What is your ecological footprint?

[Blueberry]

Peoples perceptions of the size house you "need" are mind boggling. My co-workers keep telling me that I'm out of my mind if I consider any house with less than 1400 square feet. We currently live in a 950 sq ft condo...there's only two adults in our household what on earth would we do with 1400 sq ft??

We've been trying to buy a smaller place (mostly because there would be less to clean). Long story (and bad seller's agent), but we didn't get the one we wanted. Smaller houses in nice neighborhoods around here are hard to find. The one we wanted was 1250 square feet. The folks at work thought I was certifiable.....

Disease affluenza indeed - I can relate

[emily_in_nc]

I wonder why the quiz doesn't give credit for not having any children? Without children, we generate less trash, use less energy, and consume less food and all sorts of goods. I can't take credit for making a decision not to have children for ecological reasons -- we were infertile. It's just a bit surprising that that fact doesn't lower our "footprint".

Emily

[Grog]

I wonder why the quiz doesn't give credit for not having any children? Without children, we generate less trash, use less energy, and consume less food and all sorts of goods. I can't take credit for making a decision not to have children for ecological reasons -- we were infertile. It's just a bit surprising that that fact doesn't lower our "footprint".

Kids have their own footprint.

The calculation is just for yourself (ex: if there's four people in your household, then each has its own footprint).

[emily_in_nc]

Kids have their own footprint.

The calculation is just for yourself (ex: if there's four people in your household, then each has its own footprint).

Ah, I see. So even though my individual footprint is high, my DH's would be lower (since he's retired and rarely drives), and since we have no children, our total "household footprint" could be lower than a larger family's.

I feel a tiny bit better now.

Emily

[mimitabby]

CATEGORY ACRES
FOOD 4.9
MOBILITY 0.7
SHELTER 5.7
GOODS/SERVICES 4.4
TOTAL FOOTPRINT 16



IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 24 ACRES PER PERSON.

we'd need 3. some planets if everyone lived like me!!!

I've been avoiding this thread because I know i could do better.

[mimitabby]

Ah, I see. So even though my individual footprint is high, my DH's would be lower (since he's retired and rarely drives), and since we have no children, our total "household footprint" could be lower than a larger family's.

I feel a tiny bit better now.

Emily

no, Emily the more people per house the better.
so you need to have 8 kids.