Ecological Footprint
Author: mike | Date: July 25, 2007 | Please Comment!I recently tried out a new website to determine my ecological footprint and I was rated at 7.1 hectares. By comparison, the average ecological footprint in Canada is 8.8 global hectares. While I’ve done a bit better than average, it still means that we would need 4 earths to live as I do, considering worldwide there exists 1.8 biologically productive global hectares per person. Some of the things I’ve done to minimize my footprint are: owning only one car for my wife and I, recycling and composting, installing a solar hot water heater in my home, and switching to compact fluorecent lights. On my recent trip to Alaska, I bought the Air Canada carbon-offset for $18 (click here for more information). To find out more about how you can reduce your impact on the earth, visit David Suzuki’s site for ideas: click here
What’s your footprint? Find out here: www.ecofoot.org
Leave a comment to let me know how you fare, and what you’ve been doing to reduce your footprint!
Toronto Star: Air Canada Goes Green
1:03 pm on July 25th, 2007
I got 6.8! The biggest spot for improvement for me was goods and services…I think I’ll try and buy more locally produced/non-processed foods. Should be easier during the summer with all the great farmer’s markets around!
8:26 pm on July 25th, 2007
I was shocked: only 4.6 (low score for vegans who always commute with other people and don’t fly too often). High score on the shelter and goods/services. We should try to buy or grow locally, but options are limited in our small town. Something to work on.
Just a note that the company I work for provides a bus and some vans to commute employees to and from work and many employees take advantage of this service. It almost got taken away, however, because Revenue Canada was going to declare it a taxable benefit. Too bad, because it should be a tax credit for the environment.