Carbon Footprint

  Ok, so I watched Life in Fab Lane, Kimora Lee Simmons' reality show, last night. Lady K is thinking about going green because her life of excess is not so great for the environment. I mean, jet fuel can be troublesome on Mama Earth. So, Kimora got a "carbon footprint" calculation, which shows how much impact her lifestyle has on the environment. A carbon footprint measures the impact of human activities on the environment in terms of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide, according to Wikipedia.                                                                                                                                                                  

I was so inspired I rushed over to the computer and found this site which calculates your footprint.  The site asks about your electric bill, how many times you fly a year, and how often do you shop for new clothes. It's awesome. The average for United States citizens is a 20.4. I got a 13.427.  YIPPEE!!! Worldwide, the average is 4, though. Some room for growth, no? 

OK, people, let's see your feet! What's your impact on the environment?  What ways are you becoming green and saving money?

Comments

[savvy]

Now I feel kind of bad, mine is 22.179. However, to be fair, I did include total household use for utilities and vehicles though those items should really be halved since we're a two person household.

I suspect the bulk of my/our footprint comes from frequent travel (including internationally) as well as having to heat/cool a large home. I do use the furnace/air conditioner as little as comfortably possible though. For example, we've been keeping our windows open for the last few weeks. If we feel warm, we either move to a lower floor (the upstairs is always the warmest) or use a floor fan.

[Coco]

9.42 - that's because I live and work on the island of Manhattan. Imagine if I recycled!

[GLM]

My condo association fees have our utilities bundled, so I can't break that out, since I think that since I live by myself, I use less water/electricity than a couple or family.

Personally, I don't want to bike to and from work with my laptop. But my 25 minute drive would be 2 hours if I took public transportation!

But look at it this way - the cheaper you are, the more green you are. Watching what you spend reduces your accumulation of stuff, and consumption of raw materials. So every little bit helps!

[The Frugalista Files]

Savvy- Girl, I'm surprised. Are you a mini-Kimora? Just jokes. I think the international travel is what raised the number.
Coco- Dang, girl. You sure you aren't commenting from a developing nation?
GLM-Ohh, I want the number. Did you get the footprint number?

[Product Junkie Diva]

LOL ok I am ready to blow your mind..lol my number is 3.446...lol That seems way too low, but I will trust this little caluclator.
I agree with GLM that every little bit helps. I also recycle as much as possible.

[The Frugalista Files]

3.446? GIRL!? You burst my lil green bubble. Are you sure you included the amounts of packaging used in all of your fabulous product purchases? You need to do some fabulous and GREEN seminars! Like, quick!

[savvy]

Well you know the help just uses so much electricity when we're not there and the Lear jet only takes premium jet fuel... LOL

I was surprised to see my number so high BUT I do travel AND natural gas costs are a beast (you Floridians are lucky). My gas bills can be $200+/month in the winter.

[Twiggers]

17.76! Ick....

[Jeannette]

I cant't give up international travel. Mea culpa! It's how I reward myself once a year for being a hard-working reporter and mother of two. I live frugally so that I can afford this perk. And by that I mean, I don't buy anything that is not on sale, purchase most of my household decor in garage and estate sales, and drive an older model car I bough used. But pleaaaaase, don't ask me to give up international travel. I leave on Saturday for Spain and Portugal.

[Phyllis]

I'm a 12.55, I think my gas bill is what jacked my number up. It can get up to almost $400 a month in the winter.

[Tela]

My footprint was 18.3. In my part of Texas we have curbside recycle pickup which is great for the environment and keeps our trash piles low, but we don't have public transporation in the burbs so our car emmissions are really high.

[GLM]

Well, my condo's footprint appears to be 4.16 - I took my condo fees, $382/month, and figured that at most, $300 is going to utilities. My heat and cooking are gas, so I more or less split the total between gas and electricity.

My total footprint appears to be 12.143. Blah, I need to get that down further. It doesn't take into account that most of my furniture is antique, and the rest I've had for over 10 years!