Footprint with consequences

The debate about CO₂ has centered around the term "carbon footprint" for some time. Axpo has introduced a new service to help businesses identify, reduce or even neutralize their carbon footprints.

The carbon footprint is the volume of CO₂ or greenhouse gases that a business or person emits a year, i.e. discharges into the environment.

Businesses seek to reduce CO₂

Scientists believe that the world's climate can only support annual CO₂ emissions of about one tonne per person. Higher emissions would probably result in dramatic changes.

At present, each and every person in Switzerland has an average carbon footprint of six tonnes a year, which is far too big.

In order to reach the targets agreed in the Kyoto Protocol for reducing emissions throughout Switzerland, central government has entered into binding target agreements with 300 major industrial companies to reduce CO₂ emissions. Many other businesses and local authorities are seeking to reduce their CO₂ emissions voluntarily.

To count on the long-term goodwill of customers, businesses will have to have an immaculate energy balance sheet. Climate protection also offers a host of commercial opportunities. Consequently, reducing emissions will be of central importance in the future.

Identify, reduce, neutralize

Axpo assists businesses and local authorities with the setup and implementation of a comprehensive climate protection strategy. The CO₂ service comprises three steps with appropriate products.

Identification: Axpo helps its customers to identify their carbon footprint. This enables to customer to tell where its CO₂ emissions are highest and where it should ideally concentrate on lowering its emissions.

Reduction: In a second phase, Axpo helps its customers to reduce their CO₂ emissions using their own resources. This may take the form of measures to increase energy efficiency, as well as the switch to district heating which is generated CO₂-neutrally, biofuels, natural electricity products or by optimizing the systems installed in their buildings.

Neutralization: Axpo offers its customers the option of neutralizing any remaining emissions, which cannot be reduced in an economically feasible way, by means of high-quality emission credits from Switzerland and abroad. At the same time, Axpo assists its customers in publicizing their newly acquired carbon-neutral status.