HOW MUCH CO2 HAVE WE SAVED. CO2 Savings Calculator
On 29th April our CO2 savings estimate is 13.557 Tonnes
This total is made from a number of elements and assumptions:
4317 Kgs saved by recycling plastic bottles at SACC recycling centre
3297 Kgs saved by recycling beverage cartons at SACC recycling centre
2730 Kgs saved by 6 households switching to a 100% renewable Green energy tariff
1230 Kgs saved by recycling Foil at SACC recycling centre
1187 Kgs saved by recycling Cardboard at SACC recycling centre
15 Kgs saved by tree planting in and around Snitterfield
and we still have the schools recycling of cardboard and foil to add to this total.
Click on the links to see how these figures are calculated.
They will need confirming with experts and we will refine our arithmetic as time goes by.
Household Energy Audit
The objective of this project is to obtain a better estimate of the CO2 emissions from the village through a survey of individual households.
Starting Estimate
The steering group did not need precise emission figures before we started projects. Using parish figures and goverment estimates we can produce a figure.
Snitterfield Carbon Emissions
Initial Estimate
13,000 Tonnes
In the 2001 Census the Parish of Snitterfield had 1155 people. There are 421 properties in the village and 537 in the parish. The goverment scientists have calculated the average person emits 12 Tonnes. The Steering Group decided that a reasonable estimate of Carbon Dioxide emissions from the Parish is 13,000 Tonnes per annum.
Our primary aim is to reduce our emmissions; whether we are starting at 13,000 or 30,000 makes little difference.
Our reduction is what counts.
It is our plan to estimate the savings made through all our different activities
Plastic Bottle Recycling , Back to Top
The Government tell us recycling one 2litre plastic bottle saves enough energy to light a 60W
light bulb for 6 hours.
This means each 2 litre bottle saves 360W.
When our green recycling bin is full. On average it contains 125 litres of plastic bottles
So each full bin saves 125 Litres * 360W = 45Kw.
In a typical week we take 8 full bins to Burton Farm. 8bins * 45Kw = 360Kws.
Each Kw of electricity generates 0.43Kg of CO2 (assumes average UK mix).
In a typical week we save 155Kgs of CO2. This figure has been used in our calculations.
Aluminium Foil Recycling , Back to Top
The Government tell us recycling one Kg of Foil saves 13 Kwatts of electricity.
So every KG we take to Burton Farm saves 13 * 0.43 Kgs of CO2 = 5.6Kgs of CO2.
On average we take 1.4Kgs of foil every day to Burton Farm.
So in a typical week we take 10Kgs, making a weekly saving of 56Kgs of CO2.
This figure has been used in our calculations.
Cardboard Recycling , Back to Top
The Government tell us for every one tonne of cardboard recyled saves 430 Kgs of CO2.
So every KG we take to Burton Farm saves 0.43Kgs of CO2.
On average we take 4 Large bins and 3 Small bins full of cardboard each week to Burton Farm.
The cardboard in a large bin weighs 21.5Kgs.
The cardboard in a small bin weighs 13.0Kgs.
So in a typical week we recycle 125Kgs of cardboard, making a weekly saving of 54Kgs of CO2.
This is the figure that has been used in our calculations.
Switching to a 100% renewable Green energy tariff , Back to Top
The Government have estimated that the average UK household generates 1560 Kgs of CO2 per annum from electrical household appliances.
1560 Kgs per annum is equal to 4.274Kgs CO2 per day.
So each Snitterfield resident who signs up to a 100% renewable energy tariff saves 30 Kgs per week.
We know the following Snitterfield households have definately switched.
prior to September = 1 household: saves 30Kgs per week
in October = 2 households: saves 60Kgs per week
in December = 3 households: saves 90kgs per week
in February = 4 households: saves 120kgs per week
in March = 6 households: saves 180Kgs per week forwards
These weekly savings are used in our CO2 savings estimate.
Beverage Carton Recycling , Back to Top
This has been the most difficult figure to estimate. We know a carton is made from
75% Cardboard, 20% Plastic and 5% Foil. We assume that it can be recycled into its individual components.
On average we take 10 Bins of Tetra Paks to the tip and each full bin contains 80 Packs.
A cartoon weighs 40grams, so a full bin is 6.4Kgs of cardboard and 1.6Kgs of Foil
A cartoon is 2 litres, so a full bin is 160 litres of plastic.
using the figures above for cardboard, Plastic and Foil we get --
3.87 kgs, 2.51kgs and 8.6Kgs, a total of 15Kgs saved per bin
This figure of 15Kgs of CO2 per bin is used in our calculations.
Tree Planting , Back to Top
Accroding to the Energy Savings Trust a UK tree will offset 7.3Kg of CO2 per year,
source http://www.carbonfootprint.com/plantingtrees.html.
SACC have planted 10 trees and each tree offsets 0.140385 Kgs per week.
Therefore a figure of 1.40385Kgs per week is used in our calculation.