AFL

When it comes to AFL you're probably used to taking a mark, but now TEN, AFL Films and Origin are making a mark with AFL coverage in 2008.

In a first for the AFL, Network Ten and AFL Films, the producers of TEN's AFL coverage, in conjunction with Origin, are offsetting the carbon emissions from the production of the 2008 AFL games broadcast by TEN.

Read the FAQs below to find out more about what we are doing, and what you can do at home.

FAQ

What is global warming?

A.K.A the green house effect. Naturally occurring greenhouse gases - such as carbon dioxide and methane - act like a blanket around the earth. Energy from the sun passes through the atmosphere where it reaches the earth's surface and is converted into heat energy and re-radiated towards space. Some of this heat energy is prevented from escaping by greenhouse gases, which trap the heat in the atmosphere ensuring that the earth’s surface remains warm. This is a natural process - without these gases temperatures would plummet and most life forms would die.

However, every time we use energy - whether it be driving a car or turning on the lights - we increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The problem is we're creating more greenhouse gases than the planet can naturally absorb. The result is a rapid increase in the earth's temperature resulting in global warming, which in turn causes climate change.

Climate change describes changes to the world's weather patterns and environment resulting from the increase in the Earth's average temperature. Some examples of climate change include increased intensity of storms, rising sea levels, warmer oceans, and more frequent and severe droughts.

What is a carbon footprint?

It's got nothing to do with shoe size. A carbon footprint is a way of measuring how much carbon dioxide is emitted by an activity. Anything which burns fossil fuels like driving a car, flying in an airplane or using electricity contributes to greenhouse gas emissions by releasing CO2 into the atmosphere.

How did we measure the carbon footprint for AFL production?

First, we called in the experts. An Origin carbon specialist conducted an audit of our AFL production. The audit identified the different stages of production, how much energy and fuel were used at those stages, and then converted the energy and fuel into the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide.

What is the carbon footprint for our AFL production?

The carbon footprint from our AFL production is 628 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalents. This includes:

- Energy used by outside broadcast vans at each game. Outside broadcast vans are like portable studios which are located at the AFL ground on game day.
- Fuel used by the outside broadcast vans
- Power consumed by our Melbourne and Sydney stations during the production of AFL games, and television programs Before The Game and The Fifth Quarter.
- Air travel to interstate games for our crew and commentators
- The transmission of the broadcast signals in each of the five states we operate in for the duration of the games.
- One year's car travel by the commentary team

The footprint covers forty-four games in the minor round, and four finals.

These estimates generally err on the side of caution - for example, the power output for the stations is the entire output for the hours that the AFL games are in production, even though there are other activities, occurring at the same time, such as news production, going on that are also responsible for consuming power. We have also allowed a 5% variance to cover additional sources of emissions.

What are carbon offsets?

Offsets are created by projects that reduce, avoid or remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere - thereby reducing an organisation's overall impact on the environment. Examples of carbon offsets includes planting trees, building renewable energy sources or a landfill gas project that traps and uses the methane gas caused by decomposing waste.

How are we offsetting our emissions?

TEN has purchased carbon offsets sourced from Renewable Energy Certificates (RECS) through Origin's Carbon Reduction Scheme ^TM. Each certificate is equivalent to one megawatt hour of additional and renewable power added to the national electricity grid.

The REC projects supported by Origin are:
- Codrington Wind Farm
- Challicum Hills Wind Farm
- Emu Downs Wind Farm
- Queen Victoria Markets Solar Installation
- Browns Plain Landfill Gas

What is renewable energy?

Renewable energy is derived from the wind, the sun, the tides and other sources that, for all practical purposes, cannot be depleted, unlike fossil fuels.

How will climate change effect Australia?

Average temperatures on earth have warmed by about 0.76 of a degree Celsius over the last 100 years, with most of this warming occurring in the past 20 years. As climate change begins to take hold Australia can expect hotter days, more intense storms, more frequent and severe droughts in the south of the country, greater fire risks, and higher sea levels - all of which threatens plant and animal ecosystems, industries and jobs, agricultural and our fresh water supplies.

To find out what climate change means for your area, visit the Federal Government's Climate Change in Australia website and click on the interactive map.