On a practical basis, measuring carbon footprint provides a number of direct benefits. By way of collecting data for a carbon footprint, it is easy to recognize and then prioritise where one can make the most significant improvements in terms of utilising fuel, energy and similar resources.
What is a carbon footprint?
In simple terms, it is a measure of the contribution made to climatic change. There are two main categories of carbon footprint including product and organisational carbon footprint. The former type of footprint is the greenhouse gas emissions that are emitted over a time span of twelve months and gives a figure, wherein the amount of carbon is expressed in terms of tonnes and more precisely a carbon dioxide equivalent. There are a total of six gases that are greenhouse gases and are emitted due to human activities that greatly contribute to the phenomenon of global warming.
Here is a step-wise guide that helps calculate the carbon footprint:
Deciding the scope-
Initiate by setting boundaries for the footprint. The approach for the same will depend on an individual’s major sources of emissions i.e., the sources that decide the amount of data that is available. Carbon footprints include three scopes, wherein the third scope is the most complex to measure. For smaller businesses, measuring the emissions include vehicle usage and consumption of electricity.
Collection of data-
Once the activities that have to be measured are well-identified, the collection of data can then begin utilising a metric that is relevant. These activities must be tracked accurately, jotted down and segregated into the three different scopes.
Calculate emissions-
In order to precisely calculate the footprint, convert the collected data using the carbon dioxide equivalent factor of conversion for each of the emissions. It is a common practice to calculate the carbon footprint annually. It can furthermore be aligned with the period of accounting.
Effective usage for identification of improvement areas-
Once the carbon footprint is calculated, the data can be used to identify the measures that can be taken to reduce carbon emissions in a cost-effective manner. For example, if the usage of electricity is making the greatest contribution to your carbon footprint, measures must be prioritized in a way that reduces the use of electricity.
Offsetting the carbon footprint-
From a business point of view, carbon footprint offsetting is a great opportunity to make improvements in terms of efficiency for business purposes and benefiting the bottom line. The progress can then be communicated both internally as well as externally for moving a step ahead towards a better environment.
Conclusion
At C6 Energy, the Graphene battery technology is an innovative green carbon footprint technology that significantly contributes to sustainable development for a cleaner and greener future.