Adaptations Funded by the RFU’s Injured Players’ Fund
Great news, just heard from Tim Bonnett of the RFU’s IPF (Injured Players’ Fund) that the Trustees have agreed to fund the cost of adapting disabled facilities for the vehicle up to the value of £10000. This includes a provision for mobility aids too. This will help to keep our outlay broadly in line with that of able-bodied purchasers.
My thanks as ever goes to this much appreciated charity. It means a lot to know that people still care enough to contribute to one’s wellbeing some 23 years after my accident. In that respect the funding is worth far more than ‘just’ money! Rugby is a great fraternity.
Green, Carbon and Footprints
As this is a quiet month with little to report, I thought it opportune to consider some of the real costs of this trip……..
 |
|
|
| Your Footprint |
Country Average |
World Target |
|---|
Your Carbon Footprint:
| 2.10 tonnes of CO2 | |
| 3.32 tonnes of CO2 | |
| 2.93 tonnes of CO2 | |
| 0.00 tonnes of CO2 | |
| 0.00 tonnes of CO2 | |
| 3.27 tonnes of CO2 |
Total = 11.63 tonnes of CO2
I have visited and completed a few online ‘Green/Carbon footprint calculators’. Pretty consistently, based on current behaviour, I (we) am coming out at about 12 tonnes per year, three and a bit of which was a long haul flight to/from Cape Town earlier this year. According to the WWF that equates to 2.63 planets being available. According to http://www.carbonfootprint.com ….
So if we don’t fly we are ‘below average’ it seems (8.3 tonnes), but still way above the world average and 400% above what’s needed to combat climate change.
We have made changes, for example we don’t drive locally any more. I either take my electric scooter or hybrid handcycle into work (and have done for a few years now). Rachel walks or cycles. We have reduced the number of miles driven (in a 2.5 litre diesel VW Transporter) to less than 7000 a year. I liked to think that this was pretty good for a guy who doesn’t walk – but clearly there is more to do. Certainly flights need careful consideration. Currently our planned trip will involve a one way!
Land Rover include a point of sale carbon offset that enables customers to offset their own emissions for 45,000 miles. In theory this ‘offsets’ our trip handsomely (estimated at 17000 miles) – although the Azalai conversion carbon costs and build are not included. That said,one can’t ignore the paradox here – and I hope that we will continue to strive to reduce our impact.
So not justification exactly, but a santimonious pricking of the collective concience (yes the paradox being it looks like yours as well as mine!). And I guess that’s the main (albeit remotely) positive argument that I can lay down – that doing this trip could raise people’s awareness of green issues…..
Anyone remember Alf Garnett’s ”Smoking for Britain’ rant? The logic here is not much better I’m afraid.
For the year of the trip (so including home and away time) we can each estimate
| 1.59 tonnes of CO2 | |
| 1.66 tonnes of CO2 | |
| 10.77 tonnes of CO2 | |
| 0.00 tonnes of CO2 | |
| 0.00 tonnes of CO2 | |
| 2.29 tonnes of CO2 |
Total = 16.32 tonnes of CO2
Although the ‘car’ footprint will be between us so nearer 11 tonnes total each.
Azalai balance and VAT
We have paid the balance on the Azalai conversion, so we are now ‘just’ outstanding on the vehicle and a few other details (ICE, seating, and the disabled adaptations). We were mindful of VAT returning to 17.5% at midnight New Year’s Eve. So technically, we now own the arse end of a camper van!
It is with some trepidation that we await the first loan repayment later this month.