Calculator for carbon footprint

Today Online 1 Jun 09;

IF YOU don’t know how much carbon emissions your dailyactivities add to the atmosphere, you can now work that out.

This is with Singapore’s first carbon footprint online calculator, which was launched yesterday.

At www.mycarbonfootprint.sg, you will be asked questions such as “How do you get to school or to work?” or “Do you use hot water when you shower?” — and your carbon emissions will be calculated for you.

Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, Mr Simon Tay, who was the guest-of-honour at the launch, said climate change is a problem that “we all contribute to and that we do not really know how to address”.

This is why individuals and not just governments must be involved in fighting it, he said.

Welcoming the launch of a personal carbon footprint calculator, he urged students and youth to impact their own family’s lifestyles.

Recounting how his wife and 11-year-old son have influenced him to be a better environmentalist — not just as a policy issue but in everyday practice — he said they have implemented recycling thoroughly, and have kept their household bills for electricity and water low at under $100 per month. His family even asked for a hybrid car.

The carbon footprint calculator project was a collaboration between Hemispheres Foundation and Singapore Polytechnic.

President and Founder of Hemispheres Foundation, Ms Ann Phua, explained: “It gives an alert as to how your lifestyle habits have made an impact on the carbon emissions that you have created.”

The Carbon Footprint Calculator was launched at the Singapore Science Centre in conjunction with the “Actions for Earth Carbon Footprint Challenge”.

This drew more than 800 students who pledged to reduce carbon emission through a change in their lifestyle. The event commemorates the World Environment Day which falls on June 5. 938LIVE