Hi! I can't say that I'm really shocked by my footprint results, because, even if I don't like to admit it, I was expecting these values. I've got 6237 kgs, compared to 4570 kgs - the average in my country. The value that raised my footprint this much was "Home", where I got 3640 kgs, about 2 times the average value here, in Romania.
  The biggest problem in my house is that we've never tried doing anything about this. We are used to ignoring the problem. We say we care about the environment, but we are too comfortable right now to make any "sacrifices". So, of course the footprint is over average; we've never done anything to help reducing it. I know it's shameful, but it's true.
  After doing some research, I've realized how wrong this is and I'll try my best to reduce my family's footprint. I'll try to use more natural light, I'll stop keeping my electronics plugged in when it's not necessary and I'll do anything else I can. But, in the end, I think another really important thing we can do to help is trying to make other people around us understand the importance of t hese things. Reducing our own footprints as well as making others pay attention to theirs would be, in my opinion, a much more effective solution.

yes, I agree about talking about this to friends and family (and others)!

Izabela, I think you make a great point about the role ignorance plays in our carbon footprint. Many people, like your family (and my own), claim to care about the environment, but don't actually take the necessary steps to fix it--often because it requires giving up things we don't want to. I agree that if we all actively look to change, it will be an effective solution.

Ignorance is a serious problem facing the world currently, the people of all countries need to start becoming more responsible and taking action to fight the global crisis of pollution. You talked about natural light, this is something I feel could completely replace lights during the day, there is almost no reason at all to need to turn on lights during the day. In an effort to conserve energy in my own home, we turn off all lights when we leave a room and never leave water running when we are not using it. I personally do "military showers" this is the practice of turning off the water when using shampoo and soap, I only use water in the shower when I first get in and when I use it to take soap/shampoo off. I agree with your last comment about reducing our own footprints and paying attention to others, this is a great way to lower global emissions and create a more sustainable world.

Remington - what is your estimate for the amount of time you have the water running when you use the "military" approach versus if you left the water running the whole time?

Jason- I have estimated that an average shower for me from the time that I enter until the time that I end is probably about 5 or 6 minutes. I spend probably about 3 minutes washing my hair with shampoo and my body with soap, assuming these numbers are correct it would mean that I end up having the water on for about 3 minutes; therefore cutting my water use in showers by half.

My footprint was above average in the United States also. I have tried my best to unplug my devices when they are fully charged and to use natural light. My showers are about ten minutes each but I could definitely cut them shorter. I think that it's very important for us to lower our footprints so we can try to help the Earth.

Dear Remington- thanks for the info and great job cutting your energy (and water!) use in half!!