1. Patricia Bond Tuesday,22-June,2010
My Ecological Footprint - Quiz Results
If everyone on the planet lived my lifestyle, we would need:
= 3.43 Earths
Reduce your footprint
There are many simple ways to reduce the footprint you leave on the planet. Learn how to reduce
your footprint in each consumption category-carbon, food, housing, and goods and services-but
don't stop there. Amplify your impact by encouraging others to follow your lead. Engage your
friends and community with local and global movements for social change, or start your own
movement!
ReduceyourCarbonFootprint
Use cleanertransport
 Walk,bike,ortake publictransitwheneverpossible.
 Avoidallowingyourcar to idle.If you'll be waitingformore than30 seconds,turnoff the engine
(exceptintraffic).Anddon'ttake the drive-through-parkthe carand walkinside instead.
 Have your vehicle servicedregularlytokeepthe emissioncontrol systemsoperating atpeak
efficiency.Checkyourcar'sair filtermonthly,andkeepthe tiresadequatelyinflatedtomaximize
gas mileage.
 Avoidshortairplane trips-takeabusor train instead.
Add energy-savingfeatures to yourhome
 Install compactfluorescentbulbsinall yourhome lightfixtures-butremember,compact
fluorescentscontainmercury,solookforlow-mercurymodelsandbe sure todispose of old
bulbssafelythroughyourlocal hazardouswaste program.
 Weatherproof yourhome.Make sure yourwallsandceilings are insulated,andconsiderdouble-
pane windows.Eliminate draftswithcaulking,weatherstrips,andstormwindowsanddoors.
 Insulate yourwaterheater.Evenbetter,switchtoatanklesswaterheater,soyourwaterwill be
heatedonlyasyou use it.
 Choose energyefficientappliances.

2. Patricia Bond Tuesday,22-June,2010
Adoptenergy-savinghabits
 Keepthermostatrelativelylowinwinterandease uponthe air conditioninginsummer.Clean
or replace dirtyairconditionerfiltersasrecommendedtokeepthe A/Coperatingatpeak
efficiency.
 Unplugyour electronicswhennotinuse.To make iteasier,use apowerstrip.Evenwhenturned
off,itemslike yourtelevision,computer,andcellphone chargerstill sippower.
 Dry your clothesoutside wheneverpossible.
 Make minimal use of powerequipmentwhenlandscaping.
 Defrostyourrefrigeratorandfreezerregularly.
 Choose greenelectricity.Manyutilitiesgive youthe optiontopurchase electricitygeneratedby
windandsolar powerfora small rate surcharge.
 Purchase carbon offsetstomake upfor the energyuse youcan't eliminate.
ReduceyourFoodFootprint
 Eat more local,organic,in-seasonfoods.
 Planta garden-itdoesn'tgetmore local thanthat.
 Shopat your local farmer'smarketor natural foodsstore.Lookforlocal,in-seasonfoodsthat
haven'ttraveledlongdistancestoreachyou.
 Choose foodswithlesspackagingtoreduce waste.
 Eat loweron the foodchain-goingmeatlessforjustone meal aweekcanmake a difference.
Globally,ithasbeenestimatedthat18% of all greenhouse gasemissionsare associatedwith
meatconsumption.
ReduceyourHousingFootprint
Choosesustainablebuildingmaterials,furnishings,and cleaningproducts.
 Explore greendesignfeaturesforyourbuilding,like passive solarheating,arainwater
catchmentor greywater recyclingsystem, andrecycledmaterials.
 Choose efficientappliances,includinglow flow showerheads,faucets,andtoilets.
 Choose furnishingsthatare second-hand,recycled,orsustainablyproduced.
 Plantdroughttolerantplantsinyourgardenand yard.
 Use biodegradable,non-toxiccleaningproducts.
Adoptwater-savinghabits
 Take shorter,lessfrequentshowers-thisnotonlysaveswater,butthe energynecessarytoheat
it.
 Don't use the garbage disposal.Compostinstead.
 Run the dishwasherandthe laundrymachine onlywhenfull.
 Wash cars rarely,or betteryet,take themto a carwash.Commercial carwashesuse lesswater
perwash thanhome washers,andtheyare alsorequiredtodrainusedwaterintothe sewage
system,ratherthanstorm drains,whichprotectsaquaticlife.
 Avoidhosingdownorpower-washingyourdeck,walkways,ordriveway.
 Regularlylookforandfix leaks.

3. Patricia Bond Tuesday,22-June,2010
ReduceyourGoodsandServicesFootprint
 Buy less!Replace itemsonlywhen youreallyneedto.
 Recycle all yourpaper,glass,aluminum, andplastic.Don'tforgetelectronics!
 Compostfoodwaste forthe garden.Garbage that isnot contaminatedwithdegradable
(biological) waste canbe more easilyrecycledandsorted,anddoesn'tproduce methane gases
(a significantgreenhouse gascontributor) whenstoredinalandfill.
 Buy recycledproducts
(in global acres) Footprint
Country
Average
Carbon Footprint 51.80 91.43
Food Footprint 54.56 65.74
Housing Footprint 8.97 31.58
Goods and Services Footprint 17.66 57.66
My total footprint 132.99 246.41
(in global acres) Footprint
Country
Average
Cropland footprint 16.65 29.61
Pastureland footprint 37.89 68.02
Marine fisheries footprint 27.49 49.33
Forestland footprint 50.95 99.45
My total footprint 132.99 246.41
Number of Earths 3.43 6.35