A Carbon Footprint can be defined as an individual, organization, or country’s total Carbon Dioxide and Greenhouse gases emissions at a give length of time, (day, year or lifetime).
One’s Carbon Footprint is determined by direct or indirect sources, either by energy consumption as electricity use or transportation use. This includes products in our every day lives, (plastics, food, etc.) that has been imported from another state or country. These emissions accumulate in the atmosphere, contributing to global climate change, resource depletion, and more.
Individuals, businesses and organizations, communities and nations at large, can reduce their Carbon Footprint in a number of ways, whether by being becoming energy efficient, by carbon offsetting, or by following the international environmental standards.
In Fall 2008, as part of a discussion on Energy and Society, I was prompted to calculate my Carbon Footprint via the Center for Sustainable Economy’s Ecologoical Footprint Quiz. In 2008, I was a student at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay and I lived in a small one bedroom apartment, above the coffee shop where I worked, with my boyfriend, Jake. I did not have a car and used public transportation or car-pooled. I shopped locally, attended local initiatives and volunteered for local organizations. And I had a rooftop garden to boot.
Organized by the Center for Sustainable Economy, the Ecological Footprint Quiz leads the reader through a series of questions, beginning with what country the individual resides in, climate-type, energy sources, travel, etc.
Here were my 2008 Ecological Footprint Quiz results:
If everyone on the planet lived my lifestyle, we would need: 2.21 Earths.
In terms of my footprint in global acres by consumption category:
Carbon 30.9 acres (60.5 acres below national average)
Food 41.4 acres (24.3 acres below national average)
Housing 3.9 acres (27.7 acres below national average)
Goods & Services 9.5 acres (48.2 acres below national average)
My Ecological Footprint Total Score = 85.66 (160.75 acres below national average)
My Ecological Footprint Quiz results, 3 years later:
We would need 3.62 Earths if everyone on the planet lived my lifestyle.
My footprint in global acres by consumption:
Carbon 67.88 (23.55 acres below national average; personal increase: 36.98 acres)
Food 65.29 (00.45 acres below national average; personal increase: 23.89 acres)
Housing 4.04 (27.54 acres below national average; personal increase: 00.14 acres)
Goods & Services 3.12 (54.54 acres below national average; personal decrease: 0.14 acres)
My Ecological Footprint Total Score = 140.33 (106.08 acres below national average; personal increase: 54.67 acres)
What’s changed? A Chevorelt/Geo Prizm with which I commute to work with a solitary car-pooler. I don’t live alone and have relocated to a “newer” building, above another coffee shop with Jake. I regularly shop at a local grocery store, but rarely shop for locally-grown, or organic items, (unless it’s Farmer’s Market season).
So, what can I do? I can attempt to be more energy efficient (beyond just turning off lights and power-strips) and I can eat more locally grown and organic items (which my waist line will be happier for), for starters.
What’s your Ecological Footprint? What can you do?
