How big is your ecological footprint?

How big is your ecological footprint? Do you consume more than our planet Earth can sustain or replenish? Find out from the simple ecological calculator on www.ecologicalfootprint.org/Global%20Footprint%20Calculator/GFPCalc.html. You will be asked only four questions, with answers from multiple choices:

(1) How do you typically get to work or school? • Walk or bike. • Public transportation. • Carpool, hybrid or electric vehicle. • Car, truck, SUV (alone). • Airplanes and limousines. • Work at home.

(2) Which closely matches your household? • Mansion, all the modern appliances, bells, whistles, 4-10 car garage, etc. • Stand-alone house, larger than average, all modern appliances, 2-3 car garage. • Average size home, some appliances, no garage. • Apartment, some energy efficient appliances and lights, no garage. • Compact green design, energy efficient appliances and lights, and renewable energy powered.

(3) Which mix of foods best describes your average meal? • 5-plus courses, meat, veggies, dessert, brandy, cigar. • Beef, chicken or fish, veggies, fruits, dessert, coffee or tea. • Meat or fish, local organic veggies, fruits, coffee or tea. • Locally produced fruits, vegetables and beverages. • Local sustainable harvested organic fruits, veggies and beverages.

(4) Do you conserve, recycle and reuse resources, such as paper, metals, plastics? • Never. • Occasionally. • Most of the time. • Yes diligently all the time.

As you check a bubble corresponding to your choice, your ecological footprint adds up to the total in a box below. Your “score” is your lifestyle’s equivalent in global hectares. The lower, the better your ecological footprint is; meaning, you are not a burden to Mother Earth. The highest possible total is 109 hectares; the lowest, 4.

Ecological footprint is a measure of human consumption of natural resources against the earth’s capacity to regenerate them. Engineers Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees developed the concept and calculation method. A result of years of improvements, the new footprint quiz is calculated from over a hundred categories of resource depletion.

The global average footprint is 21 global hectares. It means that every person is using up the equivalent resources of 21 hectares. Global fisheries, croplands, urbanization and energy use are far outstripping the earth’s ability to regenerate in a sustainable way.

The latest findings suggest that a sustainable footprint is 15 gha for every person, which test takers rarely match or beat. Sadly on average, we have surpassed sustainable ecological limits by 6 gha per person. The world no longer can renew itself with the way we live, work, entertain, eat and sleep.

So how does your footprint compare to the world average? And what do you think you should do to lessen or balance it?

(If you wish a bit more sophisticated test, try the University of British Columbia’s survey for sustainability and eco-footprint calculator: www.sustain.ubc.ca/eco-survey.)

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With world crude oil prices hitting almost $100 per barrel, local fuel costs can only go up. Gasoline and diesel rates have risen thrice in a month by P1.50 per liter, and LPG by P3 per kilo. And there’s no end in sight, what with the world’s growing demand for crude versus peak production. Not only fuel but also electricity bills will rise. It’s time for these energy saving reminders:

• Plan the route and time of your car trips. As much as possible go on straight lines to destinations and back, instead of retracing directions. Avoid rush hours. If you can walk or take public transport, do so.

• No need to warm up the engine while idling; just start it up and drive slowly for the first three minutes. Avoid jackrabbit starts, and sudden or frequent braking. As much as possible maintain a constant speed; don’t exceed 100 kph. No need to rev up the engine before turning it off.

• Plan your home cooking. Take food out of the fridge to defrost well before cooking time. Cook all the food at the same time, not over intermittent periods. Use the right size of pot or pan for the food volume, and on the right size of flame. Avoid recipes that require long cooking and thus more use of LPG or electricity.

• Replace all incandescent light bulbs with the eco-friendly SL; they’re much brighter even with lower wattage and electricity. Make sure that appliances are of low wattage. Turn off the TV, stereo, lights, computer and accessories, and especially electric fans and air conditioners when not needed. Regularly defrost and clean the ref and freezer. Designate a time to do the machine washing and drying of clothes all at the same time; more so the ironing (during the cooler hours of the day). And this Christmas, do not leave the decor lights on overnight when nobody will see them anyway.

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