Your big (carbon) foot: Small steps to cut carbon use

BY DAVID STEINKRAUS
Journal Times

Friday, June 13, 2008 2:27 AM CDT

There are many, many steps which people can take to help reduce the human contribution to global warming, said Amy Frankel, regional director of the North American office of the U.N. Environment Program.

She listed three. “They all sound small in terms of the impact but when you add up the emissions it’s tremendous.

“First, use a regular toothbrush, the old-fashioned toothbrush as oppsoed to an electric one. You will save 48 grams of carbon per day.

“Second, use a toaster instead of the oven when you want to toast your bagel or your bread. It will reduce 170 grams of carbon dioxide per day.

“Finally, instead of using an electric treadmill for your workout, go out in the park, and enjoy nature, and take a jog. It will save 1 kilogram of carbon dioxide per day.”

Convert from the metric system, multiply by 365 days per year, and it totals 979 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Here are a few other suggestions drawn from the U.N. guide to combatting global warming:

* Drive smoothly. Harsh acceleration and braking use more gasoline, and don’t waste gas by idling your engine. Check ahead to see whether traffic is flowing smoothly. With gas at $4 per gallon, this can save you money, too.

* Stick to the speed limits. Driving 68 mph uses up to 30 percent more fuel than traveling at 50 mph.

* Remove unnecessary weight and roof racks from your car. Both require extra fuel.

* Consider buying food when it’s in season and locally grown. Food is one of the most transported goods. In the United States, food travels an average of 1,300 to 2,000 miles before it reaches the consumer.

* Consider what food you’re buying, too. It takes about 7.3 pounds of carbon to produce every 100 calories of shrimp. The same amount of grain-fed beef requires about 3.3 pounds of carbon. The number for chicken is about one-third of a pound. Vegetables and fruits just a few ounces of carbon for each 100 calories.

* Turn electronics completely off. Televisions, DVD players, computers and other machines still consume power when they’re in standby or sleep modes. The United States generates about 30 million tons of carbon emissions annually from electronics in standby mode.

We are what we use

The United Nations climate neutrality guide also lists the amounts of carbon generated by many activities.

In fact these are “carbon equivalents.” There are several gases which contribute to global warming. Carbon dioxide is the big one, but there are also methane, nitrous oxides, and the rarer chlorofluorocarbons.

* The flatulence and burps of one cow generate about 7,716 pounds of carbon equivalents per year. A pig produces 507.

* The average world citizen generates 8,995 pounds of carbon.

* From extraction to combustion, 1.1 tons of gasoline generates 4.1 tons of carbon.

* Producing and manging the end life of 1.1 tons of polyethylene plastic film generates 7.1 tons of carbon.

* Manufacturing a computer and a monitor generates about 606 pounds of carbon.

* One year of the average American diet generates 4,828 pounds of carbon. For the same period, a lacto-ovo diet (allowing milk and eggs but no meat) generates 2,690 pounds. A vegan diet (no animal products) generates 419 pounds.

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