What is a Carbon Footprint?

Your carbon footprint is a measurement loosely representing the total amount of greenhouse gases produced by your activities. The units used are tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2). Having a “large” carbon footprint is an indication of greater damage done to the natural environment.

Individuals, organizations and communities could all be said to have carbon footprints.

  1. Your primary footprint is a measure of emissions created in ways directly linked to individual or business activity, e.g. energy you consume in powering appliances, heating or cooling your home or office, running machines in a factory, etc.
  2. A secondary footprint is a measure of emissions which are indirectly generated by your or by a business, for example, the processes that led to manufacturing and shipping your home appliances, the fuel used to import machinery from another country, or fuel consumed to enable employees to travel to a workplace.

Here are a few activities that contribute to your carbon footprint:

  • Transportation
  • Electricity
  • Heating
  • Cooling
  • Cooking
  • Consuming imported goods