Many people, from all viewpoints, are talking today about carbon dioxide emissions. Where do they come from? From us, of course! So now there are ways to calculate how much YOU produce, and compare that to other Americans, and others in the world. It's called figuring out your "Carbon Footprint" and can be done at the site below. It is quick and easy, asking some basic questions which you can estimate.
Now, for those who are brave, after going to the calculator site, POST BELOW WHAT YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT is and then say if you want to work to lower it or not, and why or why not. I chose this site because it is from a very longstanding and respectable group, and gives commonsense tips about how to lower your score. Here it is:
CALCULATE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
13 comments:
Well, not sure I can be proud of this, but calculator put our household above average.
Says Catherine and I crank a combined 58 tons of Co2. U.S. average is 53 and world average is 11 for a 2 person household.
The main reason is it uses the Indiana house average. I think Cat and I may be lower, since she makes us keep the temp. at like 58 in winter.
Still, she and I need to reduce our carbon footprint.
My household consists of three people and we emit a combined 83 tons of CO2 into the air each year. The average in the U.S. is 80 tons and world wide the average is 17 tons of CO2 for a household of three.
i do about 24 tons per year and the avg is 27... the carbon just keep getting pumped out...i planted a tree in fourth grade so i'm good haha
Steve F says:
Results (calculated for me only)
Emissions Comparison Tons of CO2 eq/year
11
Your Estimated Emissions
27
United States Average per Person
5.5
World Average per Person
Your estimated greenhouse gas emissions are 11 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent per year, which is below the national average in the US.
There was nothing in there about a train for transportation. With that in mind i would probably be placed in the range of average, or possily aove. I think i do not need to work on my emissions because i cannot really cange anything i do.
My individual carbon footprint is app. 29 tons of CO^2, when the national average is 27 tons, and the world wide average is 5.5 tons. I think for me it is a little skewed number because the questions are general, for example I don't do compost because I don't have a back yard and I live in a dorm so I don't always decide what the temp inside is.
I do feel guilty about my dependence on my car and the plane travel I have done since I have been in college. Unfortunately a car is a necessity. It is so hard to get along with out one. I don't drive much day to day, but driving the 500 miles between here and Rochester a few times a year really adds up. And everytime I travel by plane I look down at the earth and feel guilty about the trail of fuel my plane is raining out over the people and the environment. Like Bill McKibben says in his article that we just read, "A Deeper Shade of Green," we need to facilitate a cultural change that will make room for more efficient public transportation and local non-automotive travel like walking or biking.
I personally produce twenty-eight tons of carbon dioxide a year. It rather surprised me because I do not drive excessively or fail to recycle when I have the opportunity. To me, it is as though we can be as conscious and well-intentioned as possible in terms of making the right environmental decisions, but traveling and other areas of our lifestyle demand such high amounts of carbon dioxide to be poured into the air. Sure, I guess we could individually find ways to alter our lifestyles to where we are living in tribes without electricity or any form of transportation that emitts carbon dioxide, but it is more plausible that alternative fuels is the only way to halt the emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It would be difficult if not impossible for our lifestyles to change while the means by which we live our lifestyle (i.e. fuels) are more likely to be changed and improved.- Randy Ebright
My carbon footprint is 36. I was shocked. I have energy efficient appliances,energy saving lightbulbs and I recycle, yet I am over the average in Carbon emissions. I am interested in lowering that number and will research more ways in becoming energy efficient. D. Pickens
I have a carbon footprint of 15.4, which goes down to 11.1 when I leave out the 2 long flights I took this year to Peru and back. Since I already drive a ULEV, recycle, use high efficiency appliances, and buy organic food, I'd have to become a vegetarian, start composting and driving less to lower my number. I am doing my best to ride my bike to school, but come winter that's a sacrifice I don't think even I, thinks-gas-should-cost-$5/gallon-girl, am willing to make.
I was amazed to see that my carbon footprint was 34 when the average is 27 in the U.S. I am pretty good about recyclying, and using energy efficient appliances but it still showed that i was over the average house hold energy usage by almost 25 percent. The one thing that i was surprised by is that I was nearly 20 percent below the average in driving and flying. G. Davidson
My carbon footprint is 36, which is above the US average of 27. I figured that my number would be higher than average due to my frequent travel. I would be around the average level if the airplane had never been invented. Guess I will have to wait for a low emissions airplane. I do everything that my limited student income allows for the environment. Make it affordable and I will do it. Make it expensive and you might as well forget about it.
My Carbon Footprint is 36 tons of Carbon Emissions! The national average person is 27 and global is 5.5. I really don't know too much about ways to preserve energy, my parents do most of the household preserving, although we do recycle everything that is recycable and we unplug all of our appliances when they are not in use. -Nichole Molnar
Oh, I also believe that my number is extremely high because of my trip to Ghana. I flew 4 long trips there and back, therefore that contributed to a lot. I think that the only way, as of now, that I can reduce my footprint number is to try to drive less. I do drive a LOT, I'm sure there are ways to prevent my mileage. -Nichole Molnar
Post a Comment