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M+R has joined with Planet Toner. For every empty
cartridge that is collected by Planet Toner, they will donate $1.00
to the 20th Man Fund. This is a unique opportunity to help
the disadvantaged youth in Melbourne and the environment
simultaneously. Why don't you get on board too ? Check out www.20thman.com.au to see the great work the 20th Man
Fund does to support those in need.
The firm recently launched THE GREEN TEAM who
are responsible for initiating concepts to do our small bit for the
environment.
The firm has received its first Carbon Reduction
Certificate.
As part of our on-going commitment to this project, the firm has
now joined the CitySwitch Green Office program. This
program has the potential to reduce Australia's energy consumption
by approximately 162,000 tonnes of CO2, saving nearly $17.5 million
in energy costs every year. That's the equivalent of taking
36,000 cars off the road annually. cityswitch.net.au
Terms such as ‘carbon neutral’ and ‘carbon emissions’ are now
being used in everyday language, but have you ever wondered exactly
what they mean?
Carbon: the chemical basis of all organic life. In the
context of climate change, the term “carbon” is short-hand for
carbon emissions and generally refers to the six main greenhouse
gases indentified in the Kyoto Protocol.
Carbon dioxide (CO2): the most abundant of the
greenhouse gases, contributing to approximately 75 per cent of
Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide is a
by-product of oil and gas production, and is produced by burning
fossil fuels or plant matter used for fuel (biomass). All animals,
plants, fungi and microorganisms also produce carbon dioxide. It
has a global warming potential of 1, because it is the reference
from which the values of all other greenhouses gases are
calculated.
Carbon neutral: indicates that something has net zero
emissions (for example, an organisation, service, event or
product). Various strategies are used to achieve carbon neutral
status:
The first step is to determine ways of reducing overall carbon
footprint as much as possible through improved efficiency and
conservation.
The next step is the purchase of accredited Green Power
(preferably wind and solar) or micro-generation of sufficient
energy for the organisation’s demands (and, potentially, surplus to
offset other emissions).
The final step is to offset the organisation’s carbon emissions
by purchasing carbon offsets. This option should be used last, when
carbon emissions are unavoidable (e.g. for necessary air
travel).
Emissions intensity (also termed carbon intensity): the
ratio of emissions per unit of production output or other
performance indicator. For example: emissions per dollar of
revenue, full-time equivalent staff member, square metre of office
space or unit of production.
Carbon abatement: actions that produce a reduction in the
amount or intensity of greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon sequestration: a geoengineering technique
involving the capturing carbon dioxide produced by industrial
processes and long term storage of it, by injecting it underground
or under the ocean. It has been proposed as a way to mitigate
accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which are
released by burning fossil fuels.
Interesting Facts:
ATMs – don’t get a receipt if you don’t need it.
Annually, these receipts use enough paper to stretch two billion
feet long ! … and then get thrown away (the same goes for petrol
pump receipts !).
Books – borrow from the library or buy second hand.
Almost 400,000 trees are needed to print books annually.
Candy & Ingredients
– buy the loose bulk kind instead of the wrapped and packaged
versions. The majority of the wraps and papers are not
recyclable and can be heavily treated with chemicals.
Matches – choose paper matches over wood matches or
lighters. They are often made of recycled paper, whereas
wooden matches require 5.5 million trees per year and lighters
create harmful and toxic landfill waste.
Music – consider music downloads instead of buying CDs …
every month 45 tons of unwanted CDs wind up in landfills.
Napkins – take only what you need instead of grabbing a
whole stack and then throwing them away, unused. If everyone
took just one less napkin, it would keep a billion tons out of
landfill annually.
Pens – buy the refillable kind. The US discards 1.6
billion disposable pens each year and a refill is no more expensive
than a disposable pen.
Q-tips – when buying note pads, but the kind with the
paper spindle instead of plastic … they will actually biodegrade
but the plastic will not.
Watch this space for more “green” tips. |
