Ecological Footprint
Understand what it is, and how you can reduce it
What is an Ecological Footprint?
An ecological footprint is a measurement of impact humans make upon Earth. Things such as recycling, leaving lights on/off, etc. effect one's ecological footprint.
How to Determine YOUR Footprint:
Nature.org is a great resource to calculate your carbon footprint. It's fast, simple, and quite accurate. It factors in many different variables and gives you information on the impact you make and how to reduce it.
Below you can see my test results from the site mentioned above. As you can see, I have a greater negative impact on the Earth than the average person in the US.
Why This Site?
There are many different sites like the one I provided, and I'm sure there are more accurate ones. However, this one provides a quick, reliable, and accurate (to an extent) score. On top of that, it also provides information on what you can do to reduce the impact you're making on the Earth.
Other information, such as the average person in the US has an estimated greenhouse emissions of 27 tons of carbon dioxide per year. It also shows ways to reduce emissions and a detailed description of what your footprint means.
Carbon Market
According to the video below, a "carbon market" is an analytical tool, which includes information on the carbon trading schemes developed in the world.
Some ways you can reduce your carbon footprint include:
1. Change lights in your house to the "energy saving" options available in most super markets
2. Carpool
3. Use less electricity (especially when it's necessary)
4. Buy food locally
5. Contribute to organizations that plant trees worldwide
Reducing Our Carbon Footprint