Measuring your household carbon footprint? There's an app for that!
A few weeks ago when I was writing about ways that households can measure and reduce their carbon footprint, I alluded to a new tool that does just that.
Now, I’m ready to tell you all about it, including how you can get your hands on it for half price at the moment.
What is The ClimateClever Initiative?
The ClimateClever Initiative is a suite of tools – available for mobile or desktop – for Schools and Homes (with Businesses to follow later this year) that was developed within the CRC for Low-Carbon Living by Dr Vanessa Rauland at Curtin University.
Back in 2012, the team worked with 15 schools in WA – to up-skill the next generation around low carbon living – to develop a student-friendly, data-driven app and complementary learning resources. It helped schools to reduce their carbon footprint, save money and teach children about sustainability.
The 15 participating schools – with a total of 8729 students – achieved total utility savings of almost $30,000, and prevented 83 tonnes of carbon emissions being released during the pilot, and the Schools app has since been rolled out nationally.
What are the three main components of the Apps?
Measure: to calculate carbon footprint, track annual emissions and compare results with others across the country;
Audit: Understand how buildings and facilities consume resources and see how they impact overall carbon footprints, including compare assets with other users; and
Action: Learn how to systematically reduce overall carbon footprint by assigning tasks, setting deadlines, implementing initiatives, monitoring progress and sharing experiences.
After the pilot concluded the program was rolled out nationally, and Vanessa left the university to found the Climate Clever startup. It will launch the Household app in late March, followed by a Business version later this year.
I met with Vanessa a few weeks ago to find out more about the app (after signing up for the Household app myself), and since then she’s commenced initiated plans for a joint project with Architects Declare: watch this space!
What is the Homes App and how can it help my architecture practice?
The new Household tool – which is currently available in prelaunch at the introductory price of just $15 for the first year – is the most simple and inexpensive way I’ve come across yet to measure your carbon footprint at home.
And given that I produced my own carbon footprint spreadsheet last month, I feel qualified to make that statement! In our meeting, Vanessa told me that although they originally started working with spreadsheets and google docs, those are NOT the way forward, and I tend to agree.
She cited factors such as the sense of being involved in a community that is pursuing similar goals; the ability to compare your current and future performance with others; and the rich trove of shared ideas and resources as some of the key benefits of using the app.
Visit www.climateclever.org to purchase the Household app in this prelaunch period, and register your interest for the Business app.