Many students using our footprint calculator said that they could not pledge to reduce their home footprints because they were not making the decisions for the household. Here is your chance to design your own sustainable virtual household!
If you had your own home, what would you do to make it more energy efficient? Where would you get your electricity from? Where would your house be? Would you live near to your school or work or local transit options? Where would you get your food from?
MY Family Footprint >
Unplugged
I kinda stole this title from someone else, but I have a very different idea for this.
If we unplugged (or stayed away from electronics) for part of our day, not only would it majorly impact and help our environment, it would also would get your family engaged together, and possibly going outside to go exercise. Sitting in front of the TV watching food ads, TV ads, news, and who knows what else is terrible for you. If you binge eat and binge watch at the same time, that's even worse. Simply going outside is incredibly good for you as shown by Health.Com, and (Source 1) also, according to Southern University, spending time with your family is incredibly beneficial. (Source 2)
All energy power plants have an impact on the environment, some more than others. Some forms of energy are much cleaner than other forms, even the electrical power lines have a footprint, and they also negatively affect the environment. (Source 3) My family has a positive impact on the environment by using an energy company that uses 100% wind as it's source instead of using a company like AEP, which uses 60% coal-fueled power plants to generate energy, and 23% natural gas. (Source 4) Both being fossil fuels, coal and natural gas are two of the worst sources, and they do some of the most damage to our environment. (Source 5) The government has even made a page to help you find better energy companies! (Source 6)
Using electronics and energy less will not only positively impact our environment, but it also has a positive effect on your life.
SOURCES:
1) http://news.health.com/2014/09/29/healt … of-nature/
2)https://www.southuniversity.edu/whowear … ime-113366
3) http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/?pag … nvironment
4)https://www.aep.com/about/MajorBusiness … eneration/
5) http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our- … ts-of.html
6) https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/locate-g … -suppliers
Sorry for the long list of sources...





