www.chechurubiera.info - an online magazine for fans of Chechu Rubiera
MEASURING CARBON
We've chosen Carbon Offset Scotland for our flight calculations, and have assumed that Chechu flies business class. One Million Acts of Green provides the numbers for our own reductions.
There are many carbon calculators available. We've tested a few using test data and results can vary greatly. Our figures depend on the veracity of these calculators.
Some carbon savings take place every day or every month. We've used culmulative figures from the calculators and pro-rated them monthly or weekly, as appropriate. It's not perfect, indeed we know it's simplistic. But we hope it highlights the CO2 cost of global sporting events. It's a cost that's currently ignored. It's a cost that - maybe - we can't afford.
We welcome your comments.
CYCLING IS GREEN, ISN'T IT?
Photograph © Laura Alber, cyclingfans.com
Cycling is already the greenest form of transport, isn't it?
If you ride your bike to work, it is. If you train on two wheels, or head off into the country for a Sunday cycle, of course it is.
But elite pro-cycle racing ... that's not environmentally-friendly. Not at all. There are long journeys by air and road. Then on race days, the motorised caravan can be HUGE, particularly at Grand Tours. Dozens of vehicles - motorbikes, cars, vans, even helicopters - roar past at speed. Then you get the muscle-powered green peloton. Then more cars, more motos. Normal traffic is backed-up, tempers are fraying. It's loud, noisy and smelly.
And bloomin' exciting! We love it.
Instead of bemoaning this complex issue, we're going to do something simple to raise awareness.
We will offset - as much as possible - Chechu Rubiera's air travel to and from races in 2009 by making simple changes to our lives every day.
By reducing our own carbon footprint for Chechu, we hope to learn more - in a small way - about the impact of this beautiful sport on our treasured planet.
JANUARY
In January 2009, Chechu flew to Adelaide, Australia for Tour Down Under. The carbon cost of return flights from Asturias to Adelaide is 7,786.2kg.
We took these actions to offset Chechu's flights :
320kg two trees planted at Balmuick, central Scotland; 200kg by changing to A++ rated washing machine;
350kg electricity cost monitor installed;
150kg composting;
800kg air-dryed clothes twice a week;
200kg we eat vegetarian;
310kg recycled paper and card, bottles, cans;
120kg recycled clothes;
12kg recycling the Christmas tree;
5kg for paperless banking;
1kg painted with low VOC paint at home;
1kg used non toxic cleaning products;
1kg said no to plastic bags;
50kg pumped up tyres;
666kg turned off computer.
Total : 3,336kg
Deficit for January : 4,450.2kg
More thoughts :
Chechu's Team Astana required 16 team members in South Australia. There were 18 teams travelled from Europe or USA. Assuming they have similar staffing, nearly 300 cyclists and support staff took long haul flights to Oz.
Add the international media and photographers, team sponsors and manufacturers, and cycling's officials. Not to mention the fans.
Australia is suffering the worst drought in 1000 years, attributed to climate change. Although it has been raining in South Australia this April, the water crisis is said to be crippling agriculture, environment, economy and culture.
FEBRUARY
Chechu travelled to the USA to take part in the Tour of California. The offset cost of return flights from Asturias to San Francisco is 4,135kg.
We took these actions to offset Chechu's flights :
250kg switched to washing clothes at 30C;
250kg turned off car engine whilst stopped;
1500kg replaced 20-year old boiler with energy-efficient condensing boiler (cost £3000);
150kg composting;
800kg air-dryed clothes twice a week;
200kg we eat vegetarian;
310kg recycled paper and card, bottles, cans;
5kg for paperless banking;
1kg used non toxic cleaning products;
1kg said no to plastic bags;
666kg turned off computer;
775kg turned off lights when not in use;
76kg took the bus.
Total : 4,984kg
Deficit for Jan/Feb : 3601.2kg
MARCH / APRIL
Chechu raced in northern Spain, and so no flights were required.
We took these actions to offset Chechu's previous flights :
150kg composting;
800kg air-dryed clothes twice a week;
200kg we eat vegetarian;
310kg recycled paper and card, bottles, cans;
5kg for paperless banking;
1kg used non toxic cleaning products;
1kg said no to plastic bags;
666kg turned off computer;
775kg turned off lights when not in use;
76kg took the bus.
Total : 2,984kg
Deficit to end April : 617.2kg