1. By: GT Salamone

2.  The amount of carbon dioxide emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person or group.  The total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full lifecycle of a product or service, expressed as grams of CO2 equivalents.

3.  On average, every American is responsible for about 22 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year.  Top 10 CO2 emmisions by country # 1 United States: 5,762,050 # 2 China: 3,473,600 # 3 Russia: 1,540,360 # 4 Japan: 1,224,740 # 5 India: 1,007,980 # 6 Germany: 837,425 # 7 United Kingdom: 558,225 # 8 Canada: 521,404 # 9 Italy: 446,596  # 10 Mexico: 385,075

5. Although carbon footprints are reported in annual tons of CO 2 emissions, they actually are a measure of total greenhouse gas emissions. A greenhouse gas is any gas that traps heat in the atmosphere through the greenhouse effect. Because of the presence of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere the average temperature of the Earth is 14 ºC (57 ºF). Without the greenhouse effect, the average temperature of the atmosphere would be -19 ºC (-2.2 ºF).

6.  An individual’s carbon footprint is the direct effect their actions have on the environment in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.

7.  Turn electronics off when not in use  Turn down the central heating slightly.  Turn down the water heating setting.  Fill your dish washer and washing machine with a full load.  Do your weekly shopping in a single trip.  Hang out the washing to dry rather than tumble drying it  Fit energy saving light bulbs.  Replace your old fridge and freezer, with new ones with energy efficiency rating of "A".

8.  Car pool or use public transportation  If viable, walk or cycle  When staying in a hotel - turn the lights and air-conditioning off when you leave your hotel room.  Don't buy bottled water if your tap water is safe to drink  Buy organic produce  Recycle as much as possible

9.  http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id= 3304489n http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id= 3304489n  YouTube - How To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint YouTube - How To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

10.  Alter, Bonnie, and London. "How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint by One Ton a Year : TreeHugger." TreeHugger. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2011..  "Carbon Footprint Reduction - CBS News Video." Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News - CBS News. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2011..  "How to reduce your carbon footprint - Green Wiki." Green Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2011..  "Indices | Getting and Using Data | Climate Change | Human Development Reports (HDR) | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)." Human Development Reports (HDR) - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2011..  Jefferson, Millie, producer, and Weekend America. "15 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint | Consumed | Sustainability Coverage From American Public Media." Sustainability Coverage From American Public Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2011..  "Reducing Your Carbon Footprint - ABC News." ABCNews.com: Breaking News, Politics, World News, Good Morning America, Exclusive Interviews - ABC News. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2011..