Five Ways to Drive Yourself Carbon Crazy
by Jennifer Ritter, CU INDEPENDENT.COM, February 11, 2010
Perhaps the stupidest activity I took part in this week was researching carbon footprint tracking for a news story. Initially, I thought the process would be insightful and prompt me to love the environment just a little bit more. However, the results simply frustrated me.
Google “carbon footprint tracking” and you will find hundreds of hits, none of which coincide with each other.
First, I tried ecohatchery.com and began calculating my carbon footprint to see just how terrible my life is to the environment. Honestly, the results made me feel pretty good about myself! I scored an 18.63, well below the stated 30.9 American average household footprint, according to ecohatchery.com.
Next, I visited The Nature Conservancy Web site to try again. A 32 compared to the average 27, according to nature.org! Wait, what? I thought I already proved myself an environmental godsend. A third visit to e-bluehorizons.com informed me that my score yet again varied; this time I was a 20.8.
Overall, I learned a few lessons about carbon footprint tracking that must be shared.
1. If you drive a car, take a long distance bus, fly on a plane, cross the ocean in a boat—just don’t do it. Every extra mile you drive, fly, whatever, you hurt the environment that much more.
So, it’s time to start planning ahead. Oh, so you need to visit home next weekend? Where do you live? Only as far as Aurora? You’ll only have to walk for 13 hours, according to Google Maps. Not bad, just watch the highways. Those other carbon-footprint increasers drive fast.
Wait, you live in New York? You’ll need to get started 24 days in advance, according to Google Maps. [Read rest of article]