Metrics for Carbon Offsetting
You can use this page as a resource to gather metrics to carbon offset your project.
Start be writing down all the activities involved in your project, then scroll down to find and adjust numbers.
Have a look at my numbers for Fly Like A Bird here.
Pre production:
|
Option 1: |
Iphone demo 2hrs |
1kg |
|
Option 2: |
Home studio demo (4hrs) |
2kg |
Considerations: Any travel (car/flights etc) associated with writing the track? How many people travelled, how did you travel? (Travel data is further down the page.)
Recording:
|
Option 1: |
Home Studio (10hrs) |
4kg |
|
Option 2: |
Small recording studio (10hrs) |
9kg |
|
Option 3: |
Large recording studio (10hrs) |
36kg |
Considerations: Any travel (car/flights etc) associated with writing the track? How many people travelled, how did you travel?
Mixing:
|
Option 1: |
Home Studio (10hrs) |
2kg |
|
Option 2: |
Small recording studio (10hrs) |
9kg |
|
Option 3: |
Large recording studio (10hrs) |
34kg |
Considerations: If emailing versions of tracks/mixes back and forth consider how many mb/gb of data was downloaded in total too (carbon created through emails and attachments is further down the page.)
Mastering:
|
Option 1: |
Home Studio (4hrs) |
2kg |
|
Option 2: |
Small recording studio (4hrs) |
4kg |
|
Option 3: |
Large recording studio (4hrs) |
8kg |
Considerations: If emailing versions of tracks/mixes back and forth consider how many mb/gb of data was downloaded in total too – add and multiple accordingly.
Distro:
|
Option 1: |
1 song 3min, 30mb, 1000 streams
|
2kg |
|
Option 2: |
1 song, 3min, 30mb, 10,000 streams |
20kg |
Considerations: the size of the track and single artwork in mb/gb, also the more streams, the more carbon.
CDs and Vinyl
|
Option 1: |
100 cds |
140kg |
|
Option 2: |
1000 cds |
1400kg |
|
Option 3: |
100 vinyls |
120kg |
|
Option 4: |
1000 vinyls |
1200kg |
Merch:
I have made the assumption that all merch will be printed and personalised for your music/brand.
|
Option 1: |
10 Asos Tees |
120kg |
|
Option 2: |
10 Tote Bags |
30kg |
|
Option 3: |
10 Stubby Coolers |
3kg |
|
Option 4: |
10 Bucket Hats |
15kg |
|
Option 5: |
10 Camping Cups |
12kg |
| Option 6: | 10 Hoodies | 160kg |
Press Shots:
|
Option 1: |
Shoot with friends >10kms from home, 400 photos (4hrs) |
10kgs |
|
Option 2: |
Small photography studio, one photographer, >10kms from home, 1000 photos (4hrs) |
14kg |
|
Option 3: |
Large photography studio >10kms from home, 1000 pics, 2-3 pax on photography/lighting |
20kg |
Considerations: Styling – what was new, repurposed, thrifted, shipped to you? Props? Distance travelled to venue for you/photographer/team. Hair, make up.
If you can ask your photographer about the camera and equipment they use, then your findings will be more precise.
Also consider the amount of data emailed back and forth in mb/gb? This may be when viewing proofs and deciding on your final shots.
Film Clip:
|
Option 1: |
8hr shoot, one location, one videographer, 8hrs editing |
120kg |
|
Option 2: |
One videographer, one location, 3-4 people in the clip (8hrs) |
140kg |
|
Option 3: |
One videographer, three locations, 7-8 people in the clip (8hrs) |
220kg |
|
Option 4: |
3-4 in film team, three locations, 7-8 people in the clip, 8hrs editing
|
320kg |
Considerations: Styling – what was new, repurposed, thrifted, shipped to you? Props? Distance travelled to venue for you/photographer/team. Hair, make up.
If you can ask your videographer about the camera and equipment they use, then your findings will be more precise.
Also consider the amount of data emailed back and forth in mb/gb? This may be when viewing edits and deciding on your final clip.
Marketing:
No attachments (or small documents only)
|
Option 1: |
100 emails (no/small attachments) |
1kg |
|
Option 2: |
250 emails (no/small attachments) |
2kg |
|
Option 3: |
1000 emails (no/small attachments) |
8kg |
Applicable also for mixing, masters, press shot proofs and film clip versions
|
Option 1: |
Email/contact approx. 100 blogs/people |
1kg |
|
Option 2: |
Email/contact approx. 1000 blogs/people |
8kg |
|
Option 3: |
Email/contact approx. 2000 blogs/people |
16kg |
|
Option 4: |
Email/contact approx. 5000 blogs/people |
40kg |
*Calculate based on approx. email/messages sent
Considerations: the size of attachments in mb/gb provided.
Attachments and downloads:
|
Option 1: |
1mb download |
0.0019 |
|
Option 2: |
100mb download |
0.19 |
|
Option 3: |
500mb download |
0.95 |
|
Option 4: |
1000mb or 1gb download |
1.9 |
Transport:
There are so many variables when it comes to transport.
Again, tips here:
- Be kind to yourself
- Do your best to remember or rerecord transport for your project
- Round up/Overestimate
Public:
|
Option 1: |
10km Bus |
2km |
|
Option 2: |
10km Train |
1kg |
|
Option 3: |
10km Tram |
1kg |
Car:
*Based on a 5 door sedan
|
Option 1: |
10km Petrol |
5kg |
|
Option 2: |
10km Diesel |
4kg |
|
Option 3: |
10km Electric Vehicle *charged on the grid |
2kg |
Flights:
*Metrics based on a Boeing 737
|
Option 1: |
Every 100km commercial flight |
30kg |
|
Option 2: |
Every 1000km commercial flight |
300kg |
Time to put it all together:
There are so many variations that can occur when calculating a project like this. I always encourage overestimating, as the more rainforest we preserve, the better.
When you have your final number, convert it to tons.
1000kg = 1 ton
Activate Offset Mode:
Then proceed to Rainforest 4.
To offset 1 ton of carbon you need to donate $36 to Rainforest 4 – who are buying back blocks around the Daintree Rainforest, preventing deforestation and preserving old growth rainforest – which has immense benefits to our world and environment.
In addition to that they are also working with the traditional custodians of the land, reforesting blocks that have been milled or cleared in the past.
You did it!
Take a moment to celebrate offsetting your project, and make sure you post about it and spread the word. Help others to make their music greener, and more environmentally minded too!
The more detail you can have in the process the better. I would suggest you start documenting what you can, to more accurately offset your project in the future.
This is an imperfect art and science, and the numbers can shift based off a number of variables. Be kind to yourself and do your best when going through this process.
Missing anything?
If you feel I missed something essential, hit me up on the contact form here.