According to the goBEYOND calculator, my carbon footprint is 7.65 tonnes per year. Even after I’ve went through the whole process of getting that number, I’m still not sure where I stand. However, the feedback I got was pretty reasonable, so I’ll assume that I lie within the majority.
Assuming that my score is not ridiculously high or low, I’m not surprised at my 7.65 carbon footprint. I’m conscious of the fact that I take public transit as opposed to driving a car, maintain some diet of organic/local foods, and don’t leave the heaters on 24/7.
In my case, food and shelter combined for about 80% of my score. The simple practice of buying and consuming organic or local foods can be further implemented into my daily life. However, I would take a minor hit financially, as these options tend to be more expensive.
I have little technical knowledge of the “electrical” part of my house, and since clicked “I don’t know” as answers for about 5 questions, the score may not be accurate. However, simply from reading the questions, I felt more in control of my situation. I never knew there were blankets used for covering water heaters, and even for somebody as “appliance-disabled” as me, I can probably drape a thermal sheet over the heater.
I remember the visitor to our class a few weeks ago fairly clearly: the CEO of the energy displayer gadget. This carbon footprint calculator works in similar ways: the first step to improvement is identification. I will definitely recalculate my score soon and strive for improvement =)