sustainability – art, design and social practice

So here’s the ones I did-

BP- 5 tonnes

Global Footprint Network- 3.4 planets

Environmental Defense Fund- 5.5 tons

EPA- 4,421 pounds

Conservation International- 5.1 tons

Carbon Counter- 6.8 tons

Problems:

I take the train instead of the plane, but I think the train is still one of the larger portions of my footprint. I usually travel back and forth less than I did this past summer. I think the fact that my house is heated by heating oil is also a large portion of it, but I haven’t been in this house during the winter yet so I’m not sure how that works. My electricity bills are fairly low I think ($60 total for gas and electric, split between 2 people) but this still seemed to make up a large portion of the total. 

What to do:

I thought of making little changes. The most easily eliminated waste in my everyday life is plastic silverware, paper napkins/ towels, and plastic coffee cups. I’m going to make sure I always have silverware and a handkerchief on my person and make coffee at home. I think making things at home generally saves resources. Its extra + when saving money coincides with ruining the earth a lil bit less. I want to tend to my houseplants more carefully so they flourish, perhaps including acquiring some compost worms.