not their aim to increase the total level of taxes paid by households and companies, so other taxes will be reduced.
On this basis they state the new tax will be a transfer of taxation, not an overall increase in the amount of tax collected by the government. In practice, there are bound to be both ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ as the compensation will be a fixed sum per household.
How will households be compensated?
All households will receive either a reduction in the level of income tax they pay each year, or a tax credit (chèque vert) if they do not pay tax.
The amount of the tax rebate or credit will depend on the size of the household and where they live. Those served by good public transport links will get less than those where public transport services are less available.
Broadly speaking, therefore, those in rural areas with limited access to public transport will receive a larger sum than those in urban areas.
For those living in an urban area the refund will be around €46 a year per adult, while those in rural areas will get €61. These amounts will be increased by €10 for each additional person in the household.
Thus, a couple with two children living in the countryside will get €142, against €112 were they living in an urban area.
As the compensation payment is a fixed sum, whether you are a ‘winner’ or a ‘loser’ from the introduction of the tax will depend on your own particular circumstances.
The consumer’s organisation CCLV has placed on the Internet an automatic calculator that enables you to work out for yourself just what the impact of the new tax will be on your household. The calculator gives you the tax you will pay, as well as the compensation you will receive.
What compensation will there be for companies ?
The government is proposing to abolish the business rates (taxe professionnelle) in 2010, although this tax is being replaced by a new system of business rates, called the cotisation économique territoriale, the parameters of which have yet to be defined.
If the new system of business rates results in a net reduction in taxation for companies, then it is likely households will have to pay more. We shall say more on this issue in a future Newsletter, when the details are available.
There will also be specific concessions for transport companies, farmers, foresters and fishermen. Farmers and fishermen will receive a rebate of 75% in the first year, with a lower rebate likely in subsequent years.
Other Measures
The tax is one of an array of ‘green’ fiscal measures the government has introduced over the past couple of years. Other measures include tax breaks and grants for energy conservation, and tax breaks and grants for low polluting cars.
Modern Renewable Energy Technologies
In many countries today, a lot is being said about harnessing renewable energy technologies – particularly in light of the rising oil prices.
Renewable energy is power which has been generated from renewable resources – in other words, it does not “run out” or eventually become depleted. It can be continuously re-created.
It’s not just the prices of oil that has people searching for clean and renewable energy sources. Global warming concerns, and problems created by international pollution, have triggered this concern as well. Governments around the world have begun to support research on improving the renewable energy technologies.
Currently, the five common renewable energy sources are biomass, hydropower, geothermal heat, wind, and solar power.
Biomass
Biomass consists of organic material which has been produced by animals and plants. Biomass energy uses stored energy from the sun. This is a result of the natural process which any plant uses to survive – photosynthesis.
Because we can always grow new crops and trees, biomass is considered a form of renewable energy. Furthermore, organic waste can be used to create biomass as well.
Some examples of commonly used biomass fuels are crops, wood, garbage, and manure. When these materials are burned, they emit heat which produces steam, that can in turn be used to create electricity. Some biomasses are converted into other usable energy forms, such as methane gas or biodiesel.
Hydropower
Hydropower is one of the oldest forms of renewable energy. It was used in ancient times to grind grain. Coal was once the only source of power in the United States. But in 1880, the first Hydropower plant was built, and since then, more of these have been erected in order to provide the people with electricity.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal Energy comes from within the Earth itself. The steam or heat which stems from the center of the earth can be used to regulate the temperatures of buildings, and can be used to generate electricity as well.
Because water can always be replenished by rain, and because the earth’s core maintains its temperature, this is considered one form of renewable energy.
Wind Power
Even the ever-present wind can provide a renewable energy source. Wind is created as a result of the uneven heating on the earth’s surface, which causes air to move. Thus, wind power is essentially a bi-product of solar power. Wind propellers are used to collect the wind’s kinetic energy, which turns turbines that are in turn used to create electricity.
Solar Power
This form of renewable energy will be available as long as the sun shines. Solar energy can either be used as thermal energy, or it can be converted into electricity.
As a thermal energy, it can be used to heat water or spaces. Through the use of solar cells or similar photovoltaic devices, it can be used to create electricity. The heat of the sun can also be used to create steam, which turns turbines and thus produces electricity.
Climate Change- A Scary But Undeniable Fact
Humans are so blessed to live in a world where everything they could possibly need is provided in abundance. Trees that give cool shades, flowers that paint colors to the fields, air that refreshes the lungs and animals that serves as companions. For centuries, or even millenniums, humans have relished and enjoyed these gifts. But humans discovered convenience. They found ways to make their lives easier. From the discovery of fire to the invention of machineries and from small communities to highly urbanized metros- humans learned to aim for more ease.
But all throughout these times, as humans relinquished the goods of each era; the earth slowly suffered and got damaged bit by bit. As transportations and mass production of goods made people’s lives easier, so did their wastes made the earth change its usual ways.
Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other green house gases emitted by industrial plants, vehicles, and even common households get trapped in the atmosphere thereby creating a thin layer of harmful gases. These gases damage the ozone layer, earth’s protective shield against harmful UV rays of the sun. Without the shields, too much UV rays enter the earth but they get trapped inside as they cannot bounce back in to space because of the presence of green house gases present in the atmosphere.
As a result, earth’s temperature rises and this is what experts call global warming. This rise in temperature causes ice caps to melt in the arctic making water levels to rise. These changes affect the normal weather cycle of the earth thus creating climate change.
Climate change is a critical issue because it could bring catastrophic events such as flooding, tornadoes, huge storms and intense drought. People who experience these events are the most affected.
Imagine a bountiful country devastated by drought. Crops will wilt, animals die, water sources dry up and forest fires will ravage the communities. People will starve and lose their sources of living. And with the world’s bad economy at the present, even payday advances, credits from banks and other sources of money wouldn’t suffice. And most importantly, no credit card offers, low interest rates or even faxless payday loans would make them feel better.
Climate change is a scary fact but it is happening at the moment. Unless humans do something about it, the world will continue to change. Change may be good but not when it involves lives and the only world people can live in. Humans should act now and reverse the damage they have done to earth before everything is too late.
Two Views of Social Responsibility
Government regulation and public awareness are external forces that have increased the social responsibility of business. But business decisions are made within the company. Two contrasting philosophies, or models, define the range of management attitudes toward social responsibility; the economic and the socioeconomic model.
According to the traditional concept of business, a firm exists to produce quality goods and services, earn a reasonable profit and provide jobs. In line with this concept, the economic model of social responsibility holds that society will benefit more when business is left alone to produce and market profitable products that society needs. To the manager who adopts this traditional attitude, social responsibility is someone else’s job. After all, stockholders invest in a corporation to earn a return on their investment, not because the firm is socially responsible and the firm is legally obligated to act in the economic interest of its stockholders.
In contrast, some managers believe they have the responsibility not only to stockholders, but also to customers, employees, suppliers, and the general public. This broader view is referred to as the socioeconomic model of social responsibility. It places emphasis not only on profits but also on the impact of business decisions on society. Recently, increasing numbers of managers and firms have adopted the socioeconomic model and they have done so for at least three reasons. First, a business is dominated by the corporate form of ownership and the corporation is a creation of society. Second, many firms are beginning to take pride in their social responsibility records. Third, many business people believe it is in their best interest to take the initiative in this area, prior to their competitors.
The merits of the economic and the socioeconomic models have been debated for years by business owners, managers, customers, and government officials. Each side seems to have four major arguments to reinforce its viewpoint. Proponents of the socioeconomic model maintain that a business must be more than simply seek profits to support their position and they offer that businesses cannot ignore social issues because a business is a part of our society. Moreover, a business has the technical, financial, and managerial resources that are needed to tackle today’s complex social issues. Additionally, by helping resolve social issues, business can create a more stable environment for long-term profitability. Finally, proponents of socially responsible decision making practices argue that these types of tactics can prevent increased government intervention, which would force businesses to do what they fail to do voluntarily. All these arguments are based on the assumption that a business has a responsibility not only to stockholders but also to customers, employees, suppliers and the general public.
Opponents of the socioeconomic model argue that a business should do what it does best; earn a profit by manufacturing and marketing products that people want. Those who support their position argue that business managers are primarily responsible to stockholders, so management must be concerned with providing a return on owners’ investment. Furthermore, corporate time, money and talent should be used to maximize profits, not to solve society’s problems. Also, social problems affect society in general, so individual businesses should not be expected to sole these problems. In addition, social issues are the responsibility of government officials who are elected for that purpose and who are accountable to the voters for their decision. These arguments are obviously based on the assumption that the primary objective of business is to earn profits, whereas government and social institutions should deal with social problems.
The Differences Between Enterprise Culture and Corporate Culture
Enterprise culture:
Enterprise culture consists in an organizational or social environment that encourages and makes initiative and innovation. An organization with an enterprise culture is usually more competitive and more profitable than a bureaucracy. Such an organization is believed to be more rewarding and stimulating to work in. A society with an enterprise culture facilitates individuality and requires people to take responsibility for their own welfare.
Characteristics:
· Enterprise culture is useful for small businesses.
· Enterprise culture is characterized by innovation, creativity, dynamism, and risk.
· It usually requires several of the following attributes: flexibility, initiative, problem solving ability, independence, and imagination.
· Enterprises flourish in the environment of nonhierarchical organizations but can be stifled (stopped from being developed) by bureaucracy.
Corporate Culture:
Corporate Culture consists in the combined beliefs, values, procedures, and atmosphere of a large business. This culture is often expressed as “the way we do things around here” and consists of largely unspoken values, norms, and behaviors that become the natural way of doing things. This culture is typically created unconsciously, based on the values of the top management or the founders of a business.
Characteristics:
· Corporate Culture is useful for large businesses.
· Corporate Culture is more natural and unconsciously created.
· In large businesses there is an unavoidable bureaucratic hierarchy.
· The leader has a very pivotal role.
Main Differences:
· The size of business in a corporate culture context is larger than in an enterprise culture context.
· In a corporate culture context there is an obvious hierarchy whereas in an enterprise culture context this obviousness does not exist.
· Corporate culture is so much associated with dress code, titles, and organizational structure whereas enterprise culture is concerned mainly with the output regardless of the rest.
People who work in small businesses or in small corporate divisions are more likely to start a business than those who work in a large firm because they gain more familiarity with the whole business process, which makes starting a business seem much more feasible.
Posted in Social Enterprise | Tags: Between, Corporate, Culture, Differences, Enterprise | No Comments »
What Can Australia to Reduce our Carbon Emissions?
According to statistics, Australia is ninth in the world with the amount of greenhouse gas emissions they put into the air. In the year 2000, it was estimated that Australia was responsible for putting as much as 25.9 tons of carbon emissions into the air. The fact that Australia was ranked as ninth in the list of who produces the most emissions that are put into the air per year is not very good. This is a fairly clear indication that something must be done about the emissions being put into the air by Australia and this needs to be done now.
What can we do to reduce our emissions? There is plenty that an individual can do. An individual can do some simple things around their home that could help in saving electricity and the bonus with doing this is that it can save the individual money as well. Keeping the home maintained, purchasing highly efficient electronics, turning things off when they are not in use and using alternative transportation are all simple ways that an individual can help reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses they normally contribute to the atmosphere. Businesses can also do a lot by encouraging alternative transportation and car pooling, as well as keeping the building well maintained and having machinery turned off when not in use are all things that can greatly help in reducing greenhouse emissions; however, getting the government to give incentives for becoming more green and enforcing it can go even farther. By writing to the government, voting on parties that are in favor of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, getting thousands to sign petitions to show support for the reduction of emissions as well as educating others about the need for the reduction of these emissions can all go a long way in bringing the change that is necessary.
Especially with government support, incentives and enforcement can push the country to start becoming more progressive and change to using renewable forms of energy that will aid in stopping the emissions from being put into the air.
Another effective strategy to reduce carbon emissions is to purchase carbon offsets. Carbon Offsetting is an efficient and easy way to reduce your carbon footprint.
There is much that can be done if just one person puts their mind to it, but it is amazing what many people can do if they work together. If enough emphasis is put onto the problem with emissions and the government is pressured enough to realize that this is an important concern for their people, changes can be made.
What small scale manufacturers and retailers need to know about WEEE
What small scale manufacturers and retailers need to know about WEEE:
Glasgow based, indeed UK based, manufacturers and retailers of electronic equipment have been slow to comply with their WEEE obligations. As this is the fastest growing area of waste in the UK it’s imperative that they take on board what they are legally obliged to do.
The environment agency does not distinguish between size of companies. For example a PC retailer could put together a single PC for a client on a bespoke basis. Under the WEEE directive this retailer now has obligations under the producer (manufacturer) regulations. They must join a producers scheme, take back the clients’ old PC (all retailers must offer a take back scheme on a like for like basis), and have the WEEE recycled at their expense and not their clients’.
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive 2002/96/EC of the European Union aims to minimize the impact of Electrical Waste (discarded or end-of-life electrical or electronic equipment – EEE), on the environment by increasing re-use and recycling and reducing the amount of WEEE going to landfills. It is closely linked to the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive 2002/95/EC which seeks to limit the presence of six hazardous materials in electrical and electronic equipment.
There are 10 categories of electronic waste or e-waste that fall under the WEEE Directive, plus a further 2 which fall under RoHS, large and small household appliances, infact any sort of electical or electronic product. E-waste in this directive means electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) designed for use with voltage ratings of up to 1000V ac or 1500V dc. Hence manufacturers of all electronic goods used in day to day life, fall under the purview of the directive. Since the consequences of non-compliance are serious (including possible ban on doing business in EU countries), manufacturers need to be conversant with the WEEE and the related RoHS directives.
The WEEE Directive seeks to minimize the environmental impact of e-waste by mandating its collection, treatment, recovery and/or recycling to be facilitated and financed by producers. It also proposes that consumers be able to return their waste equipment free of charge. Manufacturers, therefore, need to assess the impact of these requirements and initiate appropriate action for implementation.
This involves setting up collection centers for e-waste, arrangements for transportation to the recovery and/or recycling centers, facilities for recycling and determination of final disposal options, all at the manufacturers expense.
Recovery and recycling of electronic waste is specialist work, recycling plants must conform to minimum standards.
It is very important for a manufacturer to also understand the importance of certain pre-sales actions which must also be adhered to in order to meet compliance of the WEEE regulations.
For Example:
Design equipment which can be dismantled into the smallest possible parts and components. This will facilitate recovery of the parts for reuse; a more economical proposition than say, recycling.
Ensure labeling of products is in line with the requirements of the WEEE Directive including a “Do Not Landfill” note.
Reduction of hazardous material content in the product greatly reduces the need for expensive recovery efforts. It also contributes to overall environmental conservation. For this reason, the importance of RoHS compliance of products and processes cannot be over emphasized. The sooner manufacturers recognize this fact; the better their profits will be long term.
Further, the WEEE Directive is based on Article 175 of the EC (European Community) Treaty – the Treaty establishing the European Union. This allows member states to include additional products so long as they countries adhere to European Community laws governing overall trade and commerce within and beyond the EU. Manufacturers must stay informed of more environmentally sound practices and current WEEE changes. They also need to be aware of the implication of such changes on their businesses.
At Go Green, we offer solutions for a variety of Environmental issues. Please click on the following link to contact us.
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What Is A Carbon Credit?
Quite simply, you pay money to account for each tonne of carbon dioxide; or one of the other 5 common environmental pollutants that you create. ‘You’ can refer to individuals, corporations or political entities. So say, for example, that I generate 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, and each carbon credit costs £12 per tonne. I would have to pay £120 to be carbon neutral; meaning, that I am paying a fee for each tonne of greenhouse gases I produce and this fee contributes to products that either sequester carbon, or invest in green, renewable energy projects. To summarize, I produce 10 tonnes of carbon and I pay to have ten tonnes removed from our atmosphere.
The Kyoto Protocol was initiated by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and ratified (agreed to in principle) by 181 countries and the European Union as a whole, individual entity in 1997, and was put into effect in 2005. This protocol was proposed by the international community to address and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that have led to global climate change. Member countries are placed into different categories; Annex I countries make up the industrialized nations. Annex II countries are developed countries that provide financial support to the developing countries. The Annex II grouping consists of countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The third and final category makes up the developing nations, who have no limitations on greenhouse gas emissions as emissions are an essential byproduct to building a stable economy and raising their citizens out of poverty. Once these countries become ‘developed’ they are then subject to the greenhouse caps that Annex I and II countries currently have. Many countries are both Annex I and II countries. The allowable emissions for member countries are between 6 and 8% less than their 1990 emission levels; meaning the limit is different for every member country; keeping in mind that developing nations are exempt from emission caps and are ineligible to sell carbon credits.
It is up to each individual country to regulate their industrial outputs to meet the 1990 levels of emissions. Although the Kyoto meeting was one of many meetings that took place in the COP(Conference of Parties), it is the most well known because it is the conference that made countries legally liable for exceeding allowable greenhouse emissions. The Kyoto Accord is the teeth in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and is therefore synonymous with raising global awareness about climate change.
Typically, companies who explore, produce and promote alternate energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal energy sell carbon credits. Other organizations with available carbon credits include companies that destroy carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases directly. Carbon dioxide sequestration is the process of converting CO2 gas into a solid form by chemical or physical means. For example, carbon dioxide combined with quick lime (calcium oxide) forms limestone that can be used in construction projects.
The Clean Development Mechanism is a governing set of rules set by the Kyoto Protocol to determine which companies and projects can generate carbon credits.
This is necessary because anyone who sets up a company could promise that they were developing/using/investing in alternative energy sources, start selling carbon credits and make out like bandits while doing nothing to stop climate change. The CDM is not the only regulatory body to certify carbon credits, but they are the most well known. If you are purchasing a CDM certfied carbon credit, you know that you are investing in a company that has been thoroughly investigated and approved by the UN.
The other carbon credit certification bodies include the Chicago Climate Exchange, the Western Climate Initiative, and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in the northeastern U.S. In addition, there are various standards bodies who set the carbon emission bar such as the Chicago Climate Exchange, the Voluntary Carbon Standard and the CDM Gold Standard (based on the Kyoto Protocol).
Key to the establishment of carbon credit generation is the concept of additionality. This principle is that a carbon credit isn’t truly environmentally beneficial unless the carbon credit producer would not have been able to reduce emissions or invest in researching renewable energy sources without the money given to them from carbon credits. This avoids giving money to organizations that would be doing the exact same business regardless of income from carbon credits. To summarize, the money your company earns from carbon credits must be put to additional greenhouse gas reducing initiatives. Who makes the decision about additionality? The CDM board has established a set of guidelnes by which they certify a company for selling carbon credits.