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 >
Appliances
After calculating my carbon footprint, I learned that I use most of my carbon on appliances. We don't realize it but small things actually have a huge impact on the environment. I sometimes forget to unplug my phone charger. I didn't see this as a big deal, but when I saw how much my carbon footprint changed because of it, I realized that electronics release a lot of carbon into the atmosphere. I'm going to try and be more aware of my use of appliances around the house.
I agree with you that electronics can have a huge impact in our society. Similar to you Bo, I had no idea that if I left things plugged in it would release carbon into the atmosphere. Unplugging your electronics when you are done with them might not seem like doing that much but, you are. Now I am more aware as a person that I should be aware of certain things around the house.
I agree as well, I leave my phone plugged in quite often with out realizing it. Electronics impact our society a people should become more aware of what they are doing and should try to conserve energy when they are at home. I know I've become more aware of things that I'm leaving plugged in when I'm not using them.
I agree as well. I often leave my phone plugged in and charging. However I recently learned that using your phone emits a lot of CO2 into the atmosphere. Phones themselves do not cause of lot of CO2 emission, but using your phone for just an hour a day adds up to over 1 tonne of CO2 a year. That's about the same as flying in economy class from New York to London! Now I am trying to not use my phone as often and keep myself aware of phones and their impact on the environment.
I too struggle to remember how much leaving a charger plugged in really affects your carbon footprint, and I could work to remember that in the future. Unplugging even bigger things like your television or your toaster save a lot of power, therefore saving more coal from being burned. If everyone became aware of these issues, then our climate would be affected in a very good way.