Carbon Footprint Term Papers Example

Introduction

According to the research China, America and Canada contribute more in the creation of the carbon dioxide. Factors such as emissions from vehicles, heat, electricity and other activities greatly contribute to greenhouse gas called the carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is considered to be the prominent greenhouse gas which adds to the climate change. Footprint denotes the impact of an individual in the community as well as to the world. When the carbon dioxide is joined to the term footprint, then the term carbon footprint is derived. Carbon footprint is the impact the carbon dioxide generated by an individual to the world (Carbon Diet, 2008).
The greenhouse gases generate heat in the atmosphere of the Earth according to the United States Energy Information Administration. These gases make the access of sunlight easier to Earth’s atmosphere. Personal belongings of human such as food, clothing, and house as well as the activities of human like heat from homes, vehicle operations, and electricity usage, greatly contribute to the emissions of this gas (Gao et al, 2013).
There is an increase in gas emissions since there is the growth of industrialization. With continuous emissions of this gas, temperature of the Earth will increase leading to the change in climate (LaMeaux, n.d.). It is a must that each individual have an understanding on causes and effects as well as solutions need to implement in order to reduce carbon footprint. Its impacts includes danger in road related activities and illnesses or diseases such as asthma, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders, waterborne and communicable diseases (Apul & Franchetti, 2013). These impacts will not only entail risks on health of individual, animals and plants but also could lead to death eventually if not reduced or eliminated.

Causes of Carbon Footprint

There are a number of ways that causes the carbon footprint. Heat, emissions from vehicles or transportation, food, and others are several causes of this footprint. One of the causes is the production or manufacturing of food. Emissions from the production of food such as methane gas and carbon dioxide generated through animals and use of fossil fuel in transporting food to stores as well as to consumers (World Health Organization, 2008).
Another cause is vehicle or transportation and the fuel used to operate this. Almost all of individuals use transportation such as cars, trucks, airplanes, and trains, going home, office, malls, and others. However, only few are aware of its impacts to health and to environment. The largest technology emitting carbon footprint is the fossil-fuelled (Baldwin, n.d.) The fuel used in it comes from the oil which is one of the material in producing diesel and gasoline. If this oil is used, it could not be reuse since this is not a renewable source (Carbon Diet, 2008).
Heat also adds to the cause of carbon footprint which is found in homes, offices and buildings. During winter seasons, individual uses heater and fire to heat the home. If the home or any structure is not sealed then heat will goes out, thus, there will be a lot of energy wasted in order to heat the structure.
Another cause is electricity which is the most common use by individuals. Air pollution will be the effect when electricity is produced. The worst source of pollution is generators producing coal fired electricity and generators by natural gas emit carbon dioxide (Carbon Diet, 2008). Technologies generating electricity is not carbon free. All of these technologies emit carbon dioxide at some point during the life cycle. Thus, low technologies with low carbon require small in carbon footprint (Baldwin, n.d.).

Resolving the Carbon Footprint

There also are number of ways to resolve concerning carbon footprint. On food production, more energy is consumed from the time of manufacturing up to the time of delivery to stores. The consumption of organic food will be a big help since it is pesticide free and fertilizers used do not consist of fossil-fuel. One more option is food from the locality for it will not entail long distance in transportation as well as shipment process (Carbon Diet, 2008). Another option is reduction in consumption of the products from the animals which can lessen the production of the methane and carbon dioxide (World Health Organization, 2008).
In transportation, use of bike and walking will help reduce the emission of carbon footprint. This will not only lessen hazardous impact on environment but also will be good in the health of each individual. Once it is used and burned, fuel will not return and will not reuse. One option is using renewable resource like electricity. Electricity is generated from solar panel or wind turbine since there is no consumption of its source of energy, thus, will be used over and over again (Carbon Diet, 2008).
In heating, the use of insulators is very essential for every structure. If walls and ceilings of the structure are insulated properly, air will not outflow and heating as well as cooling process will be well (Carbon Diet, 2008). Through insulators, room or house will maintain its coolness during summer and warmer during the cold seasons (David Zuzuki Foundation, n.d.)
The use of electricity generated from renewable resource energy is the vital step in reduction of carbon footprint. Each individual must conserve energy. When appliances such as light, refrigerator, television, computer, air-conditioning and others, are not in use, it must be turned off.
Using power bars in order to monitor power and watt reader in order to measure the amount of energy used, will be of big help (Bishop, 2008). Aside from these devices, another is the use of new and durable products since old model products have the worst performance tendency and in the end will be very costly (Carbon Diet, 2008).
On the other hand, waste is a significant provider which contributes to emissions of carbon. The reuse, reduce and recycle management of the waste will add to the reduction of carbon footprint. Waste will not merely releases methane and carbon dioxide but also causes pollution of the water, soil as well as the air. Individual needs to recycle things around such as bottles, cans, plastics, and others (World Health Organization, 2008).
The use of the reusable shopping bags instead of plastic bags, the use of lunch boxes instead of plastics or containers made of Styrofoam as well as minimizing or even stoppage on the use of chemicals such as cleaning disinfectants, strong soap and others might be a big comfort. If waste product will be reduced it could lead to savings in the emission and also requirements of land fill (World Health Organization, 2008).
Consumption and convenience set together helping the reduction and elimination of carbon footprint. If the individual consumes more raw materials’ resources, more waste is created and more energy is generated beginning manufacturing process up to shipment of products.
For instance, if an individual purchase a low-cost drill, its usage last for several years only and eventually will be broken. It is impossible to fix the drill, so it will be sent to waste or else buy a new drill. Contrariwise, if an individual purchase a durable and quality drill, it can be repaired and can be passed down towards succeeding generations. Thus, carbon footprint is correlated to consumption of products (Carbon Diet, 2008).
Smart decision with regard to purchase, consumption and disposal creates a great change on the production of waste and generation of greenhouse gas emitted by the products consumed. (United States Environmental Protection Agency, n.d.)
Further, convenience is one of the ranges that concern the carbon footprint. For instance, electronic banking is convenient since an individual will not leave home or office and saving vehicle emissions. Also, paper receipts are not required using this banking system. This consumption and convenience impacts the carbon footprint of individual. The important avenue is to consume or purchase services and products and how wise an individual is using these (Carbon Diet, 2008).

Conclusion

It is very vital for every individual to understand the impacts of carbon footprint impact to the environment. Also, to work out on these impacts and make these to be on positive bearings. The causes did exist and solutions are very viable. With the support of the government, community as well as the individuals in implementing laws for the protection of the environment and reducing carbon footprint, as well as awareness and knowledge of these things, there will be a less in danger to the lives not only on plants and animals, but on humans as well.
All the things the individual do whether it has a negative or positive, it has a great impact in human and environment. The concept of carbon footprint marks in the everyday life. Responsibility is in the shoulder of each individual and its way of living. One can reduce the carbon footprint through the change in the lifestyle. The small decision could make a difference. This is a healthy green choice and that choice in is the hand of each individual.

References

Apul, D. & Franchetti, M. J. (2013). Carbon footprints analysis: Concepts, methods, implementation, and case studies. United States of America: Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Baldwin, S. (n.d.). Carbon Footprint of electricity generation. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. Retrieved from http://www.geni.org/globalenergy/library/technical-articles/carbon-capture/parliamentary-office-of-science-and-technology/carbon-footprint-of-electricity-generation/file_9270.pdf
Bishop, A. (2008) How to reduce carbon footprint. Canada: Crabtree Publishing Compa
David Zuzuki Foundation. (n.d.). Reduce your carbon footprint. Retrieved from http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/reduce-your-carbon-footprint/reduce-home-heating-and-electricity-use-by-10/
Carbon Diet. (2008). Green basics: Carbon footprint: What is carbon footprint?. Retrieved from http://www.carbondiet.ca/going_green/carbonfootprint.html
Gao, T., Lui, Q., & Wang, J. (2013). A comparative study of carbon footprint and assessment standard. Oxford Journals. http://ijlct.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/06/24/ijlct.ctt041.full
LaMeaux, E.C. (n.d.). How Does Your Carbon Footprint Impact Climate Change? Ways to be mindful of your contribution to climate change, and ways to offset your impact. Retrieved from http://life.gaiam.com/article/how-does-your-carbon-footprint-impact-climate-change
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d) Climate change and waste. Web. Retrieved from http://epa.gov/climatechange/climate-change-waste/
World Health Organization. (2008). Reducing your carbon footprint can be good for your health: A list of mitigating actions. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/world-health-day/toolkit/dyk_whd2008_annex1.pdf