R-ECO is committed to the raising awareness of energy usage and reducing carbon footprints.
A carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by a person, organisation, event or product.
A carbon footprint is measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). The carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) allows the different greenhouse gases to be compared on a like-for-like basis relative to one unit of CO2. CO2e is calculated by multiplying the emissions of each of the six greenhouse gases by its 100 year global warming potential (GWP).
A carbon footprint considers all six of the Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).
The main types of carbon footprint for organisations are:
1. Organisational carbon footprint
Emissions from all the activities across the organisation, including buildings' energy use, industrial processes and company vehicles.
2. Product carbon footprint
Emissions over the whole life of a product or service, from the extraction of raw materials and manufacturing right through to its use and final reuse, recycling or disposal.
For those interested in the interplay between finance and carbon, Carbon Tracker is a non profit thinktank, consisting of a team of financial, energy and legal experts commited to limiting future greenhouse gas emissions in financial markets.