f.a.q. frequently asked questions
F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the Ecological Footprint?
The Ecological Footprint is a resource accounting tool that measures how much biologically productive land and sea is used by a given population or activity, and compares this to how much land and sea is available. Productive land and sea areas support human demands for food, fiber, timber, energy, and space for infrastructure. These areas also absorb the waste products from the human economy. The Ecological Footprint measures the sum of these areas, wherever they physically occur on the planet. The Ecological Footprint is used widely as a management and communication tool by governments, businesses, educational institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
What does the Ecological Footprint measure?
Ecological Footprint accounts answer a specific research question: how much of the biological capacity of the planet is demanded by a given human activity or population? To answer this question, the Ecological Footprint measures the amount of biologically productive land and water area an individual, a city, a country, a region, or all of humanity uses to produce the resources it consumes and to absorb the waste it generates with today’s technology and resource management practices. This demand on the biosphere can be compared to biocapacity, a measure of the amount of biologically productive land and water available for human use. Biologically productive land includes areas such as cropland, forest, and fishing grounds, and excludes deserts, glaciers, and the open ocean.
How accurate are Ecological Footprint measurements?
Current Ecological Footprint accounts provide a robust, aggregate estimate of human demand on the biosphere as compared to the biosphere’s productive capacity. As with any calculation system, Footprint accounts are subject to uncertainty in source data, calculation parameters, and methodological decisions.
How is an Ecological Footprint calculated?
Ecological Footprints can be calculated for individual people, groups of people (such as a nation), and activities (such as manufacturing a product).
The Ecological Footprint of a person is calculated by considering all of the biological materials consumed, and all of the biological wastes generated, by that person in a given year. These materials and wastes each demand ecologically productive areas, such as cropland to grow potatoes, or forest to sequester fossil carbon dioxide emissions. All of these materials and wastes are then individually translated into an equivalent number of global hectares.
To accomplish this, an amount of material consumed by that person (tons per year) is divided by the yield of the specific land or sea area (annual tons per hectare) from which it was harvested, or where its waste material was absorbed. The number of hectares that result from this calculation are then converted to global hectares using yield and equivalence factors. The sum of the global hectares needed to support the resource.
How does the Ecological Footprint account for recycling?
As the Ecological Footprint reflects the demand for productive area to make resources and absorb wastes, recycling can lower the Ecological Footprint by offsetting the extraction of virgin products, and reducing the area necessary for absorbing wastes. Recycling paper, for example, can decrease the total amount of virgin timber that must be harvested to meet global demand for paper, thus reducing humanity’s total Ecological Footprint.
Carbon footprint
What’s Energy Saving Got to do With Carbon Footprints?
Saving energy is well established as one of the most effective ways we can all reduce our carbon footprint. With traditional fuels and conventional forms of electrical generation dependent on carbon-rich fossil fuels, the less energy we consume, the smaller our carbon footprint becomes.
In the long run, energy saving and minimising your carbon footprint are two sides of exactly the same coin.
Where Can I Make a Reduction?
First off, take a good look at the way you use energy. If you haven’t already, change your light bulbs for low energy ones, turn your central heating thermostat down a degree or two, check your insulation is up to scratch – especially in the loft and walls – and think about replacing any ageing appliances with energy efficient ones. Choose the most suitable means of transport for your journeys – and if you have to take the car, practice “eco-driving” to reduce your energy consumption.
What Can I Do to Reduce My Family’s Carbon Footprint?
Once you have maximised your energy efficiency and reduced unnecessary food miles, wastage and the like, the next step is to think about the source of the energy you use. Even if your choices are limited – living in a remote area where gas is not available, for instance – there are still things you can do.
Addressing your secondary carbon impact – by buying local produce, recycling and composting wherever you can, for example – will also help to cut your overall carbon footprint.
Greenhouse gas and emission trading
What is the greenhouse effect?
The Sun powers Earth’s climate, radiating energy at very short wavelengths, predominately in the visible or near-visible (e.g., ultraviolet) part of the spectrum. Roughly one-third of the solar energy that reaches the top of Earth’s atmosphere is reflected directly back to space. The remaining two-thirds is absorbed by the surface and, to a lesser extent, by the atmosphere. To balance the absorbed incoming energy, the Earth must, on average, radiate the same amount of energy back to space. Because the Earth is much colder than the Sun, it radiates at much longer wavelengths, primarily in the infrared part of the spectrum. Much of this thermal radiation emitted by the land and ocean is absorbed by the atmosphere, including clouds, and reradiated back to Earth. This is called the greenhouse effect. The glass walls in a greenhouse reduce airflow and increase the temperature of the air inside. Analogously, but through a different physical process, the Earth’s greenhouse effect warms the surface of the planet. Without the natural greenhouse effect, the average temperature at Earth’s surface would be below the freezing point of water. Thus, Earth’s natural greenhouse effect makes life as we know it possible. However, human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels and clearing of forests, have greatly intensified the natural greenhouse effect, causing global warming.
If emissions of greenhouse gases are reduced, how quickly do their concentrations in the atmosphere decrease?
The adjustment of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to reductions in emissions depends on the chemical and physical processes that remove each gas from the atmosphere. Concentrations of some greenhouse gases decrease almost immediately in response to emission reduction, while others can actually continue to increase for centuries even with reduced emissions.
Why do some companies undertake voluntary greenhouse gas reductions?
They seek strategic advantages through: operational improvement; anticipating and influencing regulations; accessing new sources of capital; improving risk management; elevating corporate reputation; identifying new market opportunities; and enhancing human resource management. Each presents new kinds of questions to help companies ascertain their vulnerability under a climate change protocol.
What is the risk to a company that does not take action now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
They risk missing out on myriad of near-term financial opportunities such as lower energy costs, minimized emissions, access to new sources of capital, and improved risk management. Inaction also sets a company up for long-term political and financial challenges. Advancing climate regulation, rising energy prices, and the investment community’s increasing attention on climate change all bring a fluid business environment into stark relief. The rules of the game are changing in ways that cannot be ignored. In the near term, companies need to be prepared for a carbon-constrained world that will alter existing business models. In the long term, they need to be prepared for a carbon-constrained world in which they will be transformed.
What are Certified Emissions Reduction (CER)?
Reductions of greenhouse gases achieved by a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project. A CER can be sold or counted toward Annex I countries’ emissions commitments. Reductions must be additional to any that would otherwise occur.
What is the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)?
One of the three market mechanisms established by the Kyoto Protocol. The CDM is designed to promote sustainable development in developing countries and assist Annex I Parties in meeting their greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments. It enables industrialized countries to invest in emission reduction projects in developing countries and to receive credits for reductions achieved.
What is Emissions Trading?
A market mechanism that allows emitters (countries, companies, or facilities) to buy emissions (”permits” or “credits”) from or sell emissions to other emitters. Emissions trading is expected to bring down the costs of meeting emission targets by allowing those who can achieve reductions less expensively to sell excess reductions (e.g. reductions in excess of those required under some regulation) to those for whom achieving reductions is more costly.
What are the principal drivers of the environmental agenda (NGOs, business, government, consumers)?
This question depends very much on specific circumstances, e.g. on the environmental issue in question. For example, in the GMO debate, ‘Greenpeace’ has been one of the main drivers on the anti-GMO front, whereas GMO-industry argues very much in favour of GMOs. In some cases it can be Member States who push a particular issue. Otherwise, it can be argued that it is more the state of the environment itself rather than anything else, which drives the environmental agenda, the Environmental Agency state of the environment report having been very much the basis for defining priorities for the 6th Environmental Action Programme.
How is the environmental agenda at EU level likely to develop?
The priority issues in the 6th Environmental Action Program are to limit climate change, protect nature and biodiversity, ensure the sustainable management of resources and waste as well as health and environment issues. The achievement of our objectives in these areas will require a combination of measures – implementation of existing legislation, greater emphasis on market instruments, empowerment of citizens and integration of environmental objectives into other policy areas.
What is biocapacity?
Biocapacity is shorthand for biological capacity, which is the ability of an ecosystem to produce useful biological materials and to absorb wastes generated by humans.
Water footprint
What is a Water Footprint?
A water footprint is a measurement of how much water someone uses in a set period of time. Water footprints encompass not only the water directly used by the consumer, but the water indirectly used to produce consumer goods. In addition to looking at individual water footprints, it is also possible to consider the footprints of nations, companies, and demographic groups. This concept was developed in 2002 as part of an overall United Nations effort to raise awareness about water consumption and to address the security of the global water supply.
Sustainable development
Who should I contact for more information on sustainable development?
You can address your questions concerning sustainable development to the following e-mail-address :
advisory@eco-manager.com
Should I implement energy saving measures at work?
It is certainly a good idea to start saving energy in the workplace as well as at home. A 20% decrease in energy bills can be the equivalent of a 5% sales increase in terms of the bottom line.
Is it expensive to start energy saving?
Many energy saving measures are completely free so you don’t have to spend a penny to start saving energy and money! Measures such as fitting roof insulation will obviously cost money but the savings can make it worthwhile. There are also grants available towards many energy saving measures.
Projects
Which is the difference between the Single Project and Multi Project versions?
With RationalPlan Multi Project you can have all your company projects and resources in one place. Not just that you can create dependencies between tasks from different projects but more important, you can share resources hence you will be able to track a resource's overallocation state over multiple projects.insulation will obviously cost money but the savings can make it worthwhile. There are also grants available towards many energy saving measures.
What is Project Management?
Project Management is the collection and application of skills, knowledge, processes and activities to meet a specific objective that may take the form of product or service. Project Management is is an integrated process of applying five major processes and their related activities throughout a project lifecycle: Initiating; Planning; Executing; Monitoring and Controlling; Closeout.
What is a project?
A project is an initiative launched to create a unique product or service. A Project has a defined start date and a defined end date. The start date represents when the project will be launched. The end date specified when the project will be completed.
What are the NACE codes?
NACE stands for "Nomenclature ge'ne'rale des activite's e'conomiques dans les Communaute's Europe'ennes", which is the standard for classification of economic activities in the EU.
EMAS
What is EMAS?
The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, EMAS, allows voluntary participation in an environmental management scheme for organisations operating in the European Union and the European Economic Area. The scheme has been operative since April 1995. It aims to promote continuous evaluation and improvements in the environmental performance of participating organisations.
Which countries participate in EMAS?
The EMAS Regulation applies to all 27 EU Member States and the 3 European Economic Area Member States i.e. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, but all candidate countries are implementing the scheme in preparation for their accession to the EU.
Why should I participate in EMAS?
In recent years there has been a growing realisation that responsibility to the community is one of the yardsticks of good management, and care for the environment is a positive and logical extension of this responsibility. EMAS is designed to help organisations respond to this concern, and to secure the support of top management for environmental action. There is, after all, a compelling business argument in favour of environmental action. Waste and pollution, wherever they occur, are usually symptoms of an inefficient production process. Therefore they represent an opportunity to improve performance.
Who should I contact if I want to register to EMAS?
Every Member State has designated a Competent Body which is responsible for registering organisations and for maintaining the list of registered organisations in their country. The Competent Body can provide you with useful information on the steps to implement EMAS and the administrative procedures and fees involved.
Carbon Offsets
What is Carbon Offset?
Carbon offset is one of the ideas for slowing down climate change. You invest in things which reduce pollution, and this offsets the amount of pollution produced by your own consumption. The kinds of things you can invest in include:
* developing non-polluting energy sources (e.g., wind, solar, methane recapture)
* helping businesses upgrade their old equipment so it produces less pollution
* planting trees
There are lots of companies selling carbon offsets, and they're relatively cheap.
For example a typical American can offset his or her greenhouse pollution for about $216/yr. You can offset your car for about $80/yr.
If you won't do these things, for whatever reason, then you're creating a lot of carbon, and in that case buying carbon offsets is better than nothing. And even if you do reduce your carbon footprint, you're still generating some greenhouse gases. Nobody gets their consumption down to zero. Even though your carbon footprint is small, it still exists. Purchasing high quality carbon offsets lets you mitigate the amount of greenhouse gases generated by your consumption.
As CarbonFund's slogan goes, "Reduce what you can, offset what you can't."
* developing non-polluting energy sources (e.g., wind, solar, methane recapture)
* helping businesses upgrade their old equipment so it produces less pollution
* planting trees
There are lots of companies selling carbon offsets, and they're relatively cheap.
For example a typical American can offset his or her greenhouse pollution for about $216/yr. You can offset your car for about $80/yr.
If you won't do these things, for whatever reason, then you're creating a lot of carbon, and in that case buying carbon offsets is better than nothing. And even if you do reduce your carbon footprint, you're still generating some greenhouse gases. Nobody gets their consumption down to zero. Even though your carbon footprint is small, it still exists. Purchasing high quality carbon offsets lets you mitigate the amount of greenhouse gases generated by your consumption.
As CarbonFund's slogan goes, "Reduce what you can, offset what you can't."
How to buy carbon offsets?
Carbon offsets are sold by the ton (i.e., how many tons of carbon pollution you want to offset). So you first need to have an idea of how much carbon your lifestyle produces, which we call your carbon footprint.
Most carbon offset vendors have calculators on their sites that ask you a few questions so you can find your own personalized carbon footprint.
You can use one of EcoManager Carbon Footprint Calculator, which is fast, easy, and accurate.
Once you know how many tons you produce, you can go shopping. There are dozens of different websites that sell offsetcs, so all you have to do is pick one, type in how many tons you want to purchase, and click Buy. But just like with anything else you can buy, the quality of the product differs from one site to another. Some companie's offsets might be focused on projects that have questionable value for carbon reduction (like tree-planting), or on projects that were going to happen anyway even without selling the offsets - in which case they're not really offsets.
Once you know how many tons you produce, you can go shopping. There are dozens of different websites that sell offsetcs, so all you have to do is pick one, type in how many tons you want to purchase, and click Buy. But just like with anything else you can buy, the quality of the product differs from one site to another. Some companie's offsets might be focused on projects that have questionable value for carbon reduction (like tree-planting), or on projects that were going to happen anyway even without selling the offsets - in which case they're not really offsets.
Where to buy carbon offsets?
Carbon offset vendors (buy directly)
Climate Care. Rated in the Top 10 by Carbon Catalog, this company focuses on clean energy in developing countries with projects such as wind power, methane from biomass, and fuel substitution.
Good Energy Initiative. All their projects are in Israel, and they're one of the only well-ranked companies to include solar power in their project mix. They also promote methane energy and efficient lighting.
Green Mountain Energy. This is a Texas-based utility but also deal in Chicago Climate Exchange Credits and reforestation.)
Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Mostly solar. If you want your offsets to support solar, this is it. Most other vendors don't support solar at all, and for those who do, it's only a small part of their project mix. But BEF concentrates on solar, financing literally dozens of small solar projects.
LiveCooler. They have one project: Providing compact-fluorescent lightbulbs to low-income families. If you like CFL's, this is your project.
Directories and Reviews of vendors
Carbon Catalog. Carbon Catalog ranks around 100 different offset vendors on both level of transparency and quality of their projects. Their handy table shows each company's rating, price per ton, and whether they're a business or non-profit. You can click through on any vendor to see their exact list of projects, to see whether they're dealing in wind, methane, solar, or reforestation.
EcoBusinessLinks has put together a guide listing which vendors' projects have been verified by which watchdogs.
Tufts University's picks. The Tufts Climate Initiative picked their top four favorite vendors, listed below. Tufts also recommended choosing vendors whose projects meet The Gold Standard, the highest standard of quality for offset projects in existence.
* My Climate. The only vendor top-ranked by both Carbon Catalog and Tufts.
* Atmosfair. Their website focuses on air travel, but an offset is an offset, so it's good for any kind of carbon you want to offset.
* Climate Friendly. Invests in a wind farm in India. Also buys "the highest quality, independently verified carbon offsets available globally" from larger vendors.
Climate Care. Rated in the Top 10 by Carbon Catalog, this company focuses on clean energy in developing countries with projects such as wind power, methane from biomass, and fuel substitution.
Good Energy Initiative. All their projects are in Israel, and they're one of the only well-ranked companies to include solar power in their project mix. They also promote methane energy and efficient lighting.
Green Mountain Energy. This is a Texas-based utility but also deal in Chicago Climate Exchange Credits and reforestation.)
Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Mostly solar. If you want your offsets to support solar, this is it. Most other vendors don't support solar at all, and for those who do, it's only a small part of their project mix. But BEF concentrates on solar, financing literally dozens of small solar projects.
LiveCooler. They have one project: Providing compact-fluorescent lightbulbs to low-income families. If you like CFL's, this is your project.
Directories and Reviews of vendors
Carbon Catalog. Carbon Catalog ranks around 100 different offset vendors on both level of transparency and quality of their projects. Their handy table shows each company's rating, price per ton, and whether they're a business or non-profit. You can click through on any vendor to see their exact list of projects, to see whether they're dealing in wind, methane, solar, or reforestation.
EcoBusinessLinks has put together a guide listing which vendors' projects have been verified by which watchdogs.
Tufts University's picks. The Tufts Climate Initiative picked their top four favorite vendors, listed below. Tufts also recommended choosing vendors whose projects meet The Gold Standard, the highest standard of quality for offset projects in existence.
* My Climate. The only vendor top-ranked by both Carbon Catalog and Tufts.
* Atmosfair. Their website focuses on air travel, but an offset is an offset, so it's good for any kind of carbon you want to offset.
* Climate Friendly. Invests in a wind farm in India. Also buys "the highest quality, independently verified carbon offsets available globally" from larger vendors.
Does offsetting mean you don't need to worry about saving energy?
No - the most effective way to help fight climate change is to cut down on the amount of energy you use and reduce your personal carbon footprint.
If you have to offset which scheme should you go for?
Offsetting is a new idea and exactly how effective it is remains unclear. However, if you're looking for a scheme, we recommend choosing one that invests in renewable energy or energy efficiency projects and can prove that what it does is really reducing CO 2 emissions.
Projects that involve tree planting (known as reforestation or afforestation projects), bioenergy or capturing gas from existing industrial plants aren't as effective as they don't invest in the infrastructure needed for a low carbon future.
At present, there are no legal guidelines that offset companies have to follow, but standards have been set by a number of accreditation bodies.
Projects that involve tree planting (known as reforestation or afforestation projects), bioenergy or capturing gas from existing industrial plants aren't as effective as they don't invest in the infrastructure needed for a low carbon future.
At present, there are no legal guidelines that offset companies have to follow, but standards have been set by a number of accreditation bodies.
The Gold Standard?
This certification was introduced by environmental groups. It identifies offset projects that:
* meet good sustainability standards
* deliver benefits to local communities
* are based on energy efficiency or renewable energy
* meet good sustainability standards
* deliver benefits to local communities
* are based on energy efficiency or renewable energy
Lightbulbs
Doesn't switching lights on and off use more energy than leaving them running?
No. Switching on an energy saving bulb only uses the same amount of power as leaving it on for a minute or two.
Turning the bulb on and off repeatedly may shorten its life, but normal household use shouldn't cause any problems. In fact, Energy Saving Recommended bulbs are tested through 1,000s of cycles of switching.
However, to help it last as long as possible, it is best to leave it on for a 'stabilising' period of 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
Turning the bulb on and off repeatedly may shorten its life, but normal household use shouldn't cause any problems. In fact, Energy Saving Recommended bulbs are tested through 1,000s of cycles of switching.
However, to help it last as long as possible, it is best to leave it on for a 'stabilising' period of 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
Don't energy saving lightbulbs take a long time to light up?
No, most modern energy saving bulbs take little more than a few seconds to warm up to full brightness.
This short warming up process is due to the way they work. An electric current is passed through gas in a tube, making the tube's coating glow brightly. In traditional bulbs, the current is passed through a wire which heats up and produces light straight away. What makes them incredibly inefficient is that 95% of the electricity used is lost in the production of heat.
Energy saving bulbs, by contrast, use the same efficient technology as fluorescent lights - but are more compact and use even less energy.
This short warming up process is due to the way they work. An electric current is passed through gas in a tube, making the tube's coating glow brightly. In traditional bulbs, the current is passed through a wire which heats up and produces light straight away. What makes them incredibly inefficient is that 95% of the electricity used is lost in the production of heat.
Energy saving bulbs, by contrast, use the same efficient technology as fluorescent lights - but are more compact and use even less energy.
Producing an energy saving bulb must take more energy in the first place than making a standard bulb. At the end of the day, doesn't that make it inefficient?
No. Because of its clever technology, an energy saving bulb might take more energy to make than a traditional bulb. But the energy saved by the bulb over its lifetime far outweighs this energy consumption.
Don't traditional bulbs give a better quality of light?
For technical reasons, the glass used to house energy saving lightbulbs has to be translucent - not totally transparent. In other words, the light quality of energy saving bulbs can't be directly compared with that of clear traditional bulbs. Compare them with soft tone traditional bulbs, though, and you won't see any difference.
Are halogen bulbs more efficient than traditional bulbs?
Halogen bulbs in the home consume less energy than traditional bulbs (typically 20W-50W for halogen bulbs compared with 40W-100W for traditional bulbs). However, rooms lit with halogen bulbs usually have more fittings than rooms lit with traditional bulbs or energy saving bulbs. Therefore, they will use more energy.
Lots of my lights have dimmer switches. Can I fit them with energy saving bulbs?
Most energy saving bulbs aren't fully compatible with dimmer switch circuits at the moment. A standard dimmer switch will simply make the bulb flicker: annoying for you and not good for your bulb.
There are also energy saving bulbs that can be used with 'staged dimming'. This requires a special sort of dimmer with three separate settings - high, low and off.
There are also energy saving bulbs that can be used with 'staged dimming'. This requires a special sort of dimmer with three separate settings - high, low and off.
Don't CFLs contain mercury? And isn't that bad for the environment?
Energy saving bulbs contain only tiny traces of mercury - imagine a pellet smaller than the tip of a biro. What's more, in the long term, CFL technology will actually help less mercury to pollute the air.
This is because burning fossil fuels like coal is the biggest source of mercury in the air. And as energy saving bulbs use 80% less electricity than a traditional bulb, they mean far less mercury overall.
This is because burning fossil fuels like coal is the biggest source of mercury in the air. And as energy saving bulbs use 80% less electricity than a traditional bulb, they mean far less mercury overall.