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 >
Decreasing Carbon Footprint During the Winter
I did not have much trouble with the carbon footprint, until it came to winter, the chilliest time of the year. My house becomes very cold in the winter months. As a result, my family must use heat to warm up the house constantly. The energy bills showed the high usages and costs, which my mom didn’t like at all. When I calculated my carbon footprint, this usage typically doubled more than the average carbon footprint weight in my area.
In addition, energy usage and costs become higher as more people heat their homes. I’d like to bring in Daylight Savings Time, where time would set forward in the summer and allowing the sun to occupy most of the evening hours. But in winter, the time would be set back to 1 hour, which now days would mostly be in darkness. People are more likely to use electricity to light their homes at night, which can also add to the bills along with heating their homes.
I would take some measures to change this problem. Adding more blankets, dressing with more layers, and exercising may work. Heating the rooms that are currently in use and turning them off when leaving can lower the footprint. Turning the lights off when not in use can also help. I’m not sure about installing solar panels, since they’re quite expensive.
Any other suggestions?