Carbon-info.org, a Hampshire based environment organisation, has launched the UK’s first Carbon Footprint Management System aimed at households and individuals actively looking to manage their carbon emissions as well as reducing monthly outgoings.

Based on an official emissions model developed by the National Statistics Office, the Carbon Footprint Management System enables anyone with a personal computer to measure, manage and reduce their personal carbon emissions over a period of months.

Compared to existing online carbon footprint calculators, the Carbon-info.org’s software sets a new standard as it allows individuals to actively manage their carbon emissions rather than just calculating them, which has limited environmental value.

Similar to basic online carbon footprint calculators, the Carbon footprint Management System will accurately compute carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from a range of direct and indirect sources such as energy and transport. In addition, the Carbon Footprint Management System also calculates fixed and lifestyle emissions. By including all emissions groups the application sets itself apart from online calculators, which tend to exclude fixed and lifestyle emissions or base this type of emissions on national averages.

“We wanted to create an accurate and personal emission figure based on individual’s actual energy usage and lifestyle rather than turning everyone into Mr & Mrs Average, which many online calculators prefer to do, because a personal approach is more likely to make individuals want to reduce their emissions,” said Carbon-info.org’s Chairman Flemming Bermann.

By including all emissions groups it is possible to accurately estimate the financial cost associated with the calculated emissions. Based on the European carbon price, the application highlights the annual cost households would have to pay, if they were to purchase carbon permits to cover their CO2 emissions.

A unique ‘Carbon Metering’ feature makes it possible to monitor carbon emissions over long periods of time and to establish if CO2 emissions are being reduced or going up. Carbon metering is achieved by saving emission figures for a specific period into a physical file. A unique Comparison Module within the Carbon Footprint Management System allows for up to four carbon calculations files and annual expenditure be compared at the same time.

The application also features an Action Plan module. The module is designed to help users write an effective carbon emissions reduction plan. Based on the effort an individual is willing or able to put into reducing their CO2 emissions, the Action Plan module suggests appropriate carbon saving actions. The complete action plan can be saved into a file, as a reminder of what the household needs to focus on to reduce emissions and monthly outgoings.

To ensure that the Carbon Footprint Management System remains accurate, users can trough a simple interface adjust the underlying emission model in line with changes in the physical world. No other Carbon Management Systems provides this level of transparency or can guarantee that the model will remain accurate for years to come.

While aimed at adult users, the software can also be utilised by parents who want to educate their children about the causes of global warming or as an effective learning tool in primary and secondary education.

The easy-to-operate application runs on a standard Windows operated PC, costs just £9.50 incl. VAT per license and can be downloaded directly from Carbon-info.org’s web-site:

http://www.carbon-info.org/green_software/software_002.htm