I took a couple of quizes to check my ecological friendliness vs my ecological footprint...
The Ecological Footprint is a resource management tool that measures how much land and water area a human population requires to produce the resources it consumes and to absorb its wastes under prevailing technology.
In order to live, we consume what nature offers. Every action impacts the planet's ecosystems. This is of little concern as long as human use of resources does not exceed what the Earth can renew.
But are we taking more?"
Calculating this number can be a real eye opener. I recycle, I try to think green, we only own one car, and I personally walk to work more often than not. We try to conserve energy, keep lights off, turn the water off while we brush, remove ourselves from junkmail lists, receive our bills via email to reduce paper usage... etc, but our results shocked me.
I'll have to try harder!
visit http://www.earthday.net/footprint/ to calculate your Ecological Footprint.
Our Household results:
CATEGORY ACRES
FOOD 5.9
MOBILITY 0.2
SHELTER 2.5
GOODS/SERVICES 2.5
TOTAL FOOTPRINT 11
IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 24 ACRES PER PERSON.
WORLDWIDE, THERE EXIST 4.5 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE ACRES PER PERSON. IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 2.5 PLANETS.
So, in addition to the the things we already do, I'm going to try to do more...
~buy/use CFLs (x22)
(2/3 less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs, and last up to 10 times longer. Replacing a 60-watt incandescent with a 13-watt CFL can save you at least $30 in energy costs over the life of the bulb... So not only is this an ecologically sound choice, it's also a $660 savings in my energy bill over the lifetime of these bulbs!)
~Recycle more efficiently, repurpose more of our waste via freecycle/goodwill etc...
~Eat less meat (not thinking that's really going to happen)
~Shop at the local farmer's market (do they sell meats there?)
~Keep an eye on the thermostat, keep it a notch or two lower in winter, a notch or two higher in summer - close the blinds on south side to reduce cooling bills and energy consumption when it's hot out.
~Find more eco-friendly cleaning products (that I can live with, that vinegar friggin' stinks! Suggestions anyone?)
Help me out people, what do you do? What am I not thinking of?
I already use hand towels vs paper towels most of the time... I suppose I should stop using paper plates for dinner huh? :-| I reuse and/or recycle grocery bags (who doesn't use the grocery bags for every damn thing, right?) I'll bet there are 100 stupid-easy things I'm not thinking of...
I burn way too much gas, and while I do recycle, I'm not very diligent about it. I do the obvious stuff-- cans, bottles, glass. But I often overlook the other stuff like cardboard boxes, yogurt cups, etc. I'll have to try harder.
ReplyDeleteAs far as cleaning products go, baking soda does a decent, if not laborious job in some cases. And a lot of manufacturers are now coming out with greenline cleaners. I don't know what's in them or how ecofriendly they really are, but I suppose it's a step.
We already don't eat much meat around here- once a week maybe. I should probably focus more on buying local. Right now I'm working on hardly buying at all. Our veggie garden is small, but growing. *crossing fingers for a good crop*
Sometimes it feels hopeless trying to save the earth. For every good thing you do, there's some moron dumping his motor oil in the city sewer, or driving his 8 passenger SUV for his family of 2.
Great link. I'm going to have to really focus on this. I'm such a lighting ambiance snob, but I can turn the thermostat down, recycle more, would happily eat less meat...etc.
ReplyDeleteI like the Seventh Generation products. Noticed some of the bigger brand names are getting on board, and are less expensive.
I just hope they never say, 'Cut down on computer time,' or I'll be feeling really guilty.
Good luck!
And of course you're inspiring others to change the world for the better.
Burry your food waste, including your coffee grounds, in the garden. Turn off the vampire lights at night: Before going to sleep, look around you’ll see the little suckers, and they literally are suckers, suckers of energy. Turn those off. All natural cleaners....
ReplyDeleteDammit, Erin... I'm hungry at work, and now all I can think of is a fat juicy steak, with mushrooms and onions....scrumptious.
ReplyDeleteOh. On the real tip: Have a no-meat night. We do it. It works.
lol sorry James! Didn't mean to make you crave a steak... with mushrooms, and onions.... mmmm... now *I'm* hungry!
ReplyDeleteWe're starting a compost pile this weekend, for eggshells, coffee grounds, veggie bits and compostable kitchen waste :) But those vampire lights... We're the worst about leaving stuff on (like the TV) overnight. I just can't go to sleep without it on. But the other stuff, small appliances and stuff, I unplug them.
Gonna buy the clorox greenline cleaners this weekend, I've heard rave reviews about them.
Ange - computer time, seriously, mine is on SO much! And I'd cut out meat entirely before I could cut out my computer time!
Angie~ I bought stuff to start my own veggie garden :) I'm not so great at growing things, but I think I can manage tomatoes and such things. I'll just go to the farmer's market for the things I kill with my black thumb lol.
Erin's a big fat dumb head!
ReplyDelete* sticks his tongue out
Oh!