Rebecca and Alex calculated their ecological footprints using different online calculators, with Alex's footprint being larger at 6.4 hectares compared to Rebecca's 5.2 hectares. They both kept daily logs of environmentally-friendly actions over two weeks which showed they both regularly engage in sustainable behaviors like recycling, using reusable items, and choosing more energy efficient options. However, Alex travels by air more frequently than Rebecca, contributing to the difference in their footprints. To reduce her footprint further, Rebecca plans to buy more local foods and use her car less, while Alex aims to take public transit more often and eat more local, less processed foods.
4. DAILY LOG
Action
Rebecca
Alex
1
Towel dried hair
Use G.O.O.S paper
2
Walk home from school
Printed essay double-sided
3
Unplugged unnecessary appliances
Let hair air dry
4
Used natural light for homework
Turned off unnecessary lights
5
Sew ripped clothing instead of buying new ones.
Borrowed books from the library
6
Recycled pop can
Used a minimal amount of wrapping paper (while
Christmas gift wrapping)
7
Lowered thermostat
Put dishwasher on the off-peak times
Used cold cycle on washing machine
8
Proofread everything on the computer instead of
printing it out
9
Bought local meats
Swept the kitchen instead of vacuuming
10
Recycled batteries
Turn heat down by 6 degrees when we are on
vacation
11
Walked/took public transit to friends house
Use only reusable bags or bins
12
Borrowed book from the library
Opened blinds instead of turning on lights
5. HOME
In your home
Rebecca
Alex
1
Unplug toaster
Shovel driveways
2
Turn down heater
Energy-saving settings on computer
3
Recycle all things possible
Energy efficient appliances
4
Use energy efficient lightbulbs
Unplug un-used appliances
5
Change thermostat in every season
Take showers instead of baths
6
Fix ripped clothes
Use reusable water bottles
7
Use reusable bags
Go for runs instead of using treadmill
8
Buy a boogie board (paperless notebook)
Use reusable mug for coffee or tea
9
Donate unwanted toys to Goodwill
Check the air pressure in tires
10
Walk to nearby places
Use eco-friendly products
11
Open blinds during the day
Recycle batteries properly
12
Borrow books from library
Deposit hazardous materials properly
6. LOCAL ECOZONES
(COMMUNITY)
Local ecozone
(community)
Rebecca
Alex
1
Eat locally grown meats
Eat locally grown fruit
2
Avoid littering
Clean local parks
3
Clean up parks
G.O.O.S paper programs in schools
4
Use recycling bins
Use sand on icy sidewalks
5
Small businesses that shovel driveways
More windows in schools
6
Less pick-ups for garbage
Buy organic clothing
7
Buy locally made-clothing
Use more skylights
8
Use solar panels
Have less garbages in schools
9
Turn off power and lights in summer
Join local green clubs
7. PROVINCIAL (ONTARIO)
Provincial
Rebecca
Alex
1
Use energy during the off-peak hours
Use public transit
2
Clean up provincial parks
Use compost bin
3
Adopt a highway or road
Promote the improvement of efficiency of
houses
4
Use better “green” houses
Promote renewable resources
5
Use other renewable resources
Participe in “green festivals”
6
Lower prices on energy
Reduce public transit prices (so people
will use it more offen)
8. NATIONAL (CANADA)
National
Rebecca
Alex
1
Clean up oil spills
Clean up the Great Lake
waterfronts
2
Support anti-fracking
campaigns
Join anti-fracking groups
3
Have stricter policies for
the use of fossil fuels
Create stricter policies
for fracking
10. QUESTIONS
1.
There are similarities between us because we both live our lives very
ecologically friendly. We are different because Alex travels more by
air (so, her ecological footprint is larger) and Rebecca travels more
by car (that is when she decides to leave the house)
2. Rebecca: My lifestyle has been influenced by my foot print since I
travel by car and foot more. I should walk places more, and lower
the use of the car.
11. QUESTIONS (CONTINUE)
2. Alex: My ecological footprint is influenced by the fact that I travel by
air a lot (more than 60 hours a year). However I am vegetarian so, I
don’t need as much space to create my food
3. Rebecca: I plan to reduce my ecological foot print by buying more
locally grown foods, as well as using the car over the minivan. This
will ultimately help lower my carbon emissions into the ozone layer
and air.
3. Alex: Since there is almost no chance of my family traveling less, I
could always try to use public transit more than driving in the car.
Also I can try to eat more locally grown foods and less processed
foods.
