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 >
My footprint
When I was looking at my footprint I was very, very surprised. My purchases were relatively low but I want to start looking at and buying the things I need and not the things I want.
As far purchases, yes it can help only buying things that you need. But we can all admit that it’s relatively unrealistic. In my opinion, their is a way to balance it all and make environmentally safe purchases. When you do find yourself shopping, focus on local options before looking into big companies across the country. Buying your wants at companies like Patagonia, Dr. Bronners, and Pela that reuse, recycle and use some of their profit in helping the environment is an easy way to make a difference. In addition, when you do find yourself making impulse want purchases, simply ditching the bag or packaging helps. Yes, buying unnecessary wants instead of crucial needs is not the most responsible, but there is way to reward yourself with wants and buying your needs while making a positive impact on the environment.