I’ve been thinking a lot about personal responsibility and greenhouse gas emissions lately. H and I have cut down quite a bit over the years but we’re not yet at a level I consider acceptable. I thought others might be in a similar ambivalent situation: we want to do it, we know it should be done, but we fail to act on it.
We need a plan of action.
Over the next few weeks all members are invited to take part in our Cutting Carbons Challenge. This will NOT be easy, but having things too easy is what got us in this mess we’re in. (Great song that.) This is not just a crisis for governments, it’s our crisis too. So let’s start owning this problem and reduce what we can from our own homes and cars.
Our challenge is to reduce consumption in six areas - and in doing so reduce our carbon emissions. The six areas are:
*Electricity and Water
*Transport and Garbage
*Food – to buy local and Money – to cut debt
We will take on two areas each week of the challenge.
The Challenge begins next week when you’ll have a week to download your worksheets, discover your footprint and, most importantly, assess your personal usage in a “normal” week. This challenge is about reducing your own level of greenhouse gas emissions. You won’t be competing against anyone but yourself. That’s why it’s so important in this first week to accurately record your own usage in each of the challenge categories.
If you’re a blog reader you’ll know about the American 90% reduction that is going on now. This will be similar but modified to Australian standards. The target of 90% was chosen because Al Gore stated in the American Congress that Americans need to reduce by 90% by 2050.
Our target in Australia is 60%. But our CC Challenge target is to reduce by 10% in six areas in three weeks. I believe that is doable for everyone. Hopefully, when the challenge is over we will all be motivated to continue along the reductionist path.
The ALS Carbon Cutting Challenge will start on Sunday, June 17 and will run for three weeks. In this next week you should prepare by downloading your worksheets, discovering your current footprint and working out what your current figures are for each category.
I have invited two members to help me organise this challenge. I'll introduce them if and when they say yes. In the meantime I need anyone who wants to take up this challenge to add their name to this thread.
The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.
John Ruskin.
Edited by forest on 09-06-2007 10:32
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RE: Cutting Carbons Challenge
Wombat Member
Posts: 2205 Location: Sydney Joined: 17.07.06
Posted on 09-06-2007 10:17
I would like to give it a go. A little difficult for mw now that I back at the grind, the week after next and the week after that I will be away in Melb and Brissy. But we will see how we go.
"I teach self reliance, the world's most subversive practice. I teach people how to grow their own food, which is shockingly subversive. Yes It's seditious. But it's peacful sedition" - Bill Mollison
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RE: Cutting Carbons Challenge
Michelle-sm Member
Posts: 1694 Location: S E QLD Joined: 03.01.07
Posted on 09-06-2007 11:31
I would like to join in too.
MY eldest DD has just arrived from Melbourne and we have been having a conversation about this very thing. She is a pretty good greenie.
I will do my best but I am having quite a few visitors coming to stay over the next few weeks(they always show up in winter:confusedso not sure how much I will achieve.
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RE: Cutting Carbons Challenge
Polly Member
Posts: 1504 Location: West Gippsland, Victoria Joined: 14.09.06
Posted on 09-06-2007 14:22
I've been trying to get myself into gear to do something similar to this but at the moment due to my son's ill health I'll be doing more travelling by car and eating with his family more frequently. I also can't see us cutting our debt by any more than we are doing already as we have a strict budget in place to ensure we are debt free by the time DH retires.
I'm very keen to do the food and transport challenges but would it be possible to just participate in the other three now and do those two when things settle down here? If that complicates things I'll just wait and do the lot later.
Thanks Rhonda
Polly
An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching - Ghandi
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RE: Cutting Carbons Challenge
Peaky Ramone Member
Posts: 220 Joined: 27.04.07
Posted on 09-06-2007 14:35
I'm in.
Current stats are:
4.6 planets and 8.7 global hectares (oh, the shame :noapprove
Food 3.7
Transport 1.3
Shelter 1.2
Goods/Services 2.5
Posts: 140 Location: New England, NSW Joined: 08.05.07
Posted on 10-06-2007 08:52
We're in, too.
Our stats are:
6.7 global hectares (3.5 planets)
Food 4.0
Transport 0.4
Shelter 0.8
Goods/services 1.5
Regards, Gary
“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”
- Antoine de St. Exupery
Our stats are:
4.4 Global hectares - 2.3 planets
Food 2.2
Transport 0.0
Shelter 1.0
Goods/Services: 1.1
I have been making changes since the start of the year to reduce our footprint. I think we started with about 3.8 planets.
Areas for us to improve:
- Diet and food production and purchase, especially reducing recyclables in the rubbish. Garden will be producing more for us soon.
- Transport, we could use the bus and bikes more and walk to shops.
- Shelter, we have a spare room and could take in a border. (We already have one but could get two).
- Flights - we will be 'neutralising' the two flights we will take this year.
- Water - still room for less usage.
- Disposal - I'd like a worm farm. We have a compost bin, chooks and dog already.
- Other purchases - we could buy more things secondhand.
- Educating others in a subtle way. We have started this, but more can be done (without alienating friends and family). I tell people how much money we have saved!
This is a great idea, Rhonda
Suz
Laissez les bon temps rouler... je suis vivant! - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
"I teach self reliance, the world's most subversive practice. I teach people how to grow their own food, which is shockingly subversive. Yes It's seditious. But it's peacful sedition" - Bill Mollison
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RE: Cutting Carbons Challenge
Chookasmum Member
Posts: 240 Location: Central West NSW Joined: 11.04.07
Posted on 10-06-2007 15:24
2.3 planets, 4.4 global hectares
food 2.1
transport 0.2
shelter 1.1
goods/services 1.0
total 4.4
have several questions. re transport, we have no public transport of any kind so have to drives everywhere needed in our vehicle
we produce most of our own meat- lamb , pork,& eggs etcso how does this fit into this criteria?
we harvest our own water, but unfortunately every drop we use in the home, on the garden and for stock has to be pumped hence electricity, How does this equate to the criteria? I know that our local towns water goes past our front boundary, we have a meter but don't use this water, it is direct from the storage dam and unfiltered, there is one electric pumping station closer to town to help this water to the filtration plant whre more electricty is used. they also pump from a river about 30ks away, pumps on the river and also on the bores and more pumping stations heading into town, so in this survey how is the electricity factored into the cost of water,
another question recycling rubbish, our council has a recycle pickup in town, the trucks travel pas our front gate on their way to Orange, but we are unable to access them, the cuncil tip does not have recycle there so again how do I factor that into the criteria ( Iknow I need to "hassle" council more about this have already talked to them and got nowhere.
also help on goods and services would be appreciated.
sorry if this is long winded but I am very keen to do this, but find that the powers that be have aligned this more to city living, rather than in the bush where the cost of everything, particulary fuel, electricity, and telepone calls, nearly all mine are std, plus we don't have access to gas, except in cylinders and that means more travel etc to pick up and exchange etc
Cheers
Chookasmum
http://www.chookasmum.blogspot.com
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RE: Cutting Carbons Challenge
Chookasmum Member
Posts: 240 Location: Central West NSW Joined: 11.04.07
Posted on 10-06-2007 15:36
I should also add that we have to pay $365 per year for our water meter,and if we used the water, which is raw, i.e. untreated, and reaches our palce before the pumping station, we would still have to pay the price of town water, i.e. that is treated water. we keep our water meter, for several reasons, a) council are not installing anymore water meters on the line, b) it also adds to the value of our property, if for some unforseen reason we have to sell, like ill-health etc for e.g to go into nursing home this property will have to pay for that.
Cheers
Chookasmum
http://www.chookasmum.blogspot.com
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RE: Cutting Carbons Challenge
Dani Member
Posts: 266 Location: Perth, Western Australia Joined: 19.05.06
Posted on 10-06-2007 17:15
Cool, thanks so much for organising this Rhonda!!!
I have kept a close eye on my foot prints over the last 12 months and this is my average.
0.7 planets
1.4 Global Hectares
Food 1.0
Transport 0.0
Shelter 0.2
Goods/Services 0.2
But I don't think this calculator is refined enough to give all the answers.
Grumpy3
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RE: Cutting Carbons Challenge
Dani Member
Posts: 266 Location: Perth, Western Australia Joined: 19.05.06
Posted on 10-06-2007 18:26
Dani:
3.3 planets
6.3 global hectares: food 2.2, transport 0.8, shelter 1.5, goods/services 1.8, total 6.3.
Cary:
3.1 planets
6.0 global hectares: food 2.8, transport 0.3, shelter 1.5, goods/services 1.4, total 6.0
It is true that the survey could definately be more indepth, but i think this is a good start for most people and that is probrably its purpose.
-Dani.
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RE: Cutting Carbons Challenge
Jeanie Member
Posts: 1409 Location: Rainbow ,North West Vic Joined: 05.07.06
Posted on 10-06-2007 19:31
hi Rhonda Im in the only thing I cant monitor is my electricity because Im in unit their all together locked so I;ll keep and eye on my next bill.
My average foot print
planet 1.1
global hectares 2.0
transport 0.0
shelter 0.6
good& services 0.5
'Man has lost the capacity to foresee and to forestall.He will end by destroying the earth'
Albert Schweitzer
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RE: Cutting Carbons Challenge
Michelle-sm Member
Posts: 1694 Location: S E QLD Joined: 03.01.07
Posted on 10-06-2007 20:22
If everyone lived like you, we would need 4.2 planets.
Global hectares required to sustain your lifestyle
8.0 global hectares
Food 4.0
Transport 0.7
Shelter 1.3
Goods/services 2.0
Total 8.0
I have a long way to go.
My house is way too big for 3 people but there's not much I can do about that at the moment.
I would dearly love to get my veg gardens up and running but dh doesn't quite see the same urgency as I do. I have a few things in pots so I guess that's better than nothing.
Author
RE: Cutting Carbons Challenge
Polly Member
Posts: 1504 Location: West Gippsland, Victoria Joined: 14.09.06
Posted on 11-06-2007 08:26
For me
Planets 3.4
Global hectares 5.9
Food 1.6, Transport .2, Shelter 2, Goods & Services 2.2
For my husband
Planets 5.2
Global Hectares 10
Food 1.6, Transport 2.2, Shelter 2, Goods & Services 4.2
The differences in our footprints all relate to DH's job. He flies often and travels over 900 Ks by train each week to get to work. There are no jobs for him locally and he's not about to retrain at his age. On the bright side, he should retire within the next twelve months.
Our house is too big for two people and I don't think I would be able to live with a boarder. Not sure what to do about this one.
Our car is too big and we own a caravan. DH loves both.
Most of our travel involves visiting our son and his family so we may have to start taking the train.
We eat meatless meals but occasionally have fish and more often dairy products.
We have reduced and are still working on reducing our water and electricity consumption and are just starting to record our gas consumption.
We have reduced our garbage but could still do more by concentrating on unnecessary packaging.
We use renewable electricity from our provider but plan on getting a solar HWS soon.
Lots to think about and even more to do.
Polly
An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching - Ghandi
We're in. Well I am; my better half doesn't know about it yet.
We're now at: 6.4 global hectares; 3.3 planets
Food 3.1
Transport 0.2
Shelter 1.7
Goods/services 1.4
One thing I noticed about the food sections was the part about "processed" food. Cooking is processing. So is pickling. So is freezing. Come to that, so is peeling. I took the question to refer to purchased processed food, but right now I'm in the middle of reading a VERY upsetting book (The Omnivore's Dilemma) and a dose of semantic nitpickery feels as essential as sunshine. I'm sure many people here know the material, if not the book. I need to think a bit more before I can talk about it coherently.
Ahning (wishing good intentions always had good consequences)
I got zero for transport too, Rhonda, but I don't know why either!
I went and read my electricity and water meters today and will do the car speedo tomorrow (we didn't use any transport today). I can't accurately measure gas until the bill comes in as we have two LPG botles that get refilled and we pay for what we use, no meter. I will record how much time is spent using gas, though and try to work on reducing that. I will check the rubbish on Wednesdays as that is our collection day.
Suz
Laissez les bon temps rouler... je suis vivant! - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
so not sure how much I will achieve.
There are no jobs for him locally and he's not about to retrain at his age. On the bright side, he should retire within the next twelve months.
