According the to goBEYOND carbon footprint calendar, I am responsible for emitting 6.64 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
Living in residence has a huge effect on this amount because I do not emit any CO2 for my daily commute and only 1.2% of my emissions are from my accomodation. I feel that number is inaccurate though as I had to answer ‘I don’t know’ to a lot of the questions regarding heating, water etc. If I was living in my own place I would have control over my utilities and would be able to give more precise answers.
The same ‘I don’t know’ principle applies to my food. 43.3% of my emissions is due to my diet and although I know that my diet is very meat heavy, I once again had to select ‘I don’t know’ regarding where the food came from.
The most astonishing figure for me, however, is that 55% of my CO2 emissions is from long distance travelling. Living on campus I take the bus a short distance maybe once or twice a week, drive my little Yaris when I go home on occasional weekends, and take approximately one vacation to England a year…and that amounts to 3.5 tons of CO2? Wow.
I would like it if the website gave me some numbers to compare mine too because I have no idea if 6.64 is good or bad. Knowing what a ‘good’ number is would give me something to work towards.
I know that living in residence there is not much that I can do right now to change my footprint as I am not in control of my food or utilities, but once I move into my own place in September, I will retake this test and then begin my mission to reduce it.