zahir.in

Carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide or CO2 emitted through the combustion of fossil fuels; in the case of an organization, business or enterprise, as part of their everyday operations; in the case of an individual or household, as part of their daily lives; or a product or commodity in reaching market. In materials, is essentially a measure of embodied energy, the result of life cycle analysis.

This is directly related to the amount of natural resources consumed, increasingly used or referred to as a measure of environmental impact. Carbon dioxide is recognized as a greenhouse gas, of which increasing levels in the atmosphere are linked to global warming and climate change. Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation.

An increase in global temperatures can in turn cause other changes, including sea level rise, and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation resulting in floods and drought. There may also be changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, though it is difficult to connect specific events to global warming. Other effects may include changes in agricultural yields, glacier retreat, reduced summer stream flows, species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors.

The recent severe rainfalls in Mumbai since last 2-3 years to the floods in south east Asia to the changing rainfall patterns in Africa – all these can be attributed to Global Warming.

But how I, a law abiding and morally responsible citizen, cause global warming?!?! I mean come one, I don’t go and cut trees or unnecessarily race my car. Well, I was stunned when I came to know that one Mac burger which I relish with delight resulted in 6.3 to 6.8 pounds (2.85 to 3.1 kg) of carbon emissions!!!! This includes a myriad of factors, from growing the feed for the cattle for the beef and cheese, growing the produce, storing and transporting the components, as well as cooking them all, and he appears to have done a fairly thorough job.

So, why choose burgers? The average American eats three burgers per week, or about 150 burgers per year; that’s a lot of beef, cheese, shipping and grilling, and it really adds up. According to calculations, America’s love of burgers contributes approximately 941 to 1023 pounds (that’s 428-465 kg) of greenhouse gas per person, per year — the rough equivalent of the annual carbon output from 7,500-15,000 SUVs if the 300 million US citizens hit the 3 burgers/week average.

Hmm….so if a burger could this damage to the environment, imagine the impact of the television we watch, flights we fly, vehicles we drive, air-conditioners & heaters we use !!! It must be significant. Interested in really knowing what your carbon footprint is. Well click here and calculate it http://zerofootprint.net/calculators

Trackback URI | Comments RSS