Put or shut up, what's your Earth score??? What do you do now? What can you do better?

[Rosemary2205]

www.liveearth.org

mine was 257. My husband and I spew 10 tons of carbon into the air. Suggestions they gave me for reducing that is to


1. Get a more fuel efficient lift van when I can afford to do so. If I can get 10 more Mpg in my next van I can reduce my carbon output down to 5 tons.

2. demand and buy more green energy from my electric company.

3. Use more cloth bags than I already do.

4. I also found out if I can afford to do so, flying out of town once a month instead of driving will cut my carbon output by another ton. -- this may be very difficult to do though because of special transport needs on the other end and the difficulties of flying with a power wheelchair.



I already use some cloth bags, buy locally when I can, reuse recycle a limited number of items, CFL lights that I turn off when out of the room, turn off the PC, TV etc when I am not using it and turn off the monitor even when I step away for a short time, combine trips and carpool with other wheelies. My A/C stays around 80 and the heat stays 60-65. I have a HVAC maintance service that completely shuts off the gas to the pilot light on my furnace in the summer.

So howsbout ya'll???

[CountAllVotes]

1. I came out at 191

I guess that is pretty good isn't it? :D

:kick:

[Rosemary2205]

3. The lowest is 150 so I'd say darn good.

The average in the US is 350 and it goes up to 900.

[CountAllVotes]

36. that was for 2 people btw!

I guess we're doing good here alright. I live in a house that is very energy efficient (heavily insulated and made out of solid redwood). The power bill is about $50 a month this time of the year for a small 2 bedroom house that is 1200 sq. feet total including an attached garage. Sometimes I wish the house was bigger.

We own ONE 4-cylinder car that gets about 30 MPG. The car is driven ~3,000 miles a year. We recycle and do everything we can to help save the planet.

I recently invested money in 4 LED lights for the house. I don't know how much they save but they are used a lot where they are placed.

That is about my story more or less I think. I also buy locally made food as much as I can too. :)

:kick:

[flvegan]

2. Mine's 281

Not a single question about diet.

An odd score, considering that I telecommute, drive less that 5k miles per year (getting around 30mpg), I don't eat meat and have all CFC lighting. Matter of fact, I don't turn on a single light bulb until it gets dark out (I have that many windows).

[Rosemary2205]

5. I wonder

how much of your score has to do with community you live in - the carbon footprint of providing services to you, electrical/gas usage etc. :shrug:

[flvegan]

10. I think

that most of the score comes from my electric bill ($200) and that I don't have any green energy (solar, etc). I recycle everything, power everything down when I'm not using them, etc.

I'm hoping to put solar panels on the roof next year. I get a lot of exposure in the east, unblocked by trees, etc. It's a good investment, having a good return both in a monetary means and in a responsibility means.

[baldguy]

4. 271

9 tons of carbon

[rox63]

6. 263 here

7.6 tons of carbon per year

[RB TexLa]

7. 447

[IChing]

8. 237 n/t

[FLSurfer]

9. I feel like there were many questions left un-asked.

I got 232 and guess I feel good about it.
I expected lower. Vegetarian that rides a bike to work ...etc.

Maybe my expectations are unrealistic.

[IChing]

12. Meat intake should be in the equation

I eat some but not very much.

[SharonRB]

11. I did it last week and can't remember what my number was

Here's what I had already done, though:

I changed most of my lightbulbs to CFLs (but ran out of bulbs -- I'm buying more at Costco tomorrow to do the rest) and am careful about turning lights and appliances off when not in use.

I use reusable grocery bags (great ones are available at www.1bagatatime.com for $1.99 each).

I'm planning to buy carbon offsets for any flying I do -- they're really inexpensive. www.terrapass.com

I'm paying for renewable energy with my utility company at an extra $.02 per kwh.

I've unplugged a few things -- microwave, coffee maker, DVD player -- when not in use, but there are others with clocks we just won't turn off. They'd have to be reset everytime they're turned back on.

I got an initiative started where I work -- we've stopped using styrofoam and bought recycled, recyclable, dishwasher safe plastic plates for everyone and plastic mugs. We showed Kilowatt Ours (www.kilowattours.org) and will be showing other movies like "An Inconvenient Truth," "Who Killed the Electric Car?" etc. We purchased recycling bins for the office and told everyone to put all paper, not just confidential stuff, in the shredding bins. We're posting tips for saving energy on the bulletin boards and will be doing other things to educate everyone and get them on the right path.

I started turning my monitor off at work at night -- they won't let us turn out computers off because they push updates down at night sometimes. I tried to get this changed, but they won't budge for now.

I already eat very little meat.

We bought a programmable thermostat last year.

When my lease is up on my car next year, I plan to get either a smart car or a MINI Cooper.

Oops -- almost forgot. We recycle all paper, plastic, metal and glass. We have great curbside recycling in our community.

[Rosemary2205]

18. Great links!! thanks!

:)

[SharonRB]

39. You're very welcome!

[orleans]

48. CHRISTMAS PRESENTS! BIRTHDAY PRESENTS!

from one bag at a time!!!

PERFECT!!!

thanks for the great link!

[Control-Z]

13. Score 254 - carbon output 7 tons

I'm working on it.

Have replaced my refrigerator, full AC system, and dishwasher with energy savers. I've replace 75% of my light bulbs so far, am attempting to recycle more, and have installed bamboo flooring (downstairs).

[Rosemary2205]

17. I have to ask you about your bamboo floors.

I'm thinking of putting them in the main living area of my house instead of more carpet. I'd like to know

Can bamboo floors be refinished?

How has your finish held up - how long have you had them.


I'm concerned because we had wood floors when I was a kid and those things turned out to be very high maintainance to keep them looking decent. 6 kids playing on them and beating them up took a fast toll -- not to mention the dining chairs pulled in and out all the time.

I'm thinking with my wheel chair I'll beat up bamboo floors pretty quick.


Given your experience with your what do you think??

[Control-Z]

47. I had wood floors in my kitchen

and carpet throughout most of the downstairs. Both extremely beat up from kids and pets even before the "flood" that forced me to replace them.

I love the bamboo so far - beautiful, easy to clean - but it is too soon to say how it will hold up. (just installed this past December, 06) The only wear I've noticed so far has been from sharp objects and it's been minimal considering the kids and pets. I keep area rugs to help warm up the rooms and soften the blows to the floor - like chairs being pulled in and out from the table. I've even had some potential water damage that would have ruined the finish on wood but had no effect on the bamboo's finish. There was, initially, a slight warping of the planks but that remedied itself after drying out.

Do be sure you buy the highest quality bamboo, though. I've heard nightmare stories about people who bought from questionable manufacturers.

[Rosemary2205]

49. Thanks for the pics!

Beeeeeaaautiful floors!

[supernova]

14. 417

I wonder if it's because I live alone.

I'm doing about all I can do from where I am, but I would like to be lower. :shrug:

[IChing]

29. I live alone but live in a very mild climate winters and summers

If you can cut your energy output for your house that would cut a lot.
There is a lot of little things you can do. Hang in there.

[JTG of the PRB]

15. I got a 223.

I guess my coal-powered laptop really isn't an efficient device, but it lets me access the Internets and the Google most of the time, and the nuclear-powered laptop I've had my eye on doesn't come out until NEXT year.

[The_Commonist]

16. 216

5 tons of carbon per year.

[blues90]

19. Mine is 186

They don't go back to 1973 VW's but I went as close as possible .

We only use one lamp at a time and unplug all rechargers and have the ridge set to only maintain the required temps . rarely use a/c unless it's over 100 degrees . Use little water for showers , the old wet water off and rinse . We always use our own bags for grocerys and always recycle and do alot of walking to stores since they are close .

We even eat bread crust ends . and reuse aluminum foil and anything else . I even take our furnature apart if no one wants it and reuse the wood for projects . We waste nothing .

[WolverineDG]

20. I'm too embarassed

:blush:

I have to drive in & out of town a lot, fly a lot, etc. But Sharon posted the TerraPass info, so I'm looking to buy offsets to help balance things out until I can get a better car & figure out the public transportation system in this town.

dg

[debbierlus]

33. Don't be embarrassed - the point is to know the impact & then approve

:)

[Labors of Hercules]

21. My wife and I together are 227...

Does that mean we're 113.5 each??? :P

[melody]

22. 166

But there's always more we can do.

[Horse with no Name]

23. Well for a family of 5 with 3 necessary cars

because we live in a rural area...our score is 390, or 18 tons.
We can do better.

[Reader Rabbit]

24. 298

A bit disappointing, but I suspect that a lot of that comes from my old oil furnace. Even with tax incentives and credits, I can't afford to get a new one yet. My oil company is starting to offer biodiesel blends, though.

I don't have A/C, and I have my heater at 62 in the winter--and only when I'm home and awake. It kinda bums me out that my score wasn't lower. :(

[NMMNG]

25. 240 n/t

[Canuckistanian]

26. 397. I need to improve.

I think it's our cars that are doing it.

We live in the country and can't avoid the long trip to the city where our jobs are.

But we could be smarter about our choice of cars.

[amandabeech]

27. I have significantly reduced my footprint in the last 12 months.

I'm working on keeping it that way.

Using public transit to go to work.

Walking to the grocery store most of the time.

Living in a better-made house that uses much less fuel to heat and cool.

Recycling more--due to more opportunities in new living arrangement.

Unplugging my home computer when I'm not using it.

Trying to avoid using the TV and computer at the same time.

Turning off all the monitors in my work area when I'm the last to leave.

Working at a place that just last week took up the local trade association's challenge to use less electricity and plastic.

[marlakay]

28. Mine was 253

We recycle, use cloth bags, don't drive alot anymore now that semi-retired. I drive scooter to work. Bought energy appliances for new home. Have bubble cover on pool. Dress warm in winter and turn off heater at night, air is on 80 in the summer. Turn off lights and computer. Buy the right lights.

I know I could do more...next car will be more gas efficient. Don't want to spend the money now.

[Pastiche423]

30. 158

I don't/can't drive.

[bluedigger]

31. About average, I guess...255

I live in a tiny apartment already and drive a Jeep so until that dies and needs replacement I don't have a lot of room to improve my score - just resist consumerism!

[debbierlus]

32. 293

I need to find out more about purchasing clean energy. I wish they would put in how much your purchase second hand/used. Almost everything I own from furniture to clothing is vintage or second hand. That has got to make some impact on a carbon footprint :)

[Xenotime]

34. 282

My friend was 600+. He's in sales and travels quite a bit.

I suggested that he buy carbon credits and add them to his corporate expense account.

[Bjorn Against]

35. I got 191

I buy carbon offsets as well so I am doing pretty good, but I will be the first to admit I could do much better.

[Critters2]

37. 258

But there were some things I wish it had taken into account. LIke, I buy carbon offsets and don't eat meat. But I did okay.

[Irishonly]

38. Mine 220

[Alexander]

40. Mine's 246

I drive a fuel-efficient car and bike around a lot.

[sandnsea]

41. 215

I could stand to add a few more bulbs, recycle more and get some sort of container to bring groceries home. Bags actually have been a stupid idea for a long time. Bread smashes, eggs break, bags break. Time to live a new/old way.

[TahitiNut]

42. 221 / 2

So, *MY* score is 110.

[SeattleGirl]

43. Mine is 187. n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

44. I got a 269, but they didn't allow me to fill in everything acurately

We drive very low mileage on a 1973 VW Karmann Ghia, but their choice of years for cars only went back to 1985.

No matter, this was a good exercise and certainly an important day.

[HeeBGBz]

45. 331

Not that great.

[AlGore-08.com]

46. 217 - - I'm about as far down as I can go without moving, which is a long term goal of mine

For example, I don't have the option of having green power where I live, and my family lives halfway across the continent. I fly out to see them once a year.

[fishwax]

50. in the lower 200s for two people

I'm happy with that, though I hope I can get back into a few habits that will drop it even further ...

[Art_from_Ark]

51. I have to question some of the parameters

The first one is based on cost, not amount, of electricity/gas used. Here in Japan, electricity tends to cost 2 to 2 1/2 times more than in the my home state, but in terms of kilowatt hours my household consumption is only about 120-130 kwh in all but the winter months.

The second one is based on model/year of car, not miles per year divided by miles per gallon (or kilometers per liter). My car was not even listed in the choices. It has a little 700cc engine, and gets about 17 kilometers per liter, or about 40mpg, on the crappy roads around here.