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Assessing the Correlation between Citizen Science and Carbon Footprint: Introduction of COMPAIR’s CO 2 Calculator

Author

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  • Athanasia Orfanou

    (Waste Management Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Greece)

  • Stergios Vakalis

    (Energy Management Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Greece)

  • Christos Karelis

    (Information Systems Laboratory, Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering, University of the Aegean, 83200 Samos, Greece)

  • Charalampos Alexopoulos

    (Information Systems Laboratory, Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering, University of the Aegean, 83200 Samos, Greece)

  • Yannis Charalabidis

    (Information Systems Laboratory, Department of Information and Communication Systems Engineering, University of the Aegean, 83200 Samos, Greece)

  • Demetris Francis Lekkas

    (Waste Management Laboratory, Department of Environment, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 81100 Mytilene, Greece)

Abstract

The citizen’s carbon footprint is affected by various factors, but mostly by electricity consumption, daily transportation, travelling habits, as well as municipal solid waste management, a critical factor that is not frequently incorporated in carbon footprint estimations. This paper proposes a new carbon footprint calculator, the Carbon Footprint Simulation Dashboard—COMPAIR’s CO 2 calculator. The CO 2 calculator employs Citizen Science (CS) information in order to assist citizens in understanding and comparing how future carbon emissions will be modified in accordance with changes in their daily routines. The calculator offers several statistics, e.g., the country’s average carbon footprint and comparisons between EU members with respect to sectors that shape it, along with several recommendations for those domains where carbon footprint is significantly higher than the desired limits. The novelty of this tool is the integration of waste management strategies as a dimension of the total CO 2 calculation. In this framework, the study presents the development of the Carbon Footprint Simulation Dashboard while two different waste management scenarios are applied with different citizen behaviours on recycling and composting. The applications highlighted the consumption in buildings that account for almost 50% of the total CO 2 emissions, while the crucial role of transportation is also a key parameter. The different waste management scenarios showed a correlation between the CO 2 footprint and the overall consumption/disposal habits of citizens. In the case of advanced recycling and composting, waste management accounted for up to 7% of the CO 2 emissions, and this highlights the significance of behavioural choices.

Suggested Citation

  • Athanasia Orfanou & Stergios Vakalis & Christos Karelis & Charalampos Alexopoulos & Yannis Charalabidis & Demetris Francis Lekkas, 2023. "Assessing the Correlation between Citizen Science and Carbon Footprint: Introduction of COMPAIR’s CO 2 Calculator," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:17:p:6228-:d:1226491
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joachim Ciers & Aleksandra Mandic & Laszlo Daniel Toth & Giel Op ’t Veld, 2018. "Carbon Footprint of Academic Air Travel: A Case Study in Switzerland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Fenner, Andriel Evandro & Kibert, Charles Joseph & Woo, Junghoon & Morque, Shirley & Razkenari, Mohamad & Hakim, Hamed & Lu, Xiaoshu, 2018. "The carbon footprint of buildings: A review of methodologies and applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 1142-1152.
    3. Mario Burgui-Burgui & Emilio Chuvieco, 2020. "Beyond Carbon Footprint Calculators. New Approaches for Linking Consumer Behaviour and Climate Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Edurne Loyarte-López & Mario Barral & Juan Carlos Morla, 2020. "Methodology for Carbon Footprint Calculation Towards Sustainable Innovation in Intangible Assets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-14, February.
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