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 >
Karis M. Carbon Footprint Project
My name is Karis and I attend Mooresville High School in Mooresville, NC, USA. I am 16 years old. Beginning my carbon footprint project, I predicted to have a lower carbon average than most people in the US. After completing the project, I found that my carbon average was higher than the average. My total carbon footprint was 24,483 kgs. My transportation was 13,946 kgs, home was 7,411 kgs, food was 3,048 kgs, and my purchases were 780 kgs. My total carbon footprint was over my region's total footprint who's average of 15,918 kgs. Most of my carbon came from my transportation usage through taking different trips over the summer and traveling to and from activities during the week. After finishing the project, I was surprised to find that my carbon footprint was so high compared to my region's. I learned that I need to not travel as much to lower my carbon usage through transportation. Future actions I can take to lower my carbon footprint is traveling less, spending less money, and reusing things such as bottles and containers.
My carbon footprint was lower than yours (14,370). I do think that reusing things such as bottles and containers is a great idea. And I don't think you have to travel less, but you could try carpooling instead to lower the amount of carbon released.