carbon+footprint+calculator

EPA Victoria CArbon footprint calculator []

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Tips for improvement from epa website

Reducing your Ecological Footprint
Common misconceptions of Ecological Footprint reduction steps are: a) that they entail significant compromises or 'trade-offs', and b) that they are insignificant in the larger picture. Such misconceptions can be overcome when information and experiences of positive 'success stories' are made publicly available. If everyone makes small changes to their day-to-day lifestyle, these small steps can add up to significant overall Footprint savings. The tips and case studies provided on this website help to get this information across, and demonstrate that reducing your Ecological Footprint does not have to imply an economic or 'quality-of-life' trade-off. In fact, footprint savings have in many cases resulted in multiple additional benefits, including economic savings.

Tips on reducing your Ecological Footprint

 * Rethinking your diet**
 * Eating is a basic human need. Different food products require different amounts of resources to be produced. To learn more about how the different foods you eat impact on your footprint, visit [|www.cspinet.org/EatingGreen/score.html]
 * Flying less, off-setting**
 * If you fly one domestic return flight less in Australia, you can save up to one tonne of greenhouse gases (total fuel and embodied energy required per person flight). So, take fewer flights, and offset your carbon emissions. A couple of options for off-setting are [|www.climatefriendly.com.au/] and [|www.climatecare.org/]
 * Alternatives to using a car**
 * Choose public transport, walk or ride a bike when you can. Minimise car journeys by planning ahead to run several errands in the one trip. Per person, bus travel generates only 9% and rail travel only 6% of the greenhouse pollution of travelling alone by car. For every litre of petrol you save, you reduce 2.9 kg of greenhouse gas emissions.
 * Reducing water consumption**
 * Take shorter showers, only run appliances like dishwashers when they are full, and install water saving devices or a rain tank for watering the garden.
 * Reducing energy consumption**
 * Switch off lights and computers and turn off appliances that use standby mode. Ensure the seals on your fridge work properly. Ask your energy company if they sell power generated from renewable energy sources (if in Australia, see [|www.greenpower.com.au] for a list of accredited products).
 * Installing energy efficient appliances and fixtures**
 * Check the labels for energy efficiency rating when you are purchasing appliances. Use energy efficient light globes in your home and office.
 * Shopping with care**
 * Take your own bags when you go shopping and choose products with minimal and recycled/recyclable packaging. Buy local fruit and vegetables to reduce the transport distance of food you consume. Grow your own fruit and vegetables.
 * Taking action**
 * Help businesses and governments to reduce our ecological deficit, tracking progress with measures like the Ecological Footprint.
 * Learning from others**
 * If you are looking for inspiration, or simply curious to know how the Ecological Footprint is helping other individuals and organizations around Victoria in making sense of sustainability, then view our [|case studies].