FAQs

What is a carbon calculator?

The carbon calculator provides a quick and simple estimate of the carbon footprints of individuals or households. The carbon footprint of an individual or household is the amount of carbon emissions generated as a result of the energy usage in heating, cooking, traveling etc.

How does it calculate the carbon footprint of and individual or household?

The carbon calculator calculates the carbon footprint by multiplying the amount of actual energy usage by an individual or household by the ‘carbon intensity factor’ of the fuels. ‘Carbon Intensity Factor’ of a fuel is the ‘amount of carbon emitted per unit’ of that fuel. For example, the carbon intensity of diesel is 2.63 kg CO2/liter as compared to O.19 kg CO2/kWh of natural gas. The carbon intensity factor of common fuels are given by the following:

What does ‘buying offsets’ for carbon emissions mean?

Buying offsets means investing in projects, which attempt to reduce the carbon emissions in the atmosphere by the same amount as being added by your activities. In other words, it is like paying someone to reduce or take away your contribution to the global carbon budget. These projects can be in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency, or tree plantation etc.

What projects will the EIC campaign fund?

EIC campaign will fund renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the small island states as part of Global Sustainable Energy Island Initiative (GSEII). These projects, among other things, seek to fund the energy efficiency and renewable energy activities in the Small Developing Island States (SDIS) and help them build capacity to respond to the potential effects of climate change.

If these projects are located in the island states, how are they going to benefit the global community?

The carbon offsets are meant for reduction of the globally averaged concentration of CO2 and do not depend on where the reduction is taking place. Small island states are amongst the most vulnerable in the world to climate change. The renewable energy and energy efficiency projects under the Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative (GSEII) of Endangered Island Campaign will not only offset the global carbon emissions but also help these small islands meet their energy needs in a sustainable and cost effective way.

What can I do to reduce my carbon footprint?

We can reduce our carbon footprint by using less fossil fuel in our daily lives. Some of the steps in this direction are:

• Drive less and/or use more efficient cars, which give more miles per gallon and use less fossil fuel. Driving hybrid cars can also reduce your carbon footprint;
• Use energy efficient lighting which consume less electricity and thereby help save up on the electricity generated by burning fossil fuels;
• Reduce your cooling and heating bills by turning down the thermostat in the winter and air-conditioning in the summer;
• Take power from a utility company which uses renewable energy like wind or hydropower;
• Insulate your building to save on the energy bills due to heating and cooling.