Carbon-Pros Analyst Blog

The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has always “mattered” to planet Earth. And the human release of CO2 has mattered since the dawn of the industrial revolution. Unfortunately, nobody realized until recently that CO2 levels were getting out of control. Over the past decade, the science of global warming has become more established and better understood. Most scientists now agree that human activities are the root cause of skyrocketing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. More than a decade ago, the big industrialists (e.g. 3M, Dow, DuPont, and others) began reducing their carbon footprint when “air pollution” was federally monitored and eventually capped. GHG emissions were reduced as a byproduct of increased production efficiencies and decreased waste. Big companies found that becoming more efficient (releasing fewer pollutants and fewer GHGs) actually saved them $100s of millions of dollars. Today, the convergence of several factors has heightened awareness of carbon: 1) developed nations are feeling global pressure to take coordinated action, 2) governments and businesses are facing growing public opinion that they must take action soon, 3) European businesses began facing new carbon caps as of 2008, and 4) US businesses will likely see federal carbon regulation as early as 2009. In a cap and trade system, some businesses will be forced to live within a carbon cap, with the cap declining over time. Even if they are not subject to the cap, businesses within the supply chain of a capped company may be forced to make CO2 reductions. Other businesses are moving ahead of the market by cutting their carbon footprint before their hand is forced by the government or a major customer. They want the flexibility to to make cost-effective carbon reductions on their own terms. Sill other businesses see carbon as a unknown business risk and are measuring their footprint to assess that risk. And finally some businesses are measuring and reducing their footprint because they believe it's the right thing to do.

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Over the weekend, I was visiting a condo in Crested Butte Colorado. It was a nice place: ski-in, ski-out with great views. It also had a wood fireplace, which I love. So many fireplaces have been converted to natural gas that it was a pleasure to be warmed by the radiant heat of a real wood fire. Unlike natural gas, wood is a renewal resource, a source of renewable energy. Unfortunately, this particular fireplace was the typical American design where 90% of the heat goes right up the chimney. Fireplaces do not have to be built that way. Rumford fireplaces, for example, have been around for a couple of hundred years. They are built tall and shallow to reflect most of the heat into the room. They have streamlined throats to eliminate turbulence and carry away smoke with minimal loss of heated air inside the house. As a builder, I have incorporated Rumfords into several of my Colorado and California homes. The costs are usually no more than a conventional masonry fireplace; at most they might run 5% over a conventional design. If you are reducing your carbon footprint and want to get rid of your natural gas (fossil fuel) fireplace, don't eliminate wood from consideration. The Rumford is old technology but still offers beauty, renewable fuel, high efficiency and cost effectiveness. If permitted in your municipality, modern wood stoves and old fashioned Rumford's are highly efficient heating systems. They are worthy of consideration in green building projects. --JS  Jim Shugart Builders

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Carbon-Pros is in the business of sustainability, but what we do at work is also our personal passion. My wife and I are trying make a difference right inside our home in Boulder, Colorado. We have been making small upgrades to our house for the past 20 years. Some changes were made for purely aesthetic reasons, but many changes were done with energy efficiency (and comfort) in mind. It turns out that a lot of small changes can really add up over time. Our house, built in 1977, used to leak cold air in the winter and suck in attic heat in the summer. The west wind blew right through every room. It was a typical build for those days; I'm sure the builder never once thought about “going green." A few years ago we decided we were going to stay in our house for a long time and therefore we decided to get serious about going green. Our goal is to make it a net zero energy (NZE) home. In other words, we are making changes that both reduce our energy loads and increase our power generation. The house eventually will produce as much power as it consumes. In our case, the most important steps include tightening the building envelop, being more efficient with lights and appliances, adding solar PV, tweaking the envelope again, and finally adding a high-efficiency geothermal system for heating and cooling. Believe me, we weren't operating our household from a top-down strategy. It's a place where we like to hang out and relax. We didn't always do things the right way or in the right order, but it's all adding up to a great result. I want to share our experience because there is never enough published information for people who want to improve their home a little at time. Where should you start? What is a cost-effective sequence? How far can you go? When should you stop? Over the next month, I will outline what we've done so far and what we've learned that might be helpful. --JCB

Posted by Carbon-Pros at 04:28 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Most businesses don't have any idea how much carbon they emit. They don't measure it; they don't report it. It is out of sight and out of mind. Yet the US EPA recently found carbon dioxide to be a public health hazard for its role in climate change. In 2009 congress is likely to enact legislation to cap greenhouse gas emissions and establish carbon trading markets. The initial legislation will cover the largest emitters such as utilities, refineries, and big industrial concerns. However, the downstream effects of any legislation will be much broader. If you are concerned about climate change and business sustainability, then you must do your part to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Even if you are unsure that your business has an impact on climate change, your customers, your suppliers, and the general public may think differently. What do carbon caps and markets mean for your business? Will it cost you money? Can you save money or even make money? Will these changes increase business risk? Or will they provide competitive advantage to early movers? Is it worth management attention? Can technology help? The answers are YES. Stay tuned for more information.

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