My Footprint

Carbon Footprint TM

On average, if everyone were like me, we would need 5 Earths! Absurd?  Not really.  If everyone in the world had the lifestyle of the typical American, we would need 7 Earths.  These estimates are based off of my calculated ecological and my carbon footprints. The ecological footprint calculation measures the amount of land and water it takes to provide and replenish our ecological resources and services. The results are shown in acres (in the U.S.).  For example one of the calculators I used showed that if everyone in the world lived my lifestyle it would take 22.9 acres or 7.5 Earths to sustain everyone.

The carbon footprint calculation isn’t as all-inclusive.  It only accounts for greenhouse gas emissions—our direct use of fossil fuels for things such as gasoline, and our indirect use of fossil fuels to manufacture, transport, and dispose (lifecycle) of products we buy. The carbon footprint calculator provides results measured in tons of CO2.

I calculated my ecological footprint using four calculators and my carbon footprint using four different calculators, all of which showed disappointing results.  I'm a wasteful person who drives too much and eats too much meat. In all but one calculation, I was below the American average, which is not saying much since Americans typically have a footprint that is more than double the global average.  Generally speaking, each calculator asked similar questions--they differed in the level of specificity required in my answers and how my answers were calculated.  I was able to find trends in the calculations which I will talk about in a short overview of my results below.  (Details about each calculator are provided at the bottom of my blog)

TODAi--my favorite Asian buffet

The ecological footprint results showed that I need to improve in the areas of food, i.e., I need to buy local, organic, and eat out less, and services, i.e., I need to find sources of entertainment that require less natural resources, like going for a walk instead of going to Target to binge shop.
The carbon footprint calculations showed that I need to decrease the amount of traveling that requires a lot of fossil fuels, i.e., visit my family in Pennsylvania less and bike to work more.  My average score was 21.  Which is nothing to write home about...although I do have to mention that the results of one calculator was very different from the others, which skewed my average.

Stuck in traffic on I-70

Now that the reasons for my guilt have become a reality and have been clearly displayed on my computer screen, it's time for me to make some changes.  Based on these results I'll tackle food first, then services, then transportation. Next week, I'll write about the changes I've made to my food-shopping habits, and how much the changes affect my ecological and carbon footprints.