Check your Eco Footprint

arkonite_babe · 31 July 2006 at 6:10PM

If you have ever wondered how many natural resources your lifestyle uses up, here's a helpful site to help you check.

www.myfootprint.org

It only takes a few minutes to do, took me about 10 minutes, but what about the results?? :eek:

I shall leave you all to see how many planets you would need to live on according to your current lifestyle, it's quite surprising and actually a bit scary.

a_b

Beki · 14 February 2009 at 12:59AM

How many planets would you need, if everyone on the earth lived the same as you?

http://www.myfootprint.org/

(scroll down to the bottom and you'll see 'take the quiz' in tiny grey letters :rolleyes: )

As i live now, i'd need 2.47 earths :eek:

As i'd *like* to live, i'd need 1.27

ceridwen · 14 February 2009 at 1:56PM

Well - I've just done this quiz and it rather confirmed what the World Wildlife Fund one told me before - I'd need 2.17 planets. I dont even fly and nor do I have a car (so my only car usage is the odd lift with someone I know or a taxi journey).

Do you think I'm allowed to cut that in half - because I havent had the "replacement person" for me - ie one of the two children I would have had if I had wanted children?

I have read with concern the extract from James Lovelock's latest book and he basically says that we should have 1 billion people - we have 8 billion people - we are now all doomed whatever we do:eek: - and I dont know what to think and how to reconcile that with the fact that he apparently has 8 children himself (do you think he didnt find out that there are WAY too many of us until AFTER he had had those 8 children perhaps?) - or is he sitting in 1 big "greenhouse" with a stone in his hand?

Right now - people might like to read:

http://gpso.wordpress.com/

as THE single biggest thing we can do to reduce our carbon footprint is to stop contributing to overpopulation (ie to not have more than 2 children).

I'm thinking "no wonder predictions for the future of our Planet tend to include a much smaller population than we have at present".

<thinks....I'll put my crash helmet on now - before I come under attack by all those people who tell themselves that they are entitled to have however many children they want regardless of overpopulation>

Fire_Fox · 14 February 2009 at 3:21PM

2.33 earths!! :eek:

I don't run a car, never travel by aeroplane, no tumble dryer, frugal with water and electricity, green tariff tho not green company, eco-friendly cleaning products, no carrier bags, recycle even tho we have no doorstep collection, 'good gifts' at xmas, charity shop everything unwanted ....

I thought there were a lot of unfair questions - a lot of things I have no control over as a flat/ city dweller. No garden, no farmers' market, no option to install solar panels, insulate better or collect grey water etc. I used to buy a lot of organic stuff but just can't afford to anymore, and I am don't often shop ethically for the same reason.

Last time I did a similar questionnaire I came out well above average. I think it was this one
http://www.biggreenswitch.co.uk/green_projects/calculate-your-carbon-footprint
I really should make more effort to buy British, and get on with switching to lower energy halogens. Other than that I don't feel there is much I improve upon without it being very expensive or totally impractical.

moonrakerz · 14 February 2009 at 4:41PM

ceridwen wrote: »

THE single biggest thing we can do to reduce our carbon footprint is to stop contributing to overpopulation (ie to not have more than 2 children).

I'm thinking "no wonder predictions for the future of our Planet tend to include a much smaller population than we have at present".

Careful, you'll have the Pope after you !

A_fiend_for_life · 14 February 2009 at 11:02PM

1.5 just because I took a coach journey. Otherwise 1.13. I'll give it one more chance otherwise I'm gonna buy myself a Cessna.

The test could do with annual energy consumption I think.

greenbee · 15 February 2009 at 12:15PM

1.87... which given that I commute 37 miles to work and 37 miles back pretty much every day and live on my own isn't too bad! If I could only find a job within walking distance then the rest of the changes might also be realistic!

Fiend - I agree about the energy consumption. There's such a huge difference between what different people use.

Ken68 · 15 February 2009 at 3:36PM

1.51, can hardly get less, unless I bike instead of bus.
As said, energy consumption in kwh needs to be taken into account.

ceridwen · 15 February 2009 at 4:06PM

moonrakerz wrote: »

Careful, you'll have the Pope after you !

ahh....but then he's single anyways.....I think my reply would be along t'lines of the Dalai Lama agrees we're over-populated and need to do something about it.....and I rather thought there's a strong trend in Christianity to think in terms of "stewardship of the Earth".:D

Purple_Sparkles · 16 February 2009 at 12:22AM

1.47 and I've a small car! I'm still shocked at the result as I thought I was a pretty green person (no not a gorgeous female alien).

I agree that overpopulation has a huge impact on the earth and it's resources but still too many people ignore the plight of the planet that is our home and I wonder if the planet will be able to survive.

Hawthorn · 16 February 2009 at 2:20AM

2.2 earths - there are six of us, and what is scary is that we are WAY lower on most things than the national average.

Check your Eco Footprint

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