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 >
Locally made clothing
One way you can make a significant reduction in the amount of carbon in our atmosphere, is by buying clothing that is made locally. The United States is the world's leading exporter of cotton. The raw material is shipped across the world to be woven and died and then made into clothing. Massive amounts of carbon are emitted in this process. The clothing is then shipped all the way back to the United States and put into stores for us to buy, which produces even more carbon. Although this is the process for most clothing, you can still find clothing made locally. To avoid adding to carbon emissions, check the tag of the next garment you want to buy and look for where it was produced.