How do I calculate a baseline carbon footprint?
A group’s baseline emissions footprint is based on how much energy they have used over the last year. It will give them an idea of how much energy they use and what they could change to reduce their carbon emissions over the next year. It is also used by the Climate Club to decide how many carbon permits should be available for people to use.
Depending on your Climate Club your group’s baseline emissions footprint will include either:
- carbon emitted from your group’s buildings such as a community hall (your institution baseline) or
- personal emissions from members of the group such as home electricity or gas use (your individuals baseline) or
- both these things.
The institution baseline is calculated using the calculator on the Carbon Trust website. The person leading the group should add this information to the CarbonLimited website. http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/solutions/carbonfootprinting/footprintcalculators.ht
The individuals’ baseline is calculated by each person in the group, using the Act on CO2 website. http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/index.html