Chapter 1: My Ecological Footprint
Posted by: owleyes333 / Category: Ch1, Ecological Footprint, Environmental Science BIO 36You want to know something depressing?
According to our textbook, Environmental Science by G. Tyler Miller and Scott E. Spoolman, “In many parts of the world, potentially renewable forests are shrinking, deserts are expanding, soils are eroding, and agricultural lands are being replaced by suburban developments.” (10) If that is not bad enough, they continue to mention that “the lower atmosphere is warming, glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, and floods, droughts, and forest fires are increasing.” (10). If you do not believe this, take a look at the news. It will only take a second if you Google it. (Depending on how fast your router is).
According to our textbook, Environmental Science by G. Tyler Miller and Scott E. Spoolman, “In many parts of the world, potentially renewable forests are shrinking, deserts are expanding, soils are eroding, and agricultural lands are being replaced by suburban developments.” (10) If that is not bad enough, they continue to mention that “the lower atmosphere is warming, glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, and floods, droughts, and forest fires are increasing.” (10). If you do not believe this, take a look at the news. It will only take a second if you Google it. (Depending on how fast your router is).
Now, do you want to DO something depressing?
Check your ecological footprint. Today I discovered that if everyone on planet Earth lived as I did, it would take 5.05 Earths to sustain us. And I thought I was already living pretty well? Yeah, right. I have a lot to change. According to myfootprint.org, my current lifestyle produces the following results:
Check your ecological footprint. Today I discovered that if everyone on planet Earth lived as I did, it would take 5.05 Earths to sustain us. And I thought I was already living pretty well? Yeah, right. I have a lot to change. According to myfootprint.org, my current lifestyle produces the following results:
Carbon Footprint: 72.07
Food Footprint: 66.77
Housing Footprint: 22.38
Goods & Services Footprint: 34.86
Good news is, compared to the country I live in, my footprint is much less - except for in the food footprint section. I’m a vegetarian with a heavy sweet tooth - what I lose in meat I make up for in chocolate. I’m American, what else can I say?
All in all, my total ecological footprint is 196.08.
So what does my ecological footprint and the destruction of this earth have in common? Everything. My ecological footprint contributes to this problem of unsustainability spoken about in Chapter One. And so does yours. So does your mother’s, your brother’s, your sister’s, your father’s, your aunt’s, your uncle’s... heck, even your grandparents and probably even your dog or cat. Anything and everything anyone does has a consequence.
So what do we do about it?
1. Calculate your ecological footprint on myfootprint.org.
2. Follow the guidelines presented to you (after your quiz) to help reduce each aspect of your ecological footprint (carbon, food, housing, and goods & services).
3. Finally, try not to be as depressed about it as I am. Positive energy helps (or so I’m told).
Now, if you are like me, you are probably wondering "How am I ever going to undo what I screwed up?" Answer? "Try." Just try to change. At least you still have time to do something. And here are...
A few ideas to help reduce your footprint.
To reduce your carbon footprint, try using cleaner transportation means such as bicycling or taking the bus. I know that taking the bus can be a bit of a pain sometimes because of all the people (and smells) that accompany each bus ride, but if you are not going to far, its a nice way to save some gas (and some money).
To reduce your food footprint, try to eat more local, organic, or in-season foods. I know these prices can be a bit more expensive at times, but if you and others purchase enough, the price will lower. Plus, these foods are so much more healthy.
To reduce your housing footprint, try to keep a herb garden which you can grow with your own compost creation. It may sound like a bit of work, but the payoff is great. You could also try purchasing and using things which are biodegradable, non-toxic, and efficient. Start with switching your light bulbs. That's always an easy step.
To reduce your goods and services footprint, just try to buy less. Get your money's worth out of everything you use, and wait to purchase a new product until you really need it.
These are just a few examples.
Check the following websites to find out more!