Carbon Offset Companies

I'm using the top 5 carbon-offset Companies as listed in "G Magazine" to establish what my family's emissions are;

CLIMATE FRIENDLY

18.2 tonnes of carbon based on the use of cars, flights and power consumed at home.

CLEANER CLIMATE
A struggle to find the carbon calculator and then, after some redirections, I couldn't get it to work on my computer.... hmm

CLIMATE POSITIVE

24.72 tonnes of carbon. More complicated calculator basing it's figure on location, number of occupants, power consumption, amount of waste produced, car travel, food and flights

SOUTHERN METROPOLITAN REGIONAL COUNCIL
Link to carbon calculator did not work!

CARBON REDUCTION INSTITUTE

26.5 tonnes of carbon based on all travel, car useage, waste and power consumption. Power calculated on amount of energy used (both gas and electricity).

Setting New Goals

Over dinner with my lovely wife, celebrating my birthday on Saturday night, I was challenged to set myself five goals to be reached by my 45th Birthday. So here they are:-

1. Become a regular contributor to a publication, for example G Magazine with knowledge and advice on green issues;
2. Start a blog and get familiar with the latest social networking systems available on the internet;
3. Take the family away for a break for a week;
4. Can't remember the fourth one!
5. This one was a fitness related goal which I may change...
   

Now I know these aren't S.M.A.R.T. goals but please, let's just take this one step at a time!

A Fresh Start

Just set up my "blog" on the Blogger web site. Have barely even looked at a blog before now! Not sure how this is going to go but I do feel compelled to keep a record of my progress towards gaining ( I hope) a PH.D....

The focus will be on Environmentally Sustainable Design, which is such a broad subject I don't even know where to begin!

The most exciting part I think is that it feels good. Really good. I've been disillusioned with architecture for far too long now and I know I have to take this opportunity (yes, being made redundant is an opportunity!) to really get my juices flowing again.

I know I'll keep saying this over the next few weeks, months, years but I need to make sure Ainslie, my wife and bread winner knows how grateful I am for this opportunity.

Hopefully, over the next few days I can start the process of organising my thoughts and planning my time efficiently. I'll be back soon......