natasha turnquest “carbon footprint”.
While attempting to compile information to calculate my carbon footprint I have begun to feel as though I am 3, possibly 4, different people:
The Bahamas:
Carbon Footprint: 12.37 (4 person home), 2 SUV’s and my flying
Conservation International: 25 (? But the graphics are really nice)
I don’t understand if this site recommends or discourages the use of microwaves to cook. I was a bit confused about this question
Empowerment Institute: 20.064
Average: 19.14 tonnes
Canada:
Bp: 5 tonnes per year (which is less than Canada average of 11.71)
Carbon Footprint: 8.253 tonnes
Econeutral: 10.2 tonnes
Average: 7.82 tonnes
USA- San Francisco:
Bp:10 tonnes Co2 which is less than the U.S average of 18.58
Carbon Counter: 6.8 tonnes
Econeutral: 9.35 tonnes
Environmental Defense Fund: 0.9 tons (Housing) 23.3 tons (Flights)= 24.2 tons
Baltimore: (Projections because I have only been here 3 weeks)
Carbon counter: 15.13 tonnes
Environmental Defense Fund: 3.2 tons (Housing) 23.3 tons (Flights)=26.5
Average: 15.33 tonnes (SF. Average alone was 12.59)
Overall, the calculators seem to mainly work for “Developed” nations (Carbon Counter had a Bahamas option) but largely there was no international option or an applicable choice. This was very frustrating and underlines a global issue.
How to minimize impact:
In looking at the numbers flying is a large portion of my carbon footprint; I fly cross-country about 3+ times a year. Nonetheless, I feel as though this will taper off dramatically when I complete my studies. In my opinion the biggest step is combating ignorance. When I first went to Vancouver my roommates were very excited to teach me to recycle and how to minimize washing laundry although clothing was always damp from the weather, these aspects of life were completely alien to me.
When I moved down to San Francisco I got my household (of 6- 7) to recycle and by the time I left we were attempting to compost as well.
In the Bahamas I have been encouraging my family to buy as locally as possible and drive less or carpool more. My mum has changed all the bulbs to fluorescents and is now trying to grow as many fruits and vegetables as possible, slowly eliminating the purely aesthetic lawn part of our backyard. We also only line dry. In the future I have little intentions of living in major cities. My family and I are slowing moving back to the small island my parents are from where living a self- sufficient and economically efficient lifestyle is a reality (my parents spent about $20+ a day on gas in Nassau and run the A/C almost year-round). Last year my parents and I voted for a political party that created a new Ministry of Environment & Renewable Energy. Although this Ministry is new I hope this step within the Government shows a change in mindset of the people on the major islands.
Currently, I find Baltimore one of the hardest cities (I’ve ever lived in) to navigate in a multitude of ways. I have not been recycling here (and it seems a lot more complicated than California). Moreover, my roommates appear to be disinterested and I’ve been apathetic towards attempting to change a house full of people who are born and raised in this lifestyle. I hope this is just a phase. Though it’s hard for me to change the amount of travel I do I hardly drive anywhere when I’m not in the Bahamas. Also, I attempt to be wise about what I purchase and how I discard it, which is a huge challenge in my art practice, while remaining economically possible. Yet, grappling with such figures in “tonnes” is surreal.
