If you live in the UK the car insurance you choose can make a difference in the carbon footprint you and your car leave behind.  Companies like The Co-operative allow drivers to do their part to fight global climate change by allowing those drivers to offset 20% of their car’s CO2 emissions.

Why Carbon Offsets?

Many drivers do not realize just how big an environmental impact is created by their daily driving habits.  While many people need a car to get back and forth to work and school, there are steps drivers can take to reduce their impact on the environment.  One of the most effective methods is to use carbon offsets.  Each time we drive our cars carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, and that CO2 contributes to global climate change.

When you buy carbon offsets – or let your insurance company buy them for you – you will be funding projects designed to reduce emissions, and this in turn reduces your impact on the global environment.  When you buy a policy from The Co-operative the company offsets 20% of your CO2 emissions, helping you feel better about your driving while helping the environment.

In order to provide those offsets The Co-operative calculates the amount of carbon dioxide the average car put out.  The company then makes a donation equal to 20% of that amount to fund projects that are designed to offset the damage.  These projects include rainforest reclamation, energy efficiency projects and funding for alternative sources of energy.

For instance, The Cooperative may invest in research projects designed to make solar power and wind power more affordable and available to average consumers.  Or they might fund research into natural gas and how it can be used to power vehicles, or projects that help to bring plug in electric vehicles to market more efficiently.  All of these projects are designed to lessen the driver’s impact on the environment at no additional cost.

Without a doubt you have heard the avid discussions about global warming and the consequences it has when it comes to the climate. It is true that our planet is slowly melting and that every day more greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, which combined with the increased level of infrared energies lead to the rise of the global temperatures. Polar ice caps are melting and temperate climates are changing to 2-season climate patterns. The fauna and flora are suffering from all those changes and we have to ask ourselves: how can we stop our planet from a certain death? Well, there are many solutions presented by global warming activists and one of the most relevant is that of carbon credits.

Given the fact that we live in age where more and more industries are created, increasing the level of pollution worldwide, the concept of carbon credits was well received. It was meant as an initiative to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and even though at the beginning, attained a certain level of success. Today, the Internet is practically filled with companies that provide the possibility to buy carbon credits and most importantly each provider is involved in different projects. Those who are interested in carbon credits must know what are the carbon projects provided by these companies and thus be able to make a serious-minded comparison. After all, most of the companies that are interested in such services know that they contribute to the problem of global warming due to the emission of greenhouse gases (especially methane and carbon dioxide) and they need to take action, even if that means only buying carbon credits.

Companies like Carbonfund and Terapass have understood the importance of carbon credits and they have developed various carbon projects that will reduce some of the greenhouse gases suffocating the atmosphere. A carbon credit equals with the reduction of one ton of carbon dioxide and it is indeed one of the most practical measures that can be taken against global warming by individuals and companies. It also increases awareness when it comes to such problems, many companies feeling stimulated when they are given an incentive in order to decrease the level of carbon dioxide produced. The question is: where is the best carbon credit project to be found and why would I want to go to this specific provider and not to someone else? What are the rules when it comes to selecting the right provider for a carbon credit? Actually, if you want to reduce your own carbon footprint then you should know that there are no better providers than others. Still, their projects are different especially when it comes to their quality. This is why you need a service that allows not only the comparison of various carbon credit providers but also has the possibility of rating that specific provider.

We are talking about climate change and thus reducing even just a tone of carbon dioxide is extremely important. All companies and businesses out there should take part in fighting the climate change and reduce the level of greenhouse gases that affect the atmosphere. Apart from informing ourselves on the subject of global warming, we should also try and find a reliable provider for carbon credit projects using the comparison services provided by the Internet. As we cannot stop the greenhouse gases that have already been released in the atmosphere, we can take action by preventing the quantity of gases that will be released in the future. There are many carbon reducing projects out there, all meant to stimulate and help people contribute. Some examples include: wind power farms, renewable energy and also reforestation. Just make sure that you bring your own contribution – if each person does the same, we will certainly have a greener and healthier planet!

Nowadays we all know about the threat of global warming and want to try to do our bit to prevent it. However, most of us are reluctant to radically change our comfortable lifestyles. There are things you can do to help prevent global warming without having to make any major sacrifices, and the most important of these is to reduce your carbon footprint.

Your carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide that you produce by burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuels like coal, gas and petrol are used to provide transport, electricity, heating and many other essentials of modern life.

To be carbon neutral means to remove as much carbon dioxide as you add to the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is released when we burn fossil fuels like gas, petrol, coal and oil. The build up of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is a big cause of climate change.

Carbon offsetting is a way to compensate for our production of carbon emissions. Methods for offsetting carbon emissions can vary greatly, from the planting of trees to supporting renewable sources of energy production like wind and solar power.

While it is virtually impossible to avoid using any fossil fuels, we can all reduce our carbon footprint by changing the way we travel. Walk or cycle instead of driving and you will not just save on carbon emissions, but the regular exercise will also make you healthier. For long journeys, try using public transport such as buses and trains. By reducing the number of vehicles on our roads and cutting out unnecessary car journeys, we can really reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we produce.

Carbon emissions from homes and businesses can be reduced in many ways. Turning down our thermostats means we use less fuel for heating, and by making sure our homes are well insulated, less heat energy can escape. Using the economy setting on our washing machines and dishwashers is another small measure that will help lower our energy consumption and move us closer to being carbon neutral.

You may be surprised at the range of green products on the market. From car insurance agencies offering carbon offsetting packages to large energy providers like British Gas offering carbon neutral, dual fuel tariffs, modern businesses are taking environmental protection seriously. These products offer you an easy way of reducing your carbon footprint without compromising your lifestyle.

To find out more about how to reduce your carbon footprint, look online for advice and environmentally friendly products. Remember that even small changes can make a difference to the environment.

The Department of Energy actually has a calculator to tell you how much greenhouse gases you produce on a daily basis.

WHAT IS A CARBON FOOTPRINT? The amount of greenhouse gas you generate by an activity or process. In other words, what impact you make on the environment measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide (C02). This calculator, compliments of the Department of Energy, can be found at http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html and lets you calculate your own carbon footprint. How much greenhouse gas do you produce while going through your daily activities such as driving, electricity use, and heating your home?

WHAT EXACTLY ARE GREENHOUSE GASES? Bottom line: Without Greenhouse Gases to maintain Earth’s temperature, it would be too cold for habitation. We need Greenhouse Gases but…we’re tromping heavily with our carbon footprint boots and that’s making the temperature too warm. Hence, the Greenhouse Effect mutates into Global Warming and that’s taken us from “We really should consider renewable energy” to “We MUST implement renewable energy NOW”.

CARBON DIOXIDE IS A GAS SO IT’S HARD TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND METRIC “TONS” OF CO2…HOW MUCH IS THAT REALLY? The tonnage doesn’t really matter as much as what you can do to reduce that weight. The average homeowner who drives to work, comes home each evening to a household of four, and flies once a year on vacation has an average carbon footprint of 17 tons of C02. That’s not counting what you breathe out…that’s the just excess CO2 you’re using that, multiplied by millions, contributes to Global Warming.

On the flip side, by taking simple steps like changing your light bulbs, driving 10% less, buying Energy Star appliances, you can cut your personal damage from 17 to 7 tons…and that’s not even counting installing solar panels on your house or business!

By taking that additional solar step, you not only zero out your own personal carbon footprint but you create a SOLAR FOOTPRINT, which lessens the damaging effects of others. Then you are not only serving as a role model for others, but you’re negating their damage until they take responsibility for their own footprint.

TRANSFORM YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT INTO A SOLAR FOOTPRINT. If you own your own home, take advantage of the tax and other incentives available and install a Solar System on your own roof. Even if you rent, you can still be a powerful Solar Champion by urging your local businesses and schools to seriously consider taking their Renewable Energy efforts to the next level.

It can be done. It’s already begun. One footprint at a time.

In a stroke of sheer brilliance, The journal of unlikely science, weird science Null Hypothesis has cracked the climate change problem. Less than a month into Richard Branson’s five-year competition, Null Hypothesis will take its winning idea to Virgin Earth and walk away with a cool $25 million.

The solution to Branson’s problem (not to mention our, global, problem) is closer to hand than we could ever have imagined. It is, quite simply, stop breathing; or at least breathe less.

The average person takes 24,000 breaths a day, breathing in approximately 6g of carbon dioxide, but breathing out around 800g during the same time. Over a year, you personally will add a net 290kg of CO2 to the atmosphere, just by exhaling. Multiply that by a global population of 6.5 billion and it adds up to a criminal 1.88 gigatonnes.

If we each merely cut out one breath in three, we could decrease the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere each year by a staggering 0.63 gigatonnes. That’s 0.63 billion tonnes – the same effect as saving 5 million acres of land (an area the size of Wales) from deforestation, or recycling 192 million tonnes of waste instead of trashing it.

But we don’t want to stop there. Let’s get really ruthless.

Perhaps the most carbon efficient solution would be to eliminate those members of the population taking the most breaths and therefore expelling the most carbon dioxide.

Intuitively, you might expect these to be the sorts of idle layabouts who wouldn’t know what a treadmill was if it hit them in the face. With their high resting heart rates and shallow, wheezing breaths, they must be the least environmentally sound.

But that’s not the case. Being as there is no obvious difference between the metabolic rates of the honed and toned, and the squashy and sluggish, we all burn about the same amount of carbon whilst resting. However, all that time that the super-fitties among us spend exercising, they’re guzzling extra oxygen and belching out tonnes of CO2.

When we undertake strenuous exercise our metabolic rate tends to increase by at least 50%. So during a 30-minute bout, we could be expelling an extra 8.3g of carbon dioxide.

Perhaps that doesn’t seem like much, but by our calculations, if we exercised as we were supposed to – about 30 minutes, five times a week – this would add up to another 1.3kg a year. Across the world population, that’s a lung-busting 14 million tonnes of extra CO2 every year.

And just to make matters worse, your body continues to metabolise at a higher rate long after you cease exercising, pumping out increased levels of carbon dioxide for anything up to 36 hours.

Doctors Impey and Steer prepare to win the big prize in the Virgin Earth Challenge.

Doctors Impey and Steer get into training to receive their big winnings

So the key to reversing climate change and saving the planet is simple: do nothing. Absolutely nothing. In an ideal world, we’d all just sit around keeping our breathing rates as low as possible, skipping the odd breath here and there just to help matters along. That way we’d all be minimizing our carbon output.

And there’s an extra benefit to the global atmosphere.

As our enforced lethargy leads us to pile on the pounds, we’ll act as carbon sinks – tying up potentially dangerous atmospheric carbon (via plants and hopefully an animal or two) as ever-so-becoming fat deposits.

But, before you revel in the excuse to leave your trainers to gather dust, the amount of carbon dioxide you would save by not exercising is nothing compared to what you’d save by running somewhere instead of driving.

And one final thought: even if CO2 levels were to be stabilised quickly, global temperatures would continue to soar for years to come. So, even though we’ve helped solve Branson’s challenge, in terms of seeing an effect on rising global temperatures – don’t hold your breath.

While the topic of greening supply chains has been a hot topic for several years, many companies involved in shipping and freight forwarding in today’s dynamic global economy are overlooking many obvious and cost-efficient ways they can reduce the industry’s carbon footprint.

A recent Eye for Transport study was conducted that surveyed more than 250 supply chain executives to determine their views on greening. Nine percent identified green issues as their No.1 priority over the next three years, while nearly 70% said green issues would become more important to their processes over that time. The survey found greening to be “fundamentally a co-operative process,” with most of the successful programs based on “changing relationships with suppliers, partners and logistics providers.” Indeed, 28% of respondents said they currently partner, or plan to partner, with their logistics partners to help green their processes.

With the new technologies available to logistics providers today, there are few disciplines that lend themselves to the “greening of the environment” as well as do transportation and logistics. Shipping and distribution services account for three-fourths of a company’s carbon footprint, the measurement of the impact human activities have on the environment as determined by the amount of carbon dioxide produced by greenhouse gas emissions. There is no reason the logistics industry can’t do more to solve this problem.

CargoWise edi has been facilitating customers’ green initiatives for years with its ediEnterprise integrated software system that provides a paperless approach to forwarders’ supply chain operations, reducing the paper trail and facilitating the push to a paper free office. When discussing carbon-neutral initiatives companies can implement to help green supply chains, they should be more than just talking about reducing fuel emissions.

Many of the “cradle-to-grave” initiatives companies can institute for a greener environment simply involve eliminating waste while improving productivity. In the air cargo industry alone, we could fill about 40 Boeing 747 freightliners each year with paper wasted on documentation, not to mention the labor hours necessary to produce and handle it all. Yet, we continue to see companies that are not taking advantage of the available automation that would save both the environment and logistics costs. The paperless office has not arrived; but it is possible.

CargoWise suggests five critical areas that would enable companies to automate documentation to “green the global supply chain” while creating greater efficiencies and reducing overall operational costs.

• Automate Documentation to Reduce Your Paper Trail. Too many companies still use paper documentation, which not only creates waste, but places limitations on the work process by placing it in the hands of whichever employee holds the paper copies, by switching to a quick and easy electronic system, all necessary process documentation is always available to any staff member who requires access to the files. Electronic documentation also vastly reduces the amount of unnecessary paperwork throughout the supply chain process.

• Create a Centralized Repository for Documentation. Regardless of your documentation process, establishing an automated, centralized database repository for all job, client, sales and staff related documents in an electronic format will vastly increase efficiency and productivity, while facilitating the push toward a paperless office environment. The storage and centralization of documents greatly simplifies the ability of staff to access the central database electronically to update, send and store documents such as bills of lading, commercial invoices, packing lists and other pertinent data as it moves through the supply chain.

• Integrate Your Route Optimization and Consolidation Process. The key to creating a greener supply chain lies in the integration of all documentation between you and your customers via an integrated electronic data management system that permits automatic access to files as they move through the supply chain. These documents can be automatically attached with email invoices, scanned directly into files, automatically allocated by type and reference via barcode dividers and accessed by all trading partners via your web site. The ediEnterprise system effectively supports a forwarder’s route optimization and consolidation processes, which means less carbon dioxide is generated for a lower carbon footprint.

• Create an Automated Storage and Archive System. It is important to create a central storage and archive system for electronic documents that can accessed by your staff and customers at any time for reference. Maintaining files in an automated archive vastly reduces the amount of paperwork involved in supply chain management process over a long period of time, reduces the need for filing cabinets and frees up important floor space. A documentation module such as that found in CargoWise ediEnterprise will enable you to document your electronic files, as well as store them for future access.

• Improve ROI by Greening Supply Chain Activities. Greening your supply chain can be accomplished with a minimum of capital investment and can improve the ROI of your customers, vendors and company. New e-documentation technology makes your forwarding operation more efficient in many ways, creating fewer costs with a greater impact on the greening of the supply chain.

Automating a robust integrated documentation and storage process with the new technologies available just makes sense if we are to create a more paperless environment and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases associated with global supply chain process. The time to implement these changes in your operating procedures is now. Not only will an integrated and automated e-documentation system increase productivity and help eliminate many of the environmental problems we have throughout global supply chains; but it will cost less to accomplish now before new governmental regulations come into play.