my ecological dinosaur footprint!

So my calculated ecological footprint is terrible...absolutely terrible. 43.75 acres.

This makes me terribly sad especially as I have always considered myself not wasteful.
Most of my footprint just as my trash came from my food consumption. Especially taxing of this category was my consumption of protein. Protein sources (pork, chicken, turkey, beef, fish) alone accounted for 79,140 sq yds or 64.4% of my food footprint. I consume so much protein because of my workout regiment which requires me to consume a third of my calories from protein. It is interesting to note that even with only a third of my diet, protein accounts for almost two-thirds of my footprint. I believe this is so because sources of protein are higher up in the food chain and require more processing, effort, and resources to harvest. One needs to not only feed the animal but also transport it, care for it, give it space to roam, and ultimately process it. This requires a lot of energy so it makes sense that protein is so taxing on the environment. One positive factor in my food consumption was that I did not consume any margarine (FF of 1208) which was both beneficial to my health and preserved the environment.

For my monthly housing footprint the major contributor to my footprint was the use of energy from the grid. It wasn't that it had a particularly high footprint factor but that the majority of my energy came from this source. Also to note that because my dorm room is so small as well as being relatively new, I was able to save square footage and conserve more resources. My transportation footprint was based on my travels with my floor mate who has a car. Because he had a car, I rarely ever used the bus system which is less convenient but more beneficial for the environment. Gasoline as expected was a major factor in my footprint. Of my goods and services education had the biggest role not because I used too many resources but mainly because as a student I am always in school. I feel like my monthly stocks footprint is lower than the average American because I do not have much furniture in my petite dorm room. my waste was high due to rampant use of disposable items such as paper napkins and plastic bottles.

In comparison to the average American I am wayyyyyyy over! In fact I use 182.30% more acres and if everyone lived the way I did we would need 9.31 new planets to support ourselves. This is terrible news. However I feel iffy on my findings. I don't eat that much more, I don't have a car, I live in a minuscule dorm room, I recycle, I am attempting to eliminate my use of water bottles, and I am conscientious (not necessarily 100% pursuing) of my goals in sustainable living. However as the numbers add up, I surely am a villainous waster of our planets resources. I am sure that such actions come from the university's bountiful resources being established as commons. In the dining hall food is virtually limitless with one swipe of a bruin card. There are no repercussions for wasted food. In the dorms utilities are paid for and so there is no limit on the amount of energy or hot water used. The resources of the university presents a challenge: limit one's usage.

I plan on reducing...big time.

my short term goal, which I hope to achieve by the end of this quarter is to:
-eat lower on the food scale
-waste less food
-stop using plastic water bottles
-turning the sink off when I brush my teeth
-riding my bike to places i need to go
-Also I will limit my usage in all of the other categories except education...I will not drop out of school.

my medium term goal is also my final project:
-I will be living in the Theta Xi fraternity house and will hopefully take over the position of sustainability chair. I am currently beginning to look after the compost bin on the lot.
-I will also seek to expand my knowledge by educating the other brothers on how to live sustainably within the house.
-I will continue to expand my efforts on my short term goals

For my long term goal I will:
-work to cement the sustainable practices I developed into my day to day life.
-I will spread my knowledge and help others to lead better lives in an ecological sense.
-I will do more community service that aids the environment such as restoration and spreading awareness.


I believe that such practices are without a doubt doable. Going green is not that hard (at times) It wont take much effort to eat all the food on my plate before getting a new one, nor would it take much more time filling up my aluminum water bottle than cracking open and eventually discarding a plastic one. These changes aren't so difficult, it is just difficult to ingrain it into our daily lives and mentalities. I will work hard to change my outlook and on my wastefulness and hopefully the rest will follow.