The carbon footprint is a measure of the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, event, product, or organization. It originated from the concept of an ecological footprint developed in the 1990s to measure human impact on the environment. A carbon footprint is calculated based on direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions, usually expressed in tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. Activities like driving, flying, waste production, and electricity use all contribute to an individual's carbon footprint. Reducing carbon footprints can help limit climate change and resource depletion.

1. HISTORY OF CARBON
FOOTPRINT?
 A carbon footprint has historically been defined as the
total set of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused
by an organization, event, product or person.
 It is probably an extension of the concept of
"ecological footprints" developed by the ecologist
William Rees at the University of British Columbia in
the early 1990s. Dr. Mathis Wackernagel, executive
director of the Global Footprint Network, states that
the phrase "carbon footprint" received "its biggest
boost in 2005 through an enormous BP media
campaign on the carbon footprint.

2. WHAT IS CARBON FOOTPRINT?
 The total amount of greenhouse gases produced
to directly and indirectly support human
activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of
carbon dioxide (CO2).
 Your carbon footprint is the sum of all emissions
of CO2 (carbon dioxide), which were induced by
your activities in a given time frame. Usually a
carbon footprint is calculated for the time period
of a year.

3. BASIC CALCULATION
Fuel Unit CO2 emitted per unit
Petrol 1 liter 2.3 kg
Gasoline 1 liter 2.3 kg
Diesel 1 liter 2.7 kg
Oil (heating) 1 liter 3.0 kg
If your car consumes 7.5 liter diesel per 100 km, then a
drive of 300 km distance consumes 3 x 7.5 = 22.5 liter
diesel, which adds 22.5 x 2.7 kg = 60.75 kg CO2 to your
personal carbon footprint.

4.  Each of the following activities add 1 kg of CO2 to your
personal carbon footprint:
 Travel by public transportation (train or bus) a distance of 10 to
12 km (6.5 to 7 miles)
 Drive with your car a distance of 6 km or 3.75 miles (assuming
7.3 litres petrol per 100 km or 39 mpg)
 Fly with a plane a distance of 2.2 km or 1.375 miles.
 Operate your computer for 32 hours (60 Watt consumption
assumed)
 Production of 5 plastic bags
 Production of 2 plastic bottles
 Production of 1/3 of anAmerican cheeseburger

5. WHAT IS GHG?
 Greenhouse gases are those that can absorb and emit
infrared radiation . In order, the most abundant
greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere are:

6.  Carbon dioxide is a so called greenhouse gas causing
global warming . Other greenhouse gases which might
be emitted as a result of your activities are e.g. methane
and ozone. These greenhouse gases are normally also
taken into account for the carbon footprint. They are
converted into the amount of CO2 that would cause the
same effects on global warming (this is called equivalent
CO2 amount).
 The carbon footprint is a very powerful tool to understand
the impact of personal behaviour on global warming.

7. CO2 emissions from India

8. MAIN EFFECTS
Climate Change
 Climate change is the ultimate effect of large carbon footprints.
Greenhouse gases, whether natural or human-produced, contribute to
the warming of the planet. From 1990 to 2005, carbon dioxide
emissions increased by 31 percent. By 2008, the emissions had
contributed to a 35 percent increase in radiative warming, or a shift in
Earth's energy balance toward warming, over 1990 levels.
Depletion of Resources
 Large carbon footprints deplete resources on large and small scales,
from a country's deforestation activities to one home's increased use of
air conditioning. The more those with large carbon footprints use
resources, the more greenhouse gases increase and spur further climate
change

9. CASE STUDIES

10. INTERNATIONAL
 L’Oréal sites around the world are contributing to the group's
ambitious greenhouse gas reduction target:
 North Little Rock,Arkansas factory completed a hydropower
agreement in 2009 to halve its GHG emissions.
 Warehouse in Mexico City has one of the largest solar installations in
Latin America, and expects to reduce equivalent CO2 emissions by
54 tonnes a year.
 Yichang factory in China has installed 2,000 solar tubes for the
preheating of water, which will reduce CO2 emissions by more than
5.3 tonnes a year.
 Factory in Burgos (Spain) has made a public commitment to be
carbon neutral by 2015 by using green technologies including solar
arrays, bio-fuel and geothermal energy.
INDIA
 L'Oreal's plant in Pune uses solar heating to preheat wash water,
saving 93 tonnes of CO2 per year, or 6% of total energy use. There
are 320 solar panels spread over 920m2.

11. CARBON FOOTPRINT
CALCULATOR

15. HOW GREEN IS YOUR COLLEGE ?
1. Does your college have a recycling programme for its
waste paper, cardboard, cans and bottles?
2. Does the college have a policy to use recycled paper?
3. Does your college seek to avoid the use of disposable
paper, plastic, foam cups and plates?
4. Has the college banned the use of aerosol sprays and fire
extinguishers that contain CFCs?
5. Does the college have an active policy and strategy to
reduce its water consumption?
6. Does the college use environmentally-friendly cleaning
liquids?

16. 7. Does the college avoid the use of garden and household
pesticides, using environmentally-friendly alternatives instead?
8. Does the college have an active policy and strategy to reduce
its energy consumption?
9. Does the kitchen offer a choice of healthy foods, and
discourage students from eating “junk” foods?
10.Does the kitchen collect its food waste to turn it into compost,
or use it to feed dogs or pigs?
11. Does the college have houseplants in rooms and corridors?
12. Is the college making an effort to beautify its grounds?

17. 13.Does the college provide environmental education and
project-work for students and staff?
14.Does the college get involved in local environmental
activities (both staff and students)?
15.Does the college invite speakers to talk to all about the
environment and its problems?
16. Does the college library ever hold special exhibitions of
books, magazines about the world environmental crisis?
17. Does the college have an environmental club or society?
18.Has your college ever undertaken an environmental audit of
its activities and courses?

18. 19. Has your college set up an Environmental action team
to look into the kinds of actions which it could take?
20. Does the college encourage staff and students to take a
positive attitude, building the belief that we CAN make a
difference?
SCORING:
 Yes = 2
 Partially, presently discussing this = 1
 No = 0

19. REPORT CARD
 35-40 = You are doing excellently!! Take a Green Medal!!
 30-35 = You are doing quite well!
 20-30 = You have made a start, but you are not yet a green
college.
 0-20 = Plenty of room for improvement, must do better next
term!
Our college score is:

20. CONCLUSION
 We should take
measures to shorten our
carbon footprint by
reducing the emission
of greenhouse gases
mainly carbon dioxide.