The ice caps are disappearing. The world’s government’s can’t agree on how to reduce emissions. The Kyoto Protocol runs out in 2012. There’s more arguing than there is action. Are you doing anything at all? Do you pay attention to your own energy consumption? Do you shut your computer off every night? Cycle instead of drive? Take public transportation? Does it seem futile? Or can one generation’s actions add up to accomplish something?
Do you pay attention to your carbon footprint?
9 Responses to “Do you pay attention to your carbon footprint?”
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I don’t take any drastic measures to reduce my carbon footprint, but I am conscious of it, and I think that alone makes me act in a positive manner. I turn off lights, and turn down heat when I’m not home. I don’t print anything. I use CFL bulbs. I recycle. When faced with the option of buying something that’s environmentally friendly versus not, I go green. None of these actions have any serious impact on my life, but tally them up, and I like to think I’m doing *something* to curb my environmental impact.
I have never bought into the Carbon footprint movement, and likely never will. I have a strong educational background in Energy, so I by no means waste energy. When I make energy saving decisions, it’s because it makes economic sense for my budget. CO2 gets allot of attention because of the sheer volume at which it is being produced. Given that we have likely seen the end of peak Oil, changing one’s driving habits won’t change the outcome on CO2 production (China will be happy to buy & burn every gallon you don’t). The biggest concern of the Global warming movement SHOULD be methane, as it is much more damaging and is produced from renewable sources that we love. While we produce about 10x more CO2 than methane, methane absorbs 21x more infrared radiation (meaning it’s doing much more damage than CO2). The largest sources of methane are landfills (anaerobic decomposition of trash) and cattle (flatulence). In summary, you’ll save those cuddly polar bears much more efficiently by cutting back on the amount of garbage you produce and eating less meat.
I hate to say it, but not really. I want to bike, but I can’t stomach the idea of showering at work or being smelly all day. I want to recycle but (believe it or not) it’s forbidden by my landlady. I do try to limit my energy consumption and I take public transportation, but the primary factor there is my budget rather than my desire to save the planet…
I have made many little changes, but probably not where it counts. I try to bring my own bags to the store and I turn plastic bags down whenever I don’t really need one. On the other hand I have a car that I love, and I drive all over NE with it. I make sure I recycle my bottles, but I know I should really be finding ways not to buy any. The awareness is there, but not a lot of action. Maybe a good news years resolution…
I sold my car and moved to London this year. Public transport here is way better than in smaller cities and it’s so much cheaper than running a car. I can’t bring myself to cycle, the weather is just not ok for that.
I get my groceries online from Ocado, an online-only supermarket that claims to remove 40 cars from the road per day with each of their delivery vans, they take their biodegradable bags back off me and they put a little green van icon next to the time slots that they’re already in my area so I can save more emissions if I’m flexible on time.
Also use CFL bulbs too, got 15 from ebay for £20 and shared them with my housemates. Does house-sharing count? I share my house, bills and essentials with 8 people!
No. The cost of energy is my Primary motivator. I’d like to see more investment in clean tech, so I can keep my lifestyle and drop the guilt. It seems doable, but the whole movement seems to be about lifestyle change instead of technology and infrastructure. Makes me wonder, why? We’re all taught about how bad Carbon is as a Generation, and grow up pretty politicised into the debate by default. If the cost of my energy went up, I’d use less, which means Carbon taxes would have a lower windfall… The whole thing is self defeating. Lets just go balls out for Nuclear Fission. It solves ALL our problems, and nobody seems to be talking about it. It’s clean, produces massive amounts of energy & doable with enough investment.
Yes and no. I’m conscious about turning off lights and a/c when I leave a room, but that’s more because my father always pounded that into my head and less because I’m trying to be green. In fact, I never recycle and my SUV in America averaged about 13 miles/gallon.
But! I currently live in a house with no electricity or running water, compost regularly, grow my own food, and ride my bike to get everywhere, so I’d say my carbon footprint is currently as small as it gets. But that’s only because I’m in the Peace Corps, not because I’m actively trying to reduce my carbon footprint.
However, I just read the book Getting Green Done, by Auden Schendler, and it changed my life. I didn’t really care about the Green Movement until I read it. Now, when I get back to the US, I plan to keep living green. I want to keep composting and gardening, and hope to invest in solar energy.
I’m in Marnie’s boat (well, her first paragraph).
I don’t pay much attention to my carbon footprint. I’m very aware of the issues, but I’ve been rather agnostic and lazy about making the effort.
But, for more economical issues, I do pay attention to my energy consumption, my vehicle usage and ways to increase MPG, and I recycle.
I have never bought into the Carbon footprint movement, and likely never will. I have a strong educational background in Energy, so I by no means waste energy. When I make energy saving decisions, it's because it makes economic sense for my budget. CO2 gets allot of attention because of the sheer volume at which it is being produced. Given that we have likely seen the end of peak Oil, changing one's driving habits won't change the outcome on CO2 production (China will be happy to buy & burn every gallon you don't). The biggest concern of the Global warming movement SHOULD be methane, as it is much more damaging and is produced from renewable sources that we love. While we produce about 10x more CO2 than methane, methane absorbs 21x more infrared radiation (meaning it's doing much more damage than CO2). The largest sources of methane are landfills (anaerobic decomposition of trash) and cattle (flatulence). In summary, you'll save those cuddly polar bears much more efficiently by cutting back on the amount of garbage you produce and eating less meat.