Ecological Footprint Recalculated

Recalculated footprint:

 

Original Footprint:

 

I was actually really excited to see that my footprint went down throughout the quarter. Although, I made small changes I didn't realize how much of a positive impact my changes would have. Even though I'm still using 4.51 earths ( compared to 4.94) I was still proud that the changes I made were reflected in my recalculated footprint.

 

My three goals were:

1. Reduce my footprint by only eating out (either sit-down or fast food) one day a week.

2.Only eat meat once a day, except two days a week I would go vegetarian.

3.Take shorter showers.

After evaluation of my goals during the middle of the quarter, I realized I needed to put more effort into making a bigger impact by making my goals a little more challenging. Through this is when I decided that I needed to go vegetarian two days a week, but I also realized that I had been letting a few of my goals slip away as the quarter went on. After this I thought that I needed to put more effort into making sure I succeeded with the goals that I had set out to accomplish. I am happy to say that most weeks (I can't say I didn't slip up and take a long shower or go out to eat a few times in a week), I was fairly successful. By realizing the importance of these goals I was able to reduce my ecological footprint by .43 earths!

 

After this course in sustainability, I realize how important it is that I continue to make positive changes. I believe that I can continue these goals and even improve upon them as well as adding goals in order to reduce my footprint even farther.







Who knew the impact of clothing?

We all struggle to recycle as much as we can, or try to share a ride with a friend when it is convenient in an effort to show that we put the environment first. Yet, it's interesting to think that we never even consider the impact that our clothing has on the environment. According to the World Bank, the textile industry is responsible for 20 percent of industrial pollution. Due to this it has been one company's mission to minimize the harm done in clothing production while improving the lives of workers involved.

Henry Schwab, and his wife Kate Fisher are the owners of a company called Synergy Clothing, which is a company all about sustainable alternatives. Not only do they the believe in treating employees fairly, but they also believe that they can have a positive impact on the environment. They pay above minimum wage and also ensure that everyone involved within the company, regardless of where it may be, should have safe working conditions. The company strives to improve sustainability on already popularized textiles such as cotton and silk, but they also try to incorporate new uses of seaweed and hemp. Schwab believes that these new ingredients could produce thousands of new blends, but currently they have only been promoted by those that are willing to invest the resources in promotion and funding. He believes that larger companies need to invest first in order to bring down prices and increase availability for the smaller manufacturers. By doing so, it will make it easier for these manufacturers and become more affordable for consumers to purchase these sustainable options.

Article Source: Triple Pundit

Hyundai reveals hydrogen fuel cell car

 

Car giants are becoming more aware to consumer demands as we move into a time where meeting environmental needs are more present. As car company's have moved from fuel powered cars to hybrids to electric, a new way has emerged. Hyundai plans to show their Intrado car concept at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show. The Intrado combines eye catching design with a hydrogen fuel cell engine. This engine uses a 36 kWh lithium ion battery that can recharge in only a few minutes. The vehicle will also be able to travel 370 miles. Hydrogen fuel cell cars would be even more positive for the environment as the only thing they emit for exhaust is water vapor. Hyundai realized the need for a unique design that could meet customer needs that they crafted from aircraft-inspired looks.

 

Honda and Toyota plan to introduce hydrogen fuel cell cars within a couple years.

 

Source (Image and Article): Blue&Green Tomorrow



600-year old trees in your dining room

 

I found it interesting that I stumbled across this article after we had discussed IKEA's sustainability efforts. Although, during this discussion I couldn't help but think that IKEA was the furthest from sustainable, despite all the "sustainable roots" claim they make. They promote the idea that furniture isn't supposed to last a lifetime and create furniture only lasts a few years.

 

IKEA recently had their Forestry Certification suspended which can be a serious blow to the company. IKEA's subsidiary, Swedwood, gained access to one of Europe's last forests located on the Finnish-Russian border. They only gained access on the conditions that they practiced sustainable logging practices, meaning they were unable to cut down old trees or trees on slopes in an effort to keep healthy ecosystems. Recently, Swedwood has been caught chopping down trees that are over 600-years old, which was against their conditions. However, IKEA has been using these to construct its flat-pack ready to assemble furniture. IKEA has since shut down operations in this region.

 

 

Article Source: IKEA might not be so sustainable after all

Image Source: Google

Ford is improving design

 

 

Ford revealed a new F-150 at the Detroit Auto Show in January. This new model plans shows Ford making a commitment to an improvement on the environment by reducing the weight of the model by 700lbs. In order to make this lighter weight model, Ford has used aluminum components similar to what is used by the military and aerospace. They have also developed an EcoBoost V-6 engine with start and stop technology that should help to further reduce fuel usage.  Research has suggested that due to the sheer volume of F-150's sold (760,000 in 2013) that the use of aluminum alloy could have a greater impact on the environment than their electric cars.

Source: The Guardian



Solar Panels in India

 

 

Simpa Networks, a technology company is trying to improve the lives of many in the state of Karnataka. The company has brought solar panels to many of the villages, providing even low income families making less than $2 a day. Simpa is targeting customers who have limited to no electricity power that are using kerosene lanterns which can be harmful to their health and safety. They are also targeting customers who have limited incomes who are unable to buy solar products, despite Simpa stating that they have a significant savings within ten years.

 

The question then is how is Simpa able to provide these $200-$400 products to villagers? The answer is product financing. Instead of paying the full price upfront, customers are able to make a small down payment to receive the solar panel and pre-pay for the energy use. Every payment towards energy also contributes to paying off the panel in full. Once the solar panel is paid off in full the system will unlock and the owners will be able to use the energy for the rest of the product lifetime. This type of product financing is giving way to an ability to provide people with more environmentally friendly products and services helping them to adopt new technologies.

 

Source (Image and article): The Guardian 

Mineral paper helping the environment

A Dunedin hairdresser was looking for a way to improve the way she dyes her clients hair. She has created a replacement for traditional foils with the use of a more environmentally friendly, easier to use mineral paper. The paper is made from industrial waste, that becomes wet giving it the ability to protect hair that is being colored. Due to this it will lead to less time spent coloring the hair. The paper can also be washed and reused.

Although the mineral paper is in the beginning stages of development, there is reason to believe that this new paper could become the international standard at salons. Ms. Buckingham, the Dunedin hairdresser, states that she has been in contact with distributors and wholesalers around the world which could lead to a major change in the industry. In fact, in the sixteen months that she has been using her new mineral paper, she has found that customers actually prefer it. Ms. Buckingham believes that she won't only be making profit, but it'll have a huge positive impact on the environment.

Source: 3news

Ecological Footprint Reduction Goals

How am I doing?
I remember being shocked at how many earths my lifestyle was using, and quite frankly a little disappointed and knew I needed to make a change.

1. My first goal to reduce my footprint was to only be eating out (either sit-down or fast food) once a week. This goal has actually been going really well. The only week I've slipped up is last week due to a busy work and school schedule. I've found that I've been less wasteful with the groceries I'm buying and I've been saving A LOT of money, which have both been really awesome bonuses to reducing my footprint. I'm going to continue with this goal as I feel like it has been challenging for me and I hope to eat out less and less.

2. My second goal was to only eat meat for one meal a day. This goal has also been going really well! I haven't really had any problems with this as I'm not a huge meat eater in the first place. So to improve this goal I'm going to try to have two days a week where I consume no type of meat. I feel like this may be more challenging for me, but I also feel like I'll be able to accomplish it.

3. My third goal was to take shorter showers. I can't say that this goal has been going as well as the other two. In the beginning I was making a conscious effort to decrease my time in the shower, but as time went on I slipped back into my old ways. I think that I can actually achieve the goal of taking under ten minute showers so in order to do this I'm going to buy a shower clock so I know exactly how long I'm taking and can make sure that I'm not going over my allotted time.

So what's next?
4. For goal number four I'm going to try to turn the heat down in my apartment. My roommate and I have a habit of leaving the heat on (relatively high) for long periods of time, even when we're not in the room. So I will ensure that every time I leave a room the heat goes off in that room. I would also like to try and not use the heat as frequently. This will be especially challenging right now since it's so chilly outside, but my hopes is that this will be easier to do as the year goes on!

The Power of Bicycles

 

 

Portland company B-Line Sustainable Urban Delivery is trying to change the way that goods are delivered by using bicycle powered freight delivery.  In 2009, Mr. Jones founded B-Line that delivers a range of goods including produce, baked goods, coffee, bike parts, office supplies, and an array of other things. The bikes cargo boxes are similar in size to small commercial vans (they are 60 cubic feet with a 600 pound capacity), but are having no negative impact on the environment. They currently have a fleet of 6 bikes that can make 150 deliveries a day according to Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones came up with this idea after realizing that delivery vans more often than not are not at full capacity. The company was expecting $400,000 in revenues in 2013.

 

 

Source: NY Times

In-Drive: Making me see my impact

 

In-Drive: Saving me money

Earlier this week I received my semi-annually statement for my car insurance. Although I was expecting the bill any day my heart sank as soon as I pulled it out of the mailbox. However, this time they were offering me a way to save money of up to 50%! I immediately began doing the research to figure out if this was something I was interested in, although I knew that saving that much money had me hooked.

 

In-drive is a device that is attached into your car and tracks how and where you drive. It then grades your driving (on an A-C scale) and determines your discount accordingly. These grades are based off of five criteria: annual mileage, left turns, right turns, braking, and acceleration.

 

So what's sustainable about that?

What I found interesting about this device was that it was able to help you drive greener with eco-data displays. It is able to tell you the MPG that you were getting on the highway and city, and also a combined measurement of the two. This device is also able to tell you what the carbon footprint is of your car! I think knowing this can make me more aware of the impact that my daily driving has on the environment and can help me to make wiser choices like not driving as often or carpooling more frequently.

 

Source: In-Drive

 

Ecological Footprint Update

Only a couple weeks into my footprint reduction, but I can see that my goals are actually being put into motion!

1. My first goal was to reduce my eating out consumption to only once a week and I can definitely see that I am working my way towards that goal. I can't say that I've only gone down to once a week, but I have definitely cut it down considerably. I am making more meals that will last me more than one day so I don't have to cook as often which has been helping considerably.

2. My second goal was to reduce meat intake to only once a day. I can say that this goal has gone the most positively. I haven't had any troubles cutting out meat for lunch or dinner (depending on the day) and have actually found that I'm eating a larger varieties of foods.

3. My third goal was to reduce my shower times. Although I have yet to put a timer in the bathroom I can ensure that I have cut down my shower times considerably. I try to "get in and get out" rather than stand in the shower like I usually would. I do occasionally still have that extra long shower, especially on cold mornings!



TRESemme

TRESemme-used by professionals
Unlike most products I've used I have been using TRESemme shampoo and conditioner for quite awhile. I usually like to change products every so often to experiment and see what I like, but I've found that for me TRESemme leaves my hair exactly how I want it; plus it smells amazing. The product I chose specifically was the Split Remedy shampoo.

Oh, the chemicals
Looking at the ingredients list is an overwhelming task. As I looked at each ingredient I realized they all had one thing in common from my perspective: I had no idea what any of them meant. Hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, glycol distearate, tocopheryl acetate, and the list continues. I couldn't help but think that my lack of understanding of the ingredients label didn't just end with my shampoos. This is a common thing in almost everything I buy. Maybe I've always had a belief that my products wouldn't be hurting me because what kind of company would produce something that could cause health risks. Maybe consumers lack of knowledge has gotten us into this situation in the first place.

After looking up my shampoo on EWG's Cosmetic Database I found that my product scored a 4, which was only a moderate risk on the scale. However, two of the ingredients in my product were ranked as high risk. One of those being DMDM Hydantoin, which scored a 7/10. According to The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics DMDM Hydantoin is already considered a known human carcinogen by many government bodies including the United States National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Although the cancer risks from absorbing are not as well studied, people can be exposed by inhaling the gases from the product.

Ingredients:
Water, sodium laureth sulfate, cocamidopropyl bataine, sodium chloride, dimethiconol, glycerin, fragrance, carbomer, styrene/acrylates copolymer, guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, tea-dodecylbenzenesulfonate, citric acid, glycol distearate, EDTA. DMDM hydantion, peg-45m, ppg-9, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, pvm/ma copolymer, polysorbate 20, cocamide mea, polyquaternium-28, mica (ci 77019), titanium dioxide (ci 77891)

Can I live without TRESemme?
The answer is, of course. I realize through this that I should be more aware of the products I am buying and what ingredients they contain. I use so many cosmetic products and I can only imagine what the rest of their ingredients are. When shopping I need to look for safer alternatives that can help to protect myself and the environment against these risky ingredients. Because lets face it-do I really want to be washing my hair with a product that has ingredients linked to cancer?

My Ecological Footprint

Let me start off by saying wow, this was not what I was expecting at all. I know that I'm not the most "earth conscious" consumer and it really showed when I saw my results. I try to recycle when I can and turn lights off when I'm not in the room, but I am aware that there is always more that I can be doing. What I found even scarier was that I was lower than the country average-by almost 1.5 earths! Although this is only a short quiz, it really shows how much more we can, and should be doing to protect our planet and sustain life for many years to come. Although I am only one person, I think that small steps by individuals are what is going to improve this planet for everyone.

1. My first goal to reduce my ecological footprint will be limiting my dining out on a weekly basis. With a busy work and school schedule it's easy to convince myself that eating out is the best solution. Not only does this contribute to a large consumption of unidentified food sources, but it is also an unhealthy lifestyle. By reducing my dining experiences to only one time a week, including fast food and sit down style meals I hope to reduce waste and become more aware of the places my food is coming from. I will attempt to plan meals and buy groceries I need to make these meals in an effort to reduce waste.

2. My second goal also has to do with food consumption as I felt like it was on par with the country average and I felt it would be the best for me to change. For my second goal I will try to go meatless for one meal a day (excluding breakfast because I normally do not consume meat for that meal). As I already do not consume any red meats (pig, cow, or lamb) it has been a goal of mine to continue to cut out the meats that I do consume. I feel that this will be a good start to reach the goal that I have been trying to see through for over a year.

3. My third goal will be to take shorter, less hot showers. I am addicted to taking long, hot showers and I realize this is not good for the environment or my bank account. In an attempt to take shorter showers I will try to limit myself to no longer than ten minute showers (this may not seem very short, but to me that is one quick shower!)

I hope that my goals will help to reduce my ecological footprint and I can continue to think of other ways to improve my impact on the environment.