I live with six other people in family and I am sure that our family footprint is high, but if I had a my own home, I would get solar panels on the top of my roof so that I can reduce the use of electricity, I could stay less time in the shower to waste less water, and I could turn the lights off every time I leave a room. These little things can make a difference in a few years rather than if you lived in a house that wastes a lot of electricity and water. Another way you can reduce your family footprint is by driving an electric car or riding a bicycle to school or work. Riding a bike would be a good exercise and and would not harm the environment.

I agree that it is more difficult to maintain a small carbon footprint when living in a house with lots of people. My family is currently visiting from the Phillipines and since they are not working or at school like my mom and I are, they have been using electricity during the times when the house is usually empty. To add onto it, since there are more people there's more food being eaten and water being used- further increasing their carbon footprints. I think it would help both of us decrease carbon footprints by making our families aware that their constant activities make a huge impact on the well-being of the Earth. Maybe if they are conscious of their impact on the world they'll take little things into consideration like shortening their shower times like you're doing.