Calculate Co2

What is Co2?

CO2 is a carbon dioxide gas and is found in the natural layer of the earth and when combined with water and methane gas in the atmosphere protects our planet. The sun heats our planet and sends energy towards the earth, this protective layer makes our planet habitable and keeps temperatures stable and allows the Earth to keep a certain heat within its atmosphere and excess heat to escape back into space.

The Greenhouse Effect
Not all solar radiation escapes back into space, when we add too much CO2 gas the natural resources of the earth that absorb Co2 such as the oceans or soil cannot cope with the larger amounts so the extra  heat  is trapped in the atmosphere. This extra heat cannot pass through the protective layer and therefore creates what is commonly known as global warming. This means that parts of these gases come back again to the earth´s surface and therefore creates a vicious circle, more gases-more heat trapped.

What is the Cause?
Scientists have found that the more CO2 gases that enter the atmosphere increase the Earth´s temperature. Keep in mind that not all CO2 gas is a result of human activity as there are other causes such as natural forest fires or volcanic eruptions or increased sea temperatures due to other causes such as increased solar radiation that reaches the earth.

Although there are these natural producers of Co2 gas, the proportion of CO2 emitted by humans is increasing every year, especially since the Industrial Revolution began. In recent years the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has shown an enormous increase.

The biggest challenge for society is how to change our habits particularly with regard to energy sources especially in a consumer society that increasingly wants more cars, electrical appliances and access to cheap travel. The reality is that although the increased level of living could be considered to be rising as people have more material things; this comfort is associated with increased energy consumption. The undeveloped countries require the same energy levels as developed nations and we also have the problem that the world´s population is growing rapidly.

The willingness of people to decide in a particular sector to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases depends largely on the attitude that society takes.

You can choose more environmentally friendly solutions such as using alternative energy sources, which are those that are produced from natural sources such as wind, biomass, hydro or solar energy, but there are also lesser known  sources that hold great potential like Geothermal or Tidal Energy.

The use of energy from coal or other fossil type are very polluting because they emit a lot of CO2 through burning which causes the greenhouse effect.
Each person, company or home can measure what is called their “Carbon Footprint” .

What is a Carbon Footprint?
It means that every product you buy, the trips you make, the cars that you drive and the energy you have consumed, has had an impact on the environment.
If we look at Carbon Footprints individually the impact is minimal but as communities or countries the impact is large.

Here in these pages are some tools that you can use to measure:

• How to measure your Co2 at home-  Co2 Calculator
• How to measure CO2 when driving – a Co2 Calculator that takes into account the make, the journey, model and age of the  car.
• Co2 Air Travel Calculator

There many options for reducing CO2 emissions which  can make a difference?

You can protect the environment by switching to more efficient practices and energy efficiency savings.
See our sustainable house where we break down each part of the home and explain simple changes or actions that will achieve achieve energy savings.
Gestor Energetico Econova also offers products such as Standby Eliminators or Energy Monitors which you can purchase online in our Ecostore. With the Standby Eliminator you can be sure that computers, electrical appliances and TVs are off when you do not need them such as overnight or when you are not at home or in the office.

In our section on how to generate your own energy or Micro Generation you will receive advice on how to adapt homes or business to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, geothermal and others.

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