7_3_journal_ENV_344
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Southern New Hampshire University *
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Course
344
Subject
Geography
Date
Nov 24, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
3
Uploaded by jfoll
Katie Letson
ENV-344
7-3 Journal
8/12/2023
I used the global footprint network footprint calculator, and it told me that my overshoot
day is March 12 and if everybody lived like me it would take 5.1 earths to sustain everyone.
The
results shocked me because I try to do many things to keep my carbon footprint as low as
possible.
It
was a little hard for me to believe that if everyone lived like me it would take 5.1
earths to sustain us.
I can’t imagine how others that don’t make an effort to lessen their footprint
results looked like.
I feel that I could eat less meat and buy more local items.
It would be good for me to
start by giving up more than one dinner a week to vegetables.
If I changed to a complete 3 days
a week having all three meals without meat it would impact carbon emissions greatly and lessen
my carbon footprint.
I also sometimes try to buy locally but I don’t look for or seek out if
something was grown locally enough.
If there is not a big sign that says, “Grown Locally” I
don’t go out of my way to seek locally grown or raised food.
I live in a wood-built house that is much bigger than I need for one person, and I use
wood heat only.
I know that when I cut down trees and burn the wood it converts that carbon
into CO
2.
This increases the concentration of CO
2
in the atmosphere.
There are many ways that I
could reduce my carbon footprint by choosing another heat source and replacing the wood stove.
I know that if I were to burn oil or gas it wouldn’t release as much carbon dioxide into the air as
wood burning does.
If I installed central heating and air, I would lessen my carbon footprint
considerably.
I don’t have a good excuse for why I haven’t switched to a more sustainable type
of heat yet, but I know that holding it off any longer isn’t an option either.
The county is even
offering an incentive program that will provide you with a better more carbon friendly heat
1
source and install it for you.
They also buy your old woodstove for $300.00 cash if you make
the change.
So, there is no better time than now to do this.
I barely drive my new car because I work from home, and I do school online.
I don’t
have to go very far usually.
From day to day it will vary but I can choose walking or riding my
mountain bike instead.
I almost never choose to walk or ride the 20 miles I drive each week.
I
really need to start doing that more often and carpooling whenever possible as well.
I also never
tell my friends and neighbors when I am going shopping so they can ride with me.
I am going to
try to set up a carpool for things like that and be sure to at least offer this to the people that are
close so we can decrease the footprint through that effort.
The other thing I am guilty of is buying products with excessive packaging and ridiculous
amounts of plastic and paper products that are only used for looks.
I am not exactly sure what
the excessive packaging is for most of the time.
I tell myself that because I buy all my clothing
used or made from recycled materials,
it isn’t as bad for me to buy processed and heavily over-
packaged items that aren’t clothing and shoes.
I know that is not a true or a reasonable
rationalization.
I should be buying less packaging or no packaging whenever I can and refuse to
buy items that are heavily packaged or processed whenever possible.
I live by myself in a house with 4 bedrooms which is excessive, and I will be moving in
November.
I am going to be moving into a house that is much smaller and better for reducing
my carbon footprint.
This house that I will be moving into has some really cool features such as
a
green roof insulation for the structure.
There is a bunch of Cotula hispida, acaena, thyme,
allium, sempervivums, and sedums plants on the roof that have been growing for years on this
house’s roof.
They reflect the sun away from the structure in the summer and in the winter, they
assist in holding in heat.
This should also reduce my carbon footprint.
2
I do know that anthropogenic-caused global warming should be at the top of our list of
immediate concern for government, policy makers, and society. Yet,
109 representatives and 30
senators have refused to show any acknowledgment of scientific proof backed by evidence of
human-caused climate change[ CITATION Mar21 \l 1033 ].
If we could get policy makers,
government, and society to accept that this problem is real and must be addressed now we would
be much better off than we are currently. People must accept this is a crisis and there is no choice
but to come up with a plan to get people to make changes to reduce their carbon footprint.
I have
to mention that I have spoke with people in my community about the carbon emissions problem
and anthropogenic caused climate change and the majority of the people did not even know that
we were the cause of the climate change or that they could help by reducing their carbon
footprint.
I do believe that making people aware and educated on this subject is a large part of a
solution. I need to start implementing some changes into my own life instead of putting this off
because we don’t have time to wait.
I also would benefit from being honest with myself about
my efforts and stop making illogical rationalizations that only make me feel better temporarily.
This assignment made me realize this.
3
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