May 28 2008
What is your carbon footprint?
Do you know that to combat climate change, the worldwide average carbon footprint needs to be reduced to 2 tonnes? Do you know that the Malaysian average is already 7 tonnes, and the worldwide average is 4 tonnes? And what is your contribution to the world’s carbon footprint?
This is indeed the latest hot topic in the office. Last month when I was in Houston, we discussed this, and there is an online carbon footprint calculator which is very easy to use. I just had the time to do the test for myself, and here is the results:
Geez! My carbon footprint is 16.541 tonnes! I am so ashamed of myself! :p The biggest contributor to my carbon footprint is from the secondary source. It is about our daily lifestyle in recycling used products, including the type of food that you prefer to eat! Gosh! Looks like to reduce carbon footprint is a tough and big effort, not just talk only.
My second contributor of catbon footprint is the flights that I have to take. Well, I can only enter 5 itineraries, so I’ve tried to put in 8 trips, which may come up to a lot more. This item alone is already more than an average Malaysian. I am guilty… :p
Well, the most interesting part of this carbon footprint discussion in Houston, was to convince our boss that we should work from home more often. Hehehehe!
It is true! Let’s say if I drive 5 days to office in a week, 52 weeks minus non-working days of 41 days (25 annual leave + 16 days public holidays ==> Malaysian has many holidays, come live in Malaysia if you are not already!), it gives me 219 working days a year. Multiply by 40km round trip, equal to 8,786km a year. This emits carbon footprint of 1.38 tonnes.
If we work 1 day a week at home, this would reduce to 6,680km a year, equivalent to 1.052 tonnes. And if we work 2 days a week at home, it would be 0.725 tonnes!
Our US colleagues are already on 1 home work day per week, so this is a good supporting case for the rest of us.
Hey guys! Want to use this to convince your management to allow you all to work from home? 
I have often heard of this term “carbon foot printing” I first heard this from my proffer at college.
How I wish to be able to work from home too!
Komodo Dragon: This thing is so hot now. The company just organized a lunch talk on carbon footprint. Apparently there are 2 types of footprint we left on earth – water footprint and carbon footprint. They are equally serious. Everyone plays a role in helping. Would you?
KY: Hey! A good news, I probably can work from home, if I can present a good business case. Oh! I am so happy!
Well I am certainly going to try to. I think though in a few years, we will all be seriously talking about this. I learned in school that, business are taking a head charge and are leading the way into this going green era.
Thanks for posting the calculator! I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately too, especially since my plane flight season is beginning. (Good luck on BOTB — I stopped by to vote for you!)
Komodo Dragon:
Great! everyone plays a role here. One person’s effort would be gone unnotice, but when all of us are doing a bit, cumulatively it helps. I am trying to be a vegetarian – according to the environmentalist, that helps too! Plus my yesterday’s post, that gives me more reason to skip meat. LOL!
Jen: Hey! Thanks a lot for your vote! I need just that to win my BOTB! Have lost the previous few rounds and there gone all my credits. LOL! :p