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 >
Refrigerators
Many people do not know this but refrigerators take up about 20% of your home's electricity use. http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/20things.htm. Not making sure your refrigerator is sealed shut 100% of the time you are not using it is a big part of that. When you close your fridge, place a piece of paper in the door. Then, once the fridge is shut, try pulling the paper out of the closed door. If the paper is hard to rip out, then your refrigerator is good. If the paper slips out easily, then it is time to replace your door gaskets. http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy.asp. Another tip you can follow to reduce your electrical bill and to conserve energy is to always make sure your fridge is between 38 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit. The higher the temperature, the more energy you are wasting. Your freezer should be between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Some refrigerators even have a power-save switch which you should definitely turn on. http://www.nrdc.org/air/ener gy/genergy.asp. These are very simple steps you should take to reduce the amount of energy you waste in your household.