Environmental footprint calculator

[newmayaml]

What would you think about that?
Ecological Footprint Quiz

[foxytina_69]

scary thought :\

[cedarblue]

oh dear!

[Sabster]

hmm... That's kind of interesting.

[eve]

Mine was 1.8 - interesting quiz.

[John]

1.8?! I got 29!

[eve]

29! what sort of a lifestyle are you living? But perhaps you're in a big city?

[Sabster]

I live in a large city and I got a 3.9 or 3.8 I forget which one ... and well I walk a lot ... *grumbles* ... I'm thinking if I walk a lot and use public transportation most of the time ... and I'm still using more than one planet.. ah well.

[John]

Maybe I'm talking about a different number. I'm refering to the acres number that was in bold print. I don't think I use too many resources compared to the average American but I guess the USA is probably the worst culprit.

And I would think that living in a city would reduce your waste a little (less travel).

[eve]

The total footprint refers to the hectares.

[John]

I wish I had that many hectares. I'd set up vegan Disneyland.

[Sabster]

Cities are far more polluted than the suburbs. So, waste is much higher. That and the citizens of suburbia (hehe... jk... my parents live out in the suburbs) commute by car to city on a daily basis for work, etc... leading to higher pollution levels within the city limits, etc.

So, while cities offer more sidwalks than other areas... in the U.S. anyway (not many walk friendly cities).... few people use them.... especially for work, etc.

I'm quite fond of walking cities.... grocers... etc within 5-15 minute walking distance... that's what I like about Europe.... maybe I'll move to Europe some day....

[John]

Yeah, I couldn't believe how in Europe, cities just end. Where I live, cities blend into suburbs, blend into highways, blend into small towns, blend into farms, blend into forests.

[cast_the_flames]

find out how much impact you make on the world.

http://www.lead.org/leadnet/footprint/intro.htm

mine is sadly pretty big because i travel a lot. however, all of us vegans can expect a small impact from our dietary choices

[bulletproof]

12.8 acres

[MzNatural]

Here are my results.

Food Footprint 0.9 hectares or 2.3 acres
Transportation Footprint 0.3 hectares or 0.7 acres
Housing Footprint 2.1 hectares or 5.1 acres
Other Footprints 1.2 hectares or 3 acres

Total Footprint per person
4.5 hectares or 11.1 acres

[feline01]

Here's my results, not too impressive.

YOUR RESULTS:
Food Footprint 1.1 hectares or 2.8 acres
Transportation Footprint 1.8 hectares or 4.5 acres
Housing Footprint 0.6 hectares or 1.4 acres
Other Footprints 1.3 hectares or 3.2 acres

Total Footprint per person 4.8 hectares or 12 acres

[ConsciousCuisine]

YOUR RESULTS:
Food Footprint 0.9 hectares or 2.1 acres
Transportation Footprint 0.7 hectares or 1.8 acres
Housing Footprint 0.7 hectares or 1.8 acres
Other Footprints 0.9 hectares or 2.1 acres

Total Footprint per person 3.2 hectares or 7.8 acres

IN COMPARISON:

Your Eco-Footprint measures 31.1 % of an average American Footprint.

Worldwide, the biologically productive space available per person is 2.2 hectares or 5.4 acres.

[John]

Here's a similar thread here on veganforum.com:

"Ecological Footprint Quiz" thread

[PinkFluffyCloud]

Mine was 4.6/11.4 acres.

[Aurora]

YOUR RESULTS:
Food Footprint 0.9 hectares or 2.2 acres
Transportation Footprint 1.4 hectares or 3.5 acres
Housing Footprint 3.4 hectares or 8.5 acres
Other Footprints 2.1 hectares or 5.2 acres

Total Footprint per person 7.9 hectares or 19.4 acres

IN COMPARISON:

Your Eco-Footprint measures 77 % of an average American Footprint.

Worldwide, the biologically productive space available per person is 2.2 hectares or 5.4 acres.

[Ruby Soho]

Food - 0.8 hectare, 2 acres
Transport - 0.2 hectares, 0.6 acres
Housing - 0.5 hectares, 1.1 acres
Other - 0.6 hectares, 1.4 acres

Total - 2.1 hectares, 5.1 acres

My footprint is 20.2% of the average american footprint

[DianeVegan]

So happy to have found an environmental thread!

And so disappointed to discover that as a hybrid-driving, vegan American I am still using up much more than my share of the world.

I'd be interested in others results. You can take the quiz here http://myfootprint.org

My footprint is 26. No wonder some people are looking to colonize the moon!

[ricky]

my footprint is 3.4

[Seaside]

Posted by Dianecrna:

I'd be interested in others results. You can take the quiz here http://myfootprint.org

My footprint is 26. No wonder some people are looking to colonize the moon!

Mine is 9, and they said that if everyone lived like me, we would need 2 planets. Hmmmph! I think they should take into account whether you have children, and whether you intend to have or not have children.

[DianeVegan]

Don't be too upset, Seaside, the world population would have to drop to 1 billion in order to be enough earth for people like me. If you delve further into the website, you'll see that part of your score takes into account your country (and the air-conditioned, heated shops, malls, insurance offices, hospitals, etc. that you have no control over). Also, I have read that we topped off at a max of 1 billion people before we became unhealthy to the earth - so you having or not having a child wouldn't have changed much in your score. Anyway, I am envious that you could score so low.

[Hasha]

I got 9. 2.1 planets. I think it's got to do with the fact that I don't drive at all and generate less waste than average. Still not good enough, though...

Anyway, Ricky, how the devil did you manage to get 3.4? Did you perhaps mean 3.4 planets?

[Hasha]

Also, I have read that we topped off at a max of 1 billion people before we became unhealthy to the earth - so you having or not having a child wouldn't have changed much in your score.

I didn't get what you meant to say...? We topped off at a max of 1 billion people...? What does that mean?

[Cal]

I scored 3.4 so I need 1.9 planets.

[Seaside]

Posted by Cal:

I scored 3.4 so I need 1.9 planets.

I should think that if everyone had a score of 3.4 we would only need half a planet! The scoring seems a little weird.

I thought I would score better because my houseboat is on a 12 volt system instead of 110 or 220, and I rarely use heat, and never air conditioning, because I am so used to being outside all day all year that it is difficult for me to tolerate artificial indoor climates anymore. But I do have to use my truck in my job, as I cannot carpool to the dog park with 6 dogs in the back of my truck! So that's probably what did it!

[Cal]

I should think that if everyone had a score of 3.4 we would only need half a planet! The scoring seems a little weird.

It seems that you Yanks score higher than us Ozzies so perhaps the country makes a big difference?

[DianeVegan]

If you delve further into the website you will see that some things are averaged because of the country you live in. In the US, the stores/hospitals/banks/office buildings, etc. are all temperature controlled. There is more packaging on products, more spent on healthcare, more materials used in almost every industry (compared to other countries). Even if you don't support these industries, you are a part of it every time you shop, bank, use health care, become hospitalized, etc.

It will also direct you to an interesting site on projected human population growth. It's gonna get real crowded around here if people keep having 2 children. (Interestingly, here in the lap of SUV-driving luxury, it is somewhat of a status symbol to have more than 2 children - but only if the wife can afford to not work - and of course there is a nanny and house-cleaning service. I believe I may be the only woman in my development who cleans her own toilet bowl)

[1vegan]

I got 3.9 hectare. "if every one lived like you, we'd need 2.2 planets"

I blame my too big house and my "flying" for the bad score.

[Hasha]

I think that Americans and Aussies/Europeans get their scores in different units. Which would explain how my 9 means 2.1 planets and 1vegan's 3.9 means 2.2 planets.

[terrace max]

Just done the footprint test.

I got 1.1.

It's official - I have no life...!

[catmogg]

I'm touring in a play called Ransom at the moment, which we've taken to lots of secondary schools. After the show we do a workshop and it includes a short Global Footprints Game...I'd be really interested to know how people on the forum score...

Score yourself accordingly and add them up at the end!!! If you think you fit somewhere between the two scores you can average it out yourself...

1) Paper
You regularly buy newspapers and new books (10)
You share newspapers and usually borrow books rather than buy them (5)

2) Water
You take lots of baths, have a dishwasher, hosepipes, etc (10)
You take mostly showers, and don't have a dishwasher or hosepipe (5)

3) Holiday
You take at least one long haaul flight per year (65)
You usually holiday close to home (10)

4) Heating
Youkeep your home warm, have poor insulation and high heating bills (45)
You use your heating sparingly, have excellent insulation and low bills (10)

5) Electricity
You use many standard appliances, often leaving them on standby (50)
You conserve energy and buy your electricity from renewable resources (2)

6)Transport
You travel mostly by car (75)
You travel mostly by public transport, cycling or walking(10)

7) Food
You consume plenty and pay little attention to where food is produced (100)
You eat locally grown, vegetarian/vegan food and have little food waste (32)

8) Waste

You recycle little or none of your waste (100)
You produce very little waste and reuse/recycle everything possible (30)


Your total score is an indication of the area of land that would be required to sustainably support your lifestyle - your 'ecological footprint'.

Score: No of planets
100 1
200 2
300 3
400 4

The above shows the number of planets that would be needed to sustainably support global consumption.

Don't forget, this is just a personal consumption calculation. The impacts of the wider economy can easily add 50% to your score!

So...

[Tofu Monster]

1) Paper
Youregularly buy newspapers and new books (10)

2) Water
You take mostly showers, and don't have a dishwasher or hosepipe (10)

3) Holiday
You usually holiday close to home (10)

4) Heating
You use your heating sparingly, have excellent insulation and low bills (10)

5) Electricity
You conserve energy and buy your electricity from renewable resources (2)

6)Transport
You travel mostly by public transport, cycling or walking(10)

7) Food
You consume plenty and pay little attention to where food is produced (100)

8) Waste
You produce very little waste and reuse/recycle everything possible (30)

i got 182. is that good?

and i only cheated just enough so that you'd be sure to think i was really great and let me have your babies.

seriously, i was kind of in the middle with some of those so it was hard to know which option to go for.

[catmogg]

seriously, i was kind of in the middle with some of those so it was hard to know which option to go for.

If you're in the middle, you can just estimate a number inbetween????????

[Kumem]

Is question number 2 the wrong way around scoring wise?

[Tofu Monster]

If you're in the middle, you can just estimate a number inbetween????????

well either that wasn't made clear, or i'm too dumb to understand the rules!

(and i know which option the smart money's on)

[catmogg]

Is question number 2 the wrong way around scoring wise?

Uhuh, it was!! sorry!!It's changed now! Thanks

[catmogg]

well either that wasn't made clear, or i'm too dumb to understand the rules!

(and i know which option the smart money's on)

No, its just a suggestion, i didn't originally state that. But i will now. Don't be cross.

[essence_uk]

http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp Here's another one. I always tend to score "If everyone lived like you there'd only be need for one planet" which is nice.

[essence_uk]

Another one: http://www.myfootprint.org/

To carry on a topic from this same forum I'm surprised they don't ask how many offspring we have/plan to have as surely no other factor can be responsible for such a footprint as actually creating further humans.

[l337_v3g4n_1]

around 150, I guessed mostly because Iceland is a bit different, like no water restriction. Aslo, I'm just a kid, so the score might change when I'm 20. Or something.

[l337_v3g4n_1]

on myfooprint.org, I got 2.4 planets

[DianeVegan]

So here we are, all of us environmentally concious, and many of us still score in a way that would be unsustainable for all humans at the current population. Hmmm..... okay, I promise to not make this about overpopulation.

That said, I am down to only 2 planets needed according to this quiz. I needed 5 planets on another quiz (not my fault that I live in a country where public buildings keep the temperature so cold in the summer you need a sweater and in the winter you can wear shorts).

I'm putting my computer on standby now, while I charge my mobile phone, turn up the central air so I can sleep with two blankets during this heat wave, and use my snazzy electic toothebrush. Only joking, that's what my neighbors are doing right now.

[l337_v3g4n_1]

So here we are, all of us environmentally concious, and many of us still score in a way that would be unsustainable for all humans at the current population. Hmmm..... okay, I promise to not make this about overpopulation.

Yeah, imagine what the typical omni would score! 300 planets or something!!

[Nivvie]

I put this on another site populated by typical onmis and they mainly got in the region of 3. And they said the test was stupid and faulty as it didn't include recycling or types and amounts of meat, and a million other things.

But then, if the test contained many more questions, who the hell could be bothered to do it?

[adam antichrist]

I got 137 on this one and the other one was 2.2:

IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 1.2 PLANETS

There is also this one, which estimates at what age you should die in order to not use more than your fair share of our planets resources!