Your Carbon Footprint

Recently, a lot has been written about the environment and going green. One particular area of focus is on an individual’s carbon footprint. So what exactly is a carbon footprint? Simply put, it is a representation of the effect human activities have on the climate in terms of the total amount of greenhouse gases produced (measured in units of carbon dioxide). So, it is a measure of the impact we make individually on the earth by the choices we make regarding our lifestyles.

One’s total carbon footprint/emission quantification would include energy related emissions from human activities – that is, from heat, light, power and refrigeration and all transport related emissions from cars, freight and distribution, etc. By measuring the carbon footprint through such tools as carbon calculators, we can get a better sense of what the individual impact is and which parts of our lifestyle deserve the greatest attention.

How do you calculate your family’s carbon footprint? Here are some questions that are typically used to help determine a typical household carbon footprint:

• What part of the country do you live?
• How much square footage is your home and how many people live in your home?
• Do you use natural gas or electricity to heat your home and water?
• How many loads of laundry per week do you use you dryer for?
• Do you prepare meals on a range, stove, or oven?

You can also go to the following site to access a carbon calculator to calculate your carbon footprint. http://www.comfortableresponsible.org/carboncalculator.php.

Did you know that switching to natural gas appliances can reduce your home’s carbon footprint over 40%? It’s true. In a typical single family home in Georgia, the CO2 output for electricity is 16,663 lbs/year whereas the natural gas CO2 output is 8,852 lbs/year. Thus by using natural gas appliances, your carbon footprint can be reduced by 47% per year. That is the equivalent of driving your car 7,800 miles less in one year!

Natural gas has many advantages for our environment and lifestyles including reducing your carbon footprint. The best way to offset your carbon footprint is to plant some trees. Planting trees replenishes sustainable habitat for wildlife, enhances the natural landscape and is an excellent way to give back to the planet. And saving the planet is an initiative we can all agree on!

FireSide Natural Gas is committed to educating consumers about natural gas and the choices that they make for the environment. For more information you can contact them at 678-872-0250 or visit their website at www.FireSideNaturalGas.com.

FireSide Natural Gas & "The Commission"

Are you aware that FireSide Natural Gas is regulated by the Georgia Public Service Commission (“the commission”)?  Yep, that’s right, just about everything FireSide does is regulated.  Although we aggressively compete with other gas providers to earn your business, we are all regulated on how we market and serve you as a customer.   

All natural gas providers are required to report a host of monthly reports that relate to many facets of the business.  For example, on the 5^th of each month, we must all submit our natural gas prices to the G.P.S.C.  Within a day or two, the commission compiles a report outlining all of the prices and makes that information available to the public.  Personally, I think the spreadsheet report they use is confusing, but it’s a good starting point to see what the offers are.  If price is your only consideration, the commission takes the prices that each gas marketer submits and declares the lowest cost provider for that particular month.  The G.P.S.C. even provides a link to that provider’s website.  I am pleased to report that Fireside Natural Gas wins a coveted lowest cost provider spot more often than not!

Proving that we are financially fit to serve you is also a major component of being regulated. The commission wants to see our detailed balance sheet and income statements every quarter.  Heck, they even want to know details such as how many calls we answer and how fast we answer them.  I’m not exactly sure what they do with all of this information but I’m pleased to report that they have never doubted Fireside’s contention that we are THE best at answering your call faster than our competition.

The commission has the power to revoke the certificate of any natural gas provider for not following the rules that have been set up to protect you. As the owner of FireSide, it is my job to be sure that I continually offer the best price and invest heavily in the representatives that answer the phone in a courteous and timely manner.  If I can’t accomplish these goals, the commission won’t be the main one I’ll have to worry about……it will be you!  My Customer!

Mike@FireSideNaturalGas.com

President/Owner