Sunday, June 29, 2008

call me bigfoot


Offspring #2 mentioned an online quiz to figure out your carbon/ecological footprint. You can take the "Ecological Footprint Quiz" here.

My results? They ain't pretty. In fact, call me Carbon Bigfoot. I am embarrassed to report that "if everyone on the planet lived my lifestyle, we would need over 6 earths". Geez. Here is the breakdown.



I guess the good news (as if there is any!) is that at least I'm at "country average" on my food footprint and a teensy bit better than average on overall carbon footprint and goods & services footprint. I'm worse than average on the housing footprint -- I'm sure because we are Empty Nesters rattling around in a too big house. (Thanks a lot, Offsprings 1&2!!!)

In any event, I am going to need to do waaaaay, waaaaay better. Actually I have been thinking about riding my bike to work at least some days. That would be good for the planet and good for exercise. (As Presbyterian Gal has been pointing out, we need to take at least small steps.)

12 comments:

David B. said...

I liked the picture, haha. I know the solution, you can sell the house and buy a fancy lakehouse powered by solar panels!

You can also pay $$ to offset your carbon footprint. Although, maybe you should wait until I'm out of college for that...

Diane M. Roth said...

I like the bike riding idea, I need to reduce my footprint, too!

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

That was interesting. We were at the five planet level. Sigh.

dust bunny said...

I just read that we should be tracking our Waterprint, too. (didya catch that tiny bit of humor there?) Try telling that to 3teens who think of the shower as a meditation room.

RPS said...

well BB, you beat me *Sigh*... but I don't think that's saying anything much about either of us!

Lori said...

I tried to take the quiz, but after the first screen she went all blank on me! Maybe I was using too much power. ha ha.

Yes, little steps so we don't freak out after one week and go back to bad habits!! Good for you, riding your bike.

Jan said...

Little steps--Yes. At least, I hang clothes outside to dry, but I'm sure that's offset by all the time the air conditioner is running! Guess I'd better go check up on myself. Thanks.

Jan said...

Very depressing--I was almost the same as you, needing 6 earths.

Terri said...

I use to always ride my bike to work....now I'd have to take a shower once I got there...and there aren't any...sigh...still, a great idea! I always felt GREAT when I did that....nice way to start and end a day...

Hot Cup Lutheran said...

i'm such a skeptic calling into question the accuracy of their assessment...

livin' in boonieville... well there aren't alot of options quiz writers. but holy cow would i have some mean lookin' calves if i rode a bike 70 miles a day (roundtrip) just to do my shut-in calls in the nearby town.... assuming you know that the semis hauling animals & the farmers towing their planters and such didn't knock me over! hee hee...

Hot Cup Lutheran said...

and let me add that i don't believe my choices in how i live should be legislated...

Processing Counselor said...

I like the bike idea, but kind of afraid to in the big city. Hooray for you!