Nine carbon-busting households started the Great Climate Challenge Wednesday during a launch meeting in a private home off Herd Road.

Under the guidance of Guy Dauncey, president of the B.C. Sustainable Energy Association, the Cowichan Carbon Busters will meet Mondays to compare notes about their progress in Dauncey’s 10-step path toward carbon footprint reduction.

Wednesday saw Busters compare their lifestyle’s current carbon footprint.

This week’s homework sees each household calculate its annual carbon footprint contributing to global warming.

Scientists report the average Canadian produces 20 tonnes of CO2 annually.

The Busters aim, to reduce their load through Dauncey’s challenge in hopes other Cowichanians take up the challenge.

He doubts any of the Busters – whose results will be part of his upcoming book about a post-carbon world – will reach a zero footprint but it’s a start.

“A meat-eater on a bicycle has much less of a carbon footprint than a vegetarian in a car,” he said.

Other Busters not present Wednesday include Diana Hardacker, Don Maroc, Wanda Miller, Val Galvin, Arthur Caldicott, Brian Roberts, Don McWatt, Jim van Barneveld, Tom Farnsworth, John Wilson, Lorna Medd, John Scull, and John Hutton,

To calculate your own carbon footprint visit http://calc.zerofootprint.net/calculators/.

Cowichan Carbon Busters compared their current lifestyles, ways their households are already addressing carbon output, and personal carbon wasters they hope to fix through the carbon challenge.

John and Susan Smith, Duncan: retired, no lawn, woodstove and gas heat, no pets. Sin: 1988 GMC van conversion Saviour: new Toyota Matrix and R2000 home

Peter Nix and Margaret Woodfall, North Cowichan: eight acres, two kids, renters. Sin: overseas travel by plane. Saviour: greenhouse, radiant floor heat

Kathleen da Rosa, Chemainus: single, renter, fluorescent light bulbs, organic food and meat eater, new Hyundai Accent. Sin: some holiday flying. Saviour: walking to work

Mark and Rebecca Hazell, Maple Bay: adult child at home, electric furnace, woodstove, hybrid Honda Accord. Sin: 3,000-square-foot home Saviour: reducing their lawn and growing some food

Kathy Wachs and Dr. Tom Farnsworth, Chemainus: three acres in fruit trees and forest, home-based dental practice going to green methods, heat pump, wood stove. Sin: Big American car Saviour: using train rather than flying

Lynn Wytenbroek, Cobble Hill: teacher, rents home with big lawn to cut, no garden, legume allergies but eats organic meats, woodstove Sin: flying. Saviour: biodiesel Smart Car

Katie Harris and Aaron Bichard, downtown Duncan: media workers, strata apartment, mostly vegetarian, garden plot in community garden. Sin: two cars. Saviour: heavy composting, recycling, walking and biking

Jon Lefebure, Chemainus: North Cowichan mayor, two kids, three cats, eco-renovating old home, meat eater, no lawn, Prius and Yaris cars. Sin: “fuel hog” pick-up truck. Saviour: eco-conscious wife Marlene

Tom Masters, Chemainus: author, one cat, gas fireplace, florescent bulbs, many electric appliances. Sin: 2,600-square-foot home. Saviour: compulsive electric bill watcher

The Cowichan Carbon Busters will post a weekly blog update about their progress on the News Leader Pictorial’s website.

Readers can see how locally committed carbon fighters are faring and glean ideas about how to reduce their own carbon footprint.

Log on to the Lifestyles tab at www.cowichannewsleader.com.