Overview of Footprints and Relations between Carbon and Nitrogen Footprints

摘要

This contribution provides an overview of the variety of footprints. The distinction isrnassessed between indicators of environmental impacts and footprints. Definitions andrnreviews of generally accepted as well as new footprints are provided. Emphasis is givenrntowards an adversarial relationship between carbon and nitrogen footprints. Biomassrnenergy production is an example where carbon footprint can be significantly reduced,rnhowever this is closely linked to an enlarged nitrogen cycle. A case study of domesticrnwood combustion is used to demonstrate the relation between those footprints whererndifferent energy sources (natural gas, coal and fuel oil) are supplemented by biomassrncombustion. The results prove that the carbon footprint from domestic woodrncombustion is almost carbon neutral, whilst the nitrogen footprint is ~ 50 % higherrncompared with coal burning.