Individuals and their carbon emissions:
We all emit carbon emissions throughout our daily lives, from using household appliances, travelling to and from work, to doing the food shopping. To reduce our carbon impact we can reduce our emissions by undertaking a number of steps, and then offsetting the remaining emissions.
Households
Households contribute a significant amount to our carbon impact; increasing efficiency is an effective method to reducing it. This can include fitting efficient appliances, increasing insolation turning off unused appliances or using a renewable, clean energy source. This will help reduce your carbon impact and reduce household bills.
Travel
We all need to travel around, whether it is for work, leisure or practical reasons. It is important, where possible, to travel efficiently as possible to help reduce travel carbon emissions and fuel bills, using public transport, efficient driving methods, only taking necessary journeys or using alternative fuels.
Secondary Carbon Impact
A secondary carbon impact is not directly caused by an individual, rather it originates from activities we undertake or products we buy. There a few steps we can take to reduce this, although it is harder as it is less under our control. These can include using local produce, recycling as much as possible or undertaking less carbon intensive activities.
Offsetting
Reducing emissions through good habits often reaches a limit, and carbon offsetting is a method to reduce these remaining emissions. This can be achieved on a varying scale, whether it is for business or holiday flights, travel to work, an event such as a wedding, or on an annual basis. ICROA’s members can help you to calculate what emissions your activities create and offset the carbon thereby reducing your impact on the environment.
ICROA works with its membership and independent technical advisory board to ensure latest developments in technologies and policy are integrated into its member’s business practices. By working with an ICROA member you can assess your carbon impact, safe in the knowledge the information you receive is delivered according to internationally agreed best practices. ICROA outlines its position on the use of carbon credits under its policy section. ICROA encourages individuals wishing to offset their carbon emissions to use companies that follow the ICROA code of best practice.
