Updated Eco-Footprint

I went into this expecting no particular change in my footprint as measured by the global footprint network, because I didn't change activities measured by that particular test. and I was right!

I've gone from 4.6 earths to 4.8! How did that happen?

In fact, I seem to be using even more resources, probably because I can more accurately measure our family's electricity usage. That is still the major source of my impact; the amount of energy needed to sustain my lifestyle. Here, go look at my old calculations!

As or my three goals, I succeeded wildly with one of them: composting! I have composted diligently this quarter, even as the compost bin slowed down and... stopped composting.

I was only somewhat successful with the effort to keep the heat down: it got really cold outside and my mother would crank up the heat, and visitors would often complain of the cold, giving my mom the excuse to turn up the heat. I was also unable to convince my parents to put our electronics on power strips with switches. Perhaps next quarter I can swing it.

I also did not do as well as I expected with my walking, again because of the weather and the cold. I still walked to school everyday, and oftentimes for extracurricular activities, but I never walked to the store for groceries. I did walk to some restaurants in Fairhaven, but then I started driving to my late-night group meetings, because it was cold and dark and raining.

I will be able to continue what behaviors I implemented this quarter: I like composting, and having compost, and I enjoy walking to school instead of driving. I may be able to get the heat turned down now that the snow is gone, but that's not something I can really change at the moment. However, we have noticed that there are a lot of drafts coming up through the floor: we are hoping to get some insulation blown in in the downstairs garage and keep some of the heat in that way.