Well, we agreed to try and reduce our footprint by 5%. My ‘good news’ is that I have reduced my CO2 emissions by 10.5% to 3,745.45 kg – however, my ‘bad news’ is that 3,745.45 kg is nowhere near being sustainable for the planet. My big problem has been using a car – this will have to change. My resolution for 2009.

Here are the full details:

CRAGs review: 28th January 2009
Jon Cousins

When calculating, I was unsure of the exact date when the last figures were calculated – so I worked worked with assumption that it is actually greater than 12 months (probably 15 months)

Car: 120,000 miles less 101,601 miles = 18,399 x 0.19 = 3.5 tons (3,495.81 kg) of CO2 in 2007/8

As I shared the car during 5 months of the period: I take full responsibility for 2/3 = 2,330.54 kg of CO2
and ½ responsibility for 1/3 = 582.64 kg of CO2
Car total = 2.91 tons (2,913.18 kg)

Electric:
at ‘No 2′ Ecotricity = 187 units or £118.65 + 13 units or £8.47 (final bill) = 200 units or £127.12
at ‘No 3′ Good Energy = 100% renewables = 0 tons
£127.12 ÷ 11p (ref. Lynas) x 0.43 = 0.5 tons (496.92 kg) of CO2 in 2007/8

As I shared the house at No 2, I take responsibility for ½ total
Electricity total = 0.25 tons (248.46 kg)

Gas:
at ‘No 2′ £48.91 x 13.3 = 650.50 kg.
As I lived with another person in No 2 I will take responsibility for ½ total = 325.25 kg.
at ‘No 3′ £36.44 x 13.3 = 484.65 kg gross
I had someone sharing the house for 2 months during this 12 month period, so I take responsibility for 10 months + ½ of 2 months – on an average basis of 40.39 kg per month
i.e. 11 months net = 444.26 kg

Gas total = 0.77 tons (769.51 kg)

Public Transport: 6 miles x 0.11 = 0.66 kg

Embodied Energy in Goods = 750 kg

Total Kilograms for year

Car 2,913.18 kg
Electric 248.46 kg
Gas 769.51 kg
Pub Tran .66 kg
Goods 750.00 kg

Total 4,681.81 kg (15 months)

2007/8 3,745.45 kg (12 months – average)

2006/7 4,180.32 kg less
2007/8 3,745.45 kg equals
reduction 434.87 kg

a reduction of 10.5%

Well, my big news is that I have put my bin out again (twice actually)!! once in October, and once in December (Christmas bringing an interesting increase of plastic and ’stuff’).

Although not directly part of ‘carbon reduction’, I am very pleased to have cut down on the household waste I produce. In 2008, I have only put my bin out three times – achieved mainly by being mindful about packaging, trying not to buy plastic (which is extremely hard!). Everything else goes into re-cycling.

Well, the next post from the group should be the result of our attempt to reduce our carbon emissions from the past year by at least 5%. I wonder how we will do …