JUST as a footprint is simply a mark or an impression left by a foot, all our human activities leave marks on our planet. Unfortunately, most of the human activities over the last 50 years have negative effects on the environment, particularly the buildup of carbon dioxide or carbon emissions which is the main cause of global warming. This mark that we leave is referred to as our carbon footprint.

What is carbon footprint?

It is the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that each individual, organization or community produces or uses.

Some sectors are quick to point out that the term “footprint” actually refers to the amount of forest cover required to remove the equivalent amount of greenhouse gas that a person or organization emits.

Whichever way we define it, this buildup of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, is responsible for trapping the sun’s heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, forming the so-called “greenhouse effect,” a natural phenomenon that explains why the Earth is warm.

Under normal conditions, these greenhouse gases are beneficial by maintaining the Earth’s average temperature to a more hospitable 60 degrees F. However, when the concentration is too high, we may experience a dangerous rise in temperatures as we are already experiencing today. This is the reason we have extreme and unpredictable weather conditions.

Personal carbon footprint

We all have our personal carbon footprint. This is the effect of our lifestyle on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. For example, some of the biggest contributors to our personal footprint are our travel needs and the way we use up electricity in our homes and workplaces. Each time we travel by car, airplane, boat and other fossil fuel-based vehicles, all these have a direct impact on the atmosphere in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.

In fact, all our activities have a direct impact on the atmosphere including what we eat and how we clothe ourselves.

Largest contributors to emissions

What many of us do not realize is that buildings we use are major culprits responsible for contributing greenhouse gases. Contrary to what we may think, buildings, more than cars and factories compound the threat to global warming.

Buildings worldwide use 70 percent of the world’s total energy supply and account for 39 percent of all greenhouse gases.

Bali Conference 2007

In the Bali Conference held last year in Indonesia, it was reported that there was a consensus for updated changes for both developed and developing countries. Many countries agreed that there was a need for “deep cuts in global emissions” and that “developed country emissions must fall 10-40 percent by 2020.”

The Bali proceedings also looked at all the major sectors of the global economy and concluded that the buildings sector is both the largest culprit and at the same time the largest opportunity in terms of cost-effective savings.

Focus on existing buildings

Many countries are now shifting their focus from new construction to existing buildings. The reason for this is that in the short term, operations of new buildings represent a smaller part of the overall building sector.

To make substantial reductions in emissions within 10 years or less, they have to deal with the existing building stock immediately. Specifically, they are studying how to make existing buildings more energy-efficient.

Fine-tuning, energy management

One effective strategy to make existing buildings more energy-efficient immediately is through fine-tuning and management for energy savings. In buildings, fine-tuning or checking a building’s systems is part of a process called commissioning. Its purpose is to make sure that the building’s mechanical systems are operating as specified so that no energy is wasted.

Fine-tuning offers several advantages. It can be done immediately so that the inefficient buildings systems can be improved right away, thus reducing waste and financial losses.

Another advantage is that it can be done without acquiring expensive equipment. What is vitally important is that a well-trained and dedicated staff be maintained to monitor the building systems closely and make the necessary adjustments.

Data from Eastern Europe say that reducing the energy-efficiency gap in buildings by half would save 600 million tons of oil equivalent.

The newly elected president of Maldives, the flattest and lowest lying country, has announced that one of his first acts would be to search for a relocation site for the entire population of 370,000 of his country. This is in preparation for rising sea levels.

It is upon you and me now to be aware of our personal carbon footprint and to work hard toward the reduction of global warming and mitigate climate change.

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