Students from around the world calculated their class mean and standard deviations for their footprints and posted them on our world map.
Do you see differences across the globe? If so, why do you think those differences exist?
Did you use the calculator to try to reduce your footprint down to the average from a citizen of another country? What changes would you have to make to lower your footprint in this way? Are you going to try and take some of these actions in your daily life?
Student Footprints >
Is Flying Better for the Environment than Driving?
I've always wondered if taking road trips as opposed to taking an airplane is harmful to the environment or not. I personally like taking airplanes over driving; because, for example, a flight from Houston to Miami is two and a half hours, where as driving could be 18+ hours. Airplanes are more convenient, and they carry more people per trip. But in reality it all comes down to the amount of air pollution that both methods of transportation emit into the atmosphere. According to a study done at Yale University, the U.S. Aviation Industry produces 11% of total transportation-related emissions domestically (no percentage was given for cars). The article continues to compare and contrast flying against driving, eventually proving that driving is better for the environment because gasoline is not as harmful as jet fuel. Now that more studies are being released, will people stop flying? Although it may not be the best for the environment, it is the most convenient; and if you look at it in the long run, it is much cheaper than a road trip. I have now learned that although car s run for a longer amount of time than airplanes, airplanes still cause more air pollution. I will try to encourage my family members to start taking road trips to help the environment. Source: http://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2 … s-driving/