By calculating your carbon footprint, you can find out which activity generates more carbon emissions and take steps to change your lifestyle accordingly and reduce your emissions.

There are several online carbon footprint calculators that help you calculate your emissions and compare with the rest of the world. However, your carbon footprint may vary according to the calculator you use as these calculators vary by country, by activity and by the methodology behind the calculations.

What you can do is to calculate your carbon footprint using different calculators and take the average, or use a calculator that is catered for Singapore.

Here are some online carbon footprint calculators:

• SEC Climate Portal (for Singapore)
• Singapore Polytechnic (for Singapore)
• My Carbon Footprint by Hemispheres Foundation (for Singapore)
• The GreenAsia Group (includes Singapore)
• BP Energy Calculator (includes Singapore)
• BeGreenNow
• Carbon Footprint
• Carbonfund.org
• ClimateCare
• EarthLab
• Friends of the Earth
• Resurgence Carbon Calculator
• SafeClimate
• TerraPass
• The CarbonNeutral Company
• WWF Footprint Calculator
• Zerofootprint

Some tips for using the calculators:

• Check the electricity consumption from your utility bill or use the monthly national average
• The average amount of domestic waste generated per person per day in 2008 was 0.84 kg
• Use gothere.sg to check vehicle distance
• Check distance between countries

Most of the websites above offer carbon offsetting schemes, where you can buy carbon offsets to neutralise your carbon emissions as the payment is used to fund carbon-reducing projects such as renewable energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects. You should first find ways to reduce your carbon footprint before offsetting your remaining emissions. Also, choose carbon offsets that meet standards such as the Voluntary Carbon Standard and the Gold Standard VER.

Check out our other tips on reducing your carbon footprint or watch this video:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Image credit: Plusverde; bunchkles; dlnny.

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Electricity Audit Calculator

To find out which appliance at home consume the most electricity, you can use this electricity audit calculator from SP Services. The audit will help you calculate the estimated electricity consumption per month and also the electricity consumed by each appliance in kWh and cost.

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Energy Monitor

If you want more accurate monitoring of your appliance’s energy consumption and to track your consumption over time, you can use an energy monitor such as ETrack or Wattson. These energy monitors can track the real time and monthly energy consumption of appliances in the home and display energy consumption in kWh and cost.

With the above calculator and energy monitor, you can monitor your electricity consumption at home and reduce the usage of high energy-consuming appliances or adjust your lifestyle to consume less energy.

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Electricity Vending System

In the future, we might have smart energy meters installed in our homes. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) is currently studying the feasibility of the Electricity Vending System (EVS), which involves installing smart meters that allow consumers to choose an electricity package and manage the electricity consumed at home.

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Air-Conditioner

• If you need to buy an air-conditioner, choose one that is energy-efficient and suitably sized for your home. Check out the models with the Energy Label from this NEA database.
• Set your air-conditioner’s thermostat to a higher comfortable temperature (about 25 degree Celsius).
• Clean the air filters regularly and service your air-conditioners annually. For general servicing, approach Coolserve or other contractors.
• Set the timer to switch off your air-conditioner before dawn or after some hours of usage.
• Stop using your air-conditioner and switch to a fan (standing, box or ceiling type) that can keep you comfortable while using much less energy than your air-conditioner.
• Use your air-conditioner and fan on alternate days. For example, use the air-conditioner on even days and the fan on odd days.
• Switch on your air-conditioner one hour before going to bed. When it’s time to sleep, switch off the air-conditioner and use the fan instead. The fan is able to circulate the cool air and keep you comfortable.

Refrigerator

• Adjust the thermostat in the refrigerator to a higher temperature or setting.
• Close the refrigerator door immediately after taking out the food.
• Ensure that the refrigerator is not placed near heat sources (eg. heating appliances or sunlight).
• Ensure that there is space for airflow near the compressor and condenser coils.
• Check that the door is air tight by closing the door on a piece of paper, which should stay in place.
• Allow hot food to cool before placing the food in the refrigerator.
• Allow sufficient space in the refrigerator for air circulation and do not stuff too much food inside.
• Buy a refrigerator with the smallest model to suit your needs and choose one with the energy efficient Energy Label.

Image credit: Muzzling; dean.

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Energy Label

If you’re planning to buy a new air-conditioner, refrigerator or clothes dryer, remember to choose an energy efficient appliance with the Energy Label. The Energy Label is issued by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and it is mandatory for registered suppliers of air-conditioners, refrigerators and clothes dryers to affix the Energy Label on the units that they supply in Singapore.

The Energy Label shows the energy efficiency rating and the energy consumption of the appliance. The energy efficiency rating is expressed in green ticks:

• 1 tick – Fair
• 2 ticks – Good
• 3 ticks – Very Good
• 4 ticks – Excellent

The appliance with more ticks is more energy efficient. You can compare the green ticks for different brands and types of appliances from this database of registered goods. Remember to look out for the Energy Label when you’re buying a new appliance at the retail store.

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Lighting

If you’re buying lightbulbs, choose energy efficient compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs). CFLs last up to 10 times longer and use up to 80% less energy than incandescent lightbulbs. You should also choose the lowest wattage lightbulb needed for your specific lighting purpose.

Besides CFLs, you can choose LED lighting that are more efficient and last longer than CFLs.

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ENERGY STAR

For other appliances that are not under the Energy Label scheme (such as computers, dishwashers, ceiling fans, televisions and lighting), you can check whether they are ENERGY STAR qualified. The ENERGY STAR is a US labeling program to identify and promote energy efficient products. Find a suitable model from this wide range of ENERGY STAR appliances.

Image credit: Energy Label via E2 Singapore

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1. Switch off your electronic appliances such as the television and DVD player at the power socket, and don’t leave them on standby mode. The standby mode still consumes energy (also known as vampire energy) and can add to your electricity bill.

Here’s a video on vampire energy:

Click here to view the embedded video.

2. Unplug your charger after charging your mobile phone as the charger left in the power socket still consumes energy.

3. Remember to switch off all the lights and appliances when leaving the house or when they are not in use. Do a quick check before leaving the house. You can connect different appliances to a power strip so that you only need to turn off one switch.

4. If you’re buying a new computer, choose a laptop instead of a desktop as laptops use less energy. Also remember to use the power management mode on your computer to save energy. Here’s a guide to enable the energy saving features on your computer.

5. Reduce the brightness of your computer and television to cut energy consumption. The factory default setting may be brighter than necessary.

6. Remove unnecessary outdoor lighting such as spotlights. If you need them on at night, put them on a timer or use motion sensors.

7. Avoid using the clothes dryer when the weather is sunny, instead hang your clothes out to dry naturally.

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Visit the Zero Waste Singapore website to learn more about how you can Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Reduce

• Design and Make Sustainable Products
• Buy and Use Only What You Need
• Eliminate the Excessive Use of Paper
• Avoid Disposable Items
• Choose Products with Less Packaging
• Conduct a Waste Audit
• Don’t Waste Food

Reuse

• DIY and Turn Waste Into Useful Items and Art
• Give It Away
• Sell for Cash
• Share, Borrow or Rent Tools and Items
• Send It for Repair or Fix It Yourself
• Learn How to Make Paper Models

Recycle

• Where Can I Find Recycling Bins?
• Start Composting at Home
• Start Recycling at Home
• Start Recycling at Work
• Start Recycling at School
• Paper Recycling
• Plastics Recycling
• Metal Recycling
• Glass Recycling
• Food Waste Recycling
• Wood and Horticultural Waste Recycling
• Electrical and Electronic Waste Recycling
• Tyres Recycling
• Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling

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Use Water Saving Products with the Water Efficiency Label

Using water efficient low-flow taps and showerheads will help you to save water. You can also install thimbles in existing taps or adjust the valves to reduce water flow.

You can use a low-capacity or dual-flush toilet that allows you to choose a low flush that uses less water. In addition, flushing the toilet uses up about four litres of water per flush, so flush one less time per day and help save water.

Buy a washing machine that is water efficient. A front loader is more efficient that a top loader. To save water, try to use the washing machine only with a full load. You can also collect the greywater (water that has been used for washing and drained from the washing machine; try using the water from the last rinse) from the washing machine for flushing toilets or watering plants.

Check out water efficient products with the Water Efficiency Label.

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Check the Water Pipes for Leaks

Conduct a visual check on the water pipes in your house and ensure that they are not leaking. Fix the water leaks immediately as water that is dripping away is money lost. Another way to check for water leaks is to monitor the water meter reading at night and compare it with next morning’s reading. There should be no leaks if there is no change in the water meter readings.

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Turn the Tap Off While Brushing Your Teeth

Turn the tap off while you brush your teeth and you could save up to 45 litres of water. Consider using a mug and you will only use about 0.5 litres of water.

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Take a Shorter Shower

Having a shorter shower saves water as showering makes up a significant part of our water usage. If you shower more than once a day, consider showering just once a day.

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Collect Rainwater

When it rains, you can bring out the pails or other storage containers for collecting rainwater. The rainwater collected can be used for flushing the toilets, watering the plants and even for washing your car. There is no need to use clean drinking water for those purposes. By using rainwater, it would help you save water and money.

If you stay in a flat and do not have space outside your corridor to collect rainwater, you can consider making a simple rainwater collection system. Tie some funnels to a bamboo pole and connect the outlet of each funnel to a plastic hose that leads to your pail. When it rains, put out your bamboo pole and close your windows (leaving a slight opening for the hose). The funnels collect the rainwater and channel it through the hose to the pail. Explore other possible ways to collect rainwater. Be creative and have fun.

Image credit: Water Efficiency Label via PUB.

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But the 20th-century industrialization of agriculture has increased the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by the food system by an order of magnitude; chemical fertilizers (made from natural gas), pesticides (made from petroleum), farm machinery, modern food processing and packaging and transportation have together transformed a system that in 1940 produced 2.3 calories of food energy for every calorie of fossil-fuel energy it used into one that now takes 10 calories of fossil-fuel energy to produce a single calorie of modern supermarket food. Put another way, when we eat from the industrial-food system, we are eating oil and spewing greenhouse gases. – Michael Pollan, Farmer in Chief

Choose Locally Produced Food

In Singapore, we import most of our food from all over the world, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, China, New Zealand, Australia, US, and Brazil. According to a recent Straits Times article, only about 3% of the land area in Singapore is used for farming and local produce makes up 7% of leafy vegetables and 4% of fish consumed here (there’s no local production of meat). This means that we are contributing to more carbon emissions and fuel usage for shipping and transporting food from overseas.

You can choose to buy food that are grown locally such as vegetables and seafood from supermarkets and wet markets. Or you can buy directly from some of the farms at the Kranji Countryside. By buying local, you are helping to reduce your carbon footprint and support the livelihood of local farmers.

Grow Your Own Vegetables

Growing your own vegetables is fun and helps to reduce resources and energy for food import, transportation and packaging. Seeds for growing vegetables are easily available from horticultural shops and supermarkets. You can choose to grow them in soil or using hydroponics. Visit the Green Culture Singapore gardening website and forum for tips and resources on growing your own vegetables.

You can also join the Community In Bloom programme, which encourages community gardening in housing estates and allows residents to create gardens for flowers, herbs, spices, or vegetables.

Choose Healthier Food

Go vegetarian once a week or more, and eat less meat especially beef. Animal farming, meat processing and shipping waste a large amount of resources. Eating more vegetables and vegetarian food is generally good for your health and helps you reduce your carbon footprint. Visit the Vegetarian Society (Singapore) website for more tips and locations of vegetarian food outlets.

Choose natural and organic food products that do not use chemical fertilisers and pesticides. It is good for your health, prevents less chemicals from entering the environment and reduces the resources used in fertiliser production. You can check out this article on “A guide to organic shopping” for more details on organic products and local shops that sell them.

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Public Transportation

In Singapore, we enjoy a wide range of public transportation such as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT), buses and taxis, which provide services covering the entire Singapore at reasonable fares. You can choose to take public transport and do away with cars. Visit PublicTransport@SG or gothere.sg to find out how to get around Singapore and plan your journey.

Walk and Cycle

You can choose to walk for short journeys or cycle to your destination and workplace. It’s a good way to exercise too. Check out the mrbrown’s Quick Guide to Bicycle Commuting in Singapore.

Foldable bicycles are now allowed on trains and buses (Mon to Fri: 9.30am-4pm and 8pm to end of service; All day on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays). Check out this comparison chart of foldable bicycles that are available in Singapore.

The Park Connector Network allows you to cycle through the parks in Singapore and enjoy the greenery.

Shop Online

There are more companies providing online stores where you can do your shopping at the comfort of your home. Shopping online saves time and reduces your need to drive and travel. You can also save money if you buy in bulk and reduce impulse buying.

Park and Ride

Park & Ride (P&R) is a scheme that allows you to drive to a selected site near an MRT station, bus interchange or bus stop, park your vehicle there and continue your journey by bus or MRT. You can enjoy attractive season parking rates at designated sites as well as avoid the high parking fees in the Central Business District (CBD), and also avoid the ERP charges during peak hours. This helps to save you fuel and money, and also reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions.

Carpool and Carsharing

Carpooling is the shared use of a car between someone who has a car and those who wants to share the ride. For carpool opportunities, check out sgCarpool, Carpool.SG or Carpool King.

Carsharing allows you the freedom of using a car as and when you want it, without the worries of car ownership. You can book the car and collect it at selected locations. Check out these carsharing schemes: NTUC Income Car Coop, KahShare, and WhizzCar.

Fuel Efficient Vehicles

From 1 April 2009, registered suppliers of motor vehicles must affix a Fuel Economy Label (FEL) on the vehicles. The FEL shows the fuel consumption of the vehicle, which indicates how much fuel is needed for traveling a certain distance (L/100km, kg/100km or Wh/km). For cars with similar engine capacity, a higher fuel consumption means that the car is less fuel efficient. When you’re buying a new car, remember to look at the FEL and choose a fuel efficient car.

Green Vehicles

When buying a new vehicle, choose a green vehicle such as hybrid cars, CNG cars or electric scooters. Owners of new hybrid, electric and CNG cars will enjoy the Green Vehicle Rebate. The rebate is equivalent to 40% of the car’s Open Market Value (OMV) that can be used to offset the Additional Registration Fee (ARF) payable at registration.

Good Driving Habits

Practise these good driving habits to reduce fuel consumption:

• Plan your car trip early
• Maintain your car regularly
• Keep the tyres properly inflated
• Avoid excess weight in the boot
• Avoid sudden braking and acceleration

More tips can be found in the Singapore Environment Council’s Green Transport Guide.

Fly Less

You can make a conscious choice to fly less. Instead of flying off for a holiday, you can stay in Singapore and visit local attractions or natural habitats. Check out our local nature areas and discover the wonderful multitude of flora and fauna. You can visit wildsingapore for information on the various nature areas and the biodiversity found there.

Instead of taking the plane to visit someone overseas, you can always chat online and make a video call using Skype or Google video chat. It’s free!

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Image credit: Rail System Map via LTA; anjsand; Fuel Economy Label via NEA.

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