I love all the tea suggestions you guys have/had for me!! Keep ‘em coming, I already added several to my grocery list (much to Kyle’s dismay).
Yesterday I felt sick for much of the day, so I don’t have many pics (it’s a sad day when culinary creations aren’t high on my to-do list). Instead of showing you bags of pretzels and bowls of oats, I am going to do a different kind of post.
While watching yesterday’s ellen, I was inspired to do a bit of research.
As a self-proclaimed “hippie,” I consider my lifestyle to be pretty Earth friendly – which is why I wanted to take a Carbon Footprint quiz. After some googling, I came across a website that seemed pretty inclusive. It asked a lot of detailed questions about how I live, and the results were interesting, so I thought I’d share.
It takes 22 global acres to support me. 24.2 TONS of carbon dioxide. Tons!?!? Geez.
Some surprising things:
1) “Services” takes up the largest part of my ecological footprint, which is one of the non-variable portions of the quiz…which means (regardless of my own personal choices) as an American, we do unavoidable damage. I use the word “unavoidable” reluctantly, because it shouldn’t be this way, but I’m not going to go all Michael Moore politico on you.
2) I fly A LOT…now, I’m not sure there’s an alternative really, but it’s still interesting. Each time I fly across the country to visit my family and friends on the West Coast, I’m doing mega-harm to the environment. What can I do though? Move to the West Coast? Don’t tempt me…
3) Veganism/vegetarianism is pretty amazing. Ok, this wasn’t a surprise at all, but I just wanted to highlight how easy it can be to help the environment. Not saying everyone should go vegetarian (or vegan), but it’s pretty fascinating how such a simple thing can make such a huge impact. Plus, how hard can it be to decrease your consumption of meat? I mean, just a little bit. Think of all the extra hummus you could eat in it’s place? And if that’s not convincing enough you’re crazy how about this little factoid:
Eliminating 1 serving of meat per week = 5 million cars off the road
(Check out Jonathan Safran Foer’s latest book for more interesting info)
I will say, however, that while taking the quiz, I was really pleased with some of the positive choices I do make.
- Public transportation – I don’t own a car and I take the subway or walk to work. I can count the number of times I have taken a cab in my life, I hate it so.
- Buy local, avoid processed crap – well, you all see exactly what I buy/eat, so enough said.
- Appliances – we don’t own a dishwasher and we have the smallest fridge ever, so being broke and ghetto does have some perks.
- Recycle – remember that old slogan reduce, reuse, recycle? Our apartment building separates everything to recycle. Plastic, paper, every single thing. Whenever I finally move out of NYC, I am so excited to compost (insert Kyle’s eye rolling here).
- BYOB – I bring my own bags for everything from grocery shopping to lunch packing. I took some photos to show you, too!! 😛
Goes from small clutch to big bag…
Voila!
It gets to be surprisingly huge (that’s what she said), and can hold lots of stuff, and then once you are done, it folds back up. I put it in my purse when I go out because I inevitably end up needing to carry stuff, and this is much more Earth friendly than holding separate bags from CVS, Barnes & Noble, and the Farmer’s market.
envitote is another great product…it is 100% canvas (a renewable resource) and can be used for literally everything.
The side panels are strong enough to prevent things from being crushed, and they are removable for washing or easy storage (it actually came with a cd with a video demonstration). Plus, the Velcro straps are adjustable, so it is perfect for whatever.
Incidentally, both can be purchased at my OpenSky shop. Anyways, I shall leave you with today’s lunch…
Avocado & hummus sando with some side veg. I am feeling better than yesterday, and although my stomach still didn’t want coffee (the horror!!), lunch was delicious.
I’m off to tackle some carob chips now.
How good is your carbon footprint (click here if you want to take the quiz)? What are some good things you do for the environment? What is something you want to change to improve your carbon footprint?
I hope you are feeling better!
I would love to live closer to family so that I don’t have to fly to see them–I think that would help my footprint a lot. I do recycle *everything*, reuse *everything* else, and like you, bring my own bags everywhere (gotta love the hippie upbringing, right?!) I took that carbon footprint quiz a while ago (last Earth Day maybe?) but I took it again, just for fun 🙂 14.2 global acres to support me, and 2.9 Planet Earths! How many planet Earths did you need?!??
Courtney
Great post. I am going to take the carbon footprint quiz but I’m scared- I have to drive to work everyday and I have been flying a lot lately. Yikes. But, I am eating a more vegetarian diet lately so that helps!
you must really not be feeling good if you’re skipping coffee. hope you feel better soon.
p.s. that avocado & hummus sandwich looks delish (but could use some cooch)
I am sure my flying would greatly impact my quiz as well. I fly home to CA and fly for work as well.
I haven’t taken the quiz, but I think my score would likely be similar to your, or at least better than it used to be! I neither fly nor drive a car as much as I once did, and I almost never eat meat anymore. Plus I recycle and reuse bags and all that good stuff.
You are a good hippie. 🙂
I need to take this quiz properly — I chose too many “I don’t know”s! 😉 It was interesting, though.
<3 <3
Thanks for sharing the site..its pretty cool. I took the test based on Calgary’s footprint but I’m in Vancouver…close enough. I need 5.4 global hectares.
I took one of those quizzes a few years ago, but I’m interested to see how my numbers have changed since I went almost vegan!
Such a great post, Elise. I must read that Foer book, like yesterday, seriously. And I also must forward your post to everyone I know. 🙂
wow you are like captain planet right here 🙂 i love it! i’m honestly always so impressed when i read your blog and how earthly friendly you are 🙂 like your starbreezies cup!
You inspired me to go find out what my carbon footprint is! And I wonder if I can make my husband take it too to show him what a difference it would be if he would eat less meat like me ;)…….
Also, totally random question – any idea if its kosher to eat hummus past the expiration date? I’m sure you probably never have hummus last that long in your house, but I figured if anyone would know, it would be you…
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Such a great book, and i am loving the fact that you have this opensky shop now! 🙂
Yes, PUH-LEASE move back to the west coast!!! And guess what? My sister totally has a separate compost pile in her apt. I told my mama about it, but since we don’t believe L.A. has a service to pick up compost and we don’t have a garden, we are not quite as carbon footprint friendly there. But we do reuse ziplock baggies, plastic bags in general, and literally anything my mom can recycle/reuse, she does – the tide box, plastic utensils, yogurt container after rinsing it out…anything and everything! Plus she also took the train to work every day when she was working and walked from the station up that Ginormous hill at Universal City Walk.
p.s. a mi me gusta your clutch baggie. So clutch!
Thanks for the interesting read! I for sure have to check out the website. I’m a vegetarian and a non driver but I’m sure there are a hundred other little things I can do in my every day life to reduce my carbon footprint.
Avo+hummus sandwich=heaven on bread. That plate is literally my favorite meal.
This is great. Thank you for the reminder on this. Wow, if you’d need 5 planets, I must need 10. I do bring my own bags, use public transportation or walk when I can, and recycle…but I am also guilty of other things like flying a lot!
Off to take the quiz now. Great post!