Gaea

I like this Ecological Footprint survey which (kind of) lets you figure out how much of the Earth’s resources you consume (waste).Actually, what it lets you calculate is if everyone on Earth was like you, how many Earths would be need to supply them all.

I didn’t do so well, pretty much meant I’m a pig in the world ecology (my low score is just that above the average american).

Now some of this would change if we had good public transportation in Detroit (the motor city) and if I knew how “local” my food was produced. I.E. If I lived out more in the country I’m thinking my eggs, bacon, and beef(?) would all be considered more local. I got nailed for air travel (>10 hours a year), living alone and home square footage. But I live in a condo, not taking up any more space than the person below me, no yard and I walk a lot of stairs to get up to the third floor. The funny thing is that it appears that I scored (lost) lots of points for living alone which (likely) means I’m not increasing the world’s population.

(Calculator link updated in Jan. 2009).

So I’ve really been paying attention when recyling and breaking my cardboard out with all my other recycling (they didn’t used to take it). I didn’t think I had that much but I do!  

My recycle bin is much fuller and my trash bags are that much emptier.  That makes me feel a little bit better…