CarbonWise is a community programme that has emerged as a means by which Whaingaroa can reduce and off-set its current CO2 emissions, while gathering user information to tailor a local education programme that deals with assisting businesses, schools and individuals to reduce their carbon footprint. CarbonWise uses a computer to calculate carbon emissions and the number of trees required to offset these emissions.
Thanks to WEL, CarbonWise has set up 3 nurseries in local schools and kids are learning about the carbon cycle.
For classes involved, their classroom learning has included:
Learning that Carbon is in nearly all living and non-living things and comes in many different states
Learning about the basic Carbon Cycle and the function of trees/plants within it
Understanding Oil - how it is made and assessing the pros and cons of it's usage
Understanding how we are pumping too much Co2 into the air (and disrupting the Carbon Cycle)
Exploring the benefits of planting trees/plants (Carbon storage and cycle, habitats, building, restore natural and riparian areas etc)
Introducing the species of native trees that will be planted and why (e. g. historically kahikatea was the dominant local forest species).
Stage II of CarbonWise (funded by EW) is about to kick off this August with some neat initiatives with schools, our community and local businseses. Watch this space for energy saving tips, reducing waste, and getting advice on reducing your carbon footprint.
Our Carbon Calculator will be up and running soon in the centre. It is free for public use and helps you calculate the amount of carbon you produce, tips on reducing it, and how many trees you need to plant to off-set it.
Why? because the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmopshere is too high. Scientists say that the safe level is 350ppm (parts per million). We are currently at 380ppm!
