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started on 15/6/2007 02:46
There’s nothing up on the site yet, but we have started a CRAG for Maryland, a state in the USA near Washington DC. I am excited like a kid with candy. We still have to set our target, etc.- and by we I mean me. I still have to recruit people. Shannon I think it's brilliant too.written on 15/6/2007 22:44
Hopefully I am the first of many. I am just as eager to hear perspectives from the Brits. First footprint?written on 15/6/2007 21:30
You may wanna try and work out your last years footprint to use as a benchmark. All new joiners might want to too. If you want any help with this 1st time out let me know You could always start out with a ration of 50% US per capita (20 tones’ish times 50%) The 50% is the bit you have control over as an individual. This is what we do in the UK as we are pretty sure of the split. US is probably siimilar but may need some research. Best of luck Good idea!written on 15/6/2007 22:43
I will try calculating my footprint. So far I have been working off state and national averages. They are big! Update on Maryland CRAGwritten on 20/6/2007 04:14
The Maryland CRAG site now has a goal of 17,500 lbs/yr direct emissions (about 8000 kg). That represents a 12.5% reduction from the 10 US tons that Americans normally emit. Thanks to Andy and Robin for helping to get this set up. I am in recruitment stage now and welcome anyone from the US to temporarily join the MD CRAG as we go about setting up expectations and reductions for people in our country. Our carbon year, if all goes well and I get some fresh recruits, will begin September 1. For help with US footprintswritten on 20/6/2007 10:06
I just found this, you could start here on the EPA site! http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_assumptions.html Some of the numbers look a bit low but are satisfactory for CRAG use. For example the electricity mix figure is good at 1.37 pounds CO2 per kWh (or electricity unit on your bill) or 0.623 kg CO2 per kWh (converted to UK numbers)This is about 15% higher than the UK mix for electricity generation I think due to so much coal fired power stations over there (no guilt trip intended!) Hope this helps thankswritten on 20/6/2007 14:23
I used the EPA site to estimate most emissions except for travel. I figure if it’s wrong I can blame the government :) As for coal, the lobby has convinced our legislators that entire sections of the country will become impoverished if they can’t mine it (especially the high sulfur kind). Sigh. It’s getting better, though. Mea culpa. |
Fantastic!
david
That’s absolutely brilliant, Shannon! I may be wrong, but I think you are the first confirmed non-UK CRAG.
Just get the dialogue going with your new recruits, and it’ll be interesting to hear some US perspectives on this idea – as well as to compare your typical Maryland footprints to the UK.
Welcome to the fold!