Calculate
your Ecological Footprint
A footprint is a measure of the
ecologically productive land needed to provide resources for
consumption, storage for wastes, and other ecological services.
Directions: Get a pencil
and calculator. After answering the questions below, multiply your
results by the multipliers given. Add the result of this, divide it by
10,000, and then multiply the result by 2.47. This will give you your
footprint for one year in acres.
In an average week, how much
of the following food items do you eat?
Vegetables and Fruits:
US average is about 7.5 pounds
per person per week (USDA)
Hint: A typical serving of vegetables is about 6 to 8 ounces.
Enter amount_____ lbs. x 23= _____
Pasta: Number of 4 oz. servings per week
Enter amount_____ lbs. x 70= _____
Chicken: US average is about 1.25pounds per person per week (USDA)
Enter amount_____ lbs. x 500= _____
Pork: US average is about 1 pound per person per week (USDA)
Enter amount_____ lbs. x 700= _____
Fish: US average is about 1/3 (.33) pounds per person per week (USDA)
Enter amount_____ lbs. x 3200= _____
Beef: US average is about 1.5 pounds per person per week (USDA)
Enter amount_____ lbs. x 6000= _____
Cheese and Butter: Estimated average of 1/2 pound per person per week
Enter amount_____ lbs. x 250= _____
Eggs: Estimated average is 5 per person per week
Enter amount_____ lbs. x 28= _____
How many glasses of the following beverages do you drink in one week:
Average glass=8 oz.
Juice _____ x 11= _____
Wine _____ x 12= _____
Soda _____ x 14= _____
Milk _____ x 15= _____
Coffee _____ x 25= _____
Total
_____
How many times in the average week do you eat breakfast, lunch or
dinner at a restaurant?
Enter amount_____ x 2000= _____
Housing
How big is the house or apartment you live in?
For each bedroom you use add 1.
Add 1 for each empty bedroom, study or entertainment room.
Enter amount_____ x
2700= _____
Transportation
Number of miles traveled by a gasoline powered car during the average
week including weekends.
Enter amount_____ x 52= _____
Note: Divide the total number of
miles included that you travel by bus, train or carpool by 3.
Airline: Did you fly anywhere in the last year? If so, how far was your
trip both ways?
Enter amount_____ x 2= _____
Energy
Do you conserve energy at home and work?
No- add 1000
Sometimes- add 850
Usually- add 700
Always- add 500
Enter amount_________
Note: Subtract the percentage of
primary lighting or water heating that is solar or wind power.
Water
Do you conserve water at home and work?
No- add 1000
Sometimes- add 850
Usually- add 700
Always- add 500
Enter amount_________
Note:This conservative estimate
could be multiplied by 6 to capture the amount of water used per capita
in the US for commercial and industrial purposes.
Waste
Do you recycle?
No- add 1000
Sometimes- add 800 (occasional recycler)
Yes- add 500 (consistent recycler)
Enter amount_________
Calculate Your Footprint:
Total the results from above: _________
Divide that number by 10,000: _________
Multiply by 2.47:_________
Compare your footprint to 5.5 acres; the fair EarthShare amount (the
total amount of ecologically productive land needed to meet the needs
of humanity if every one of today's 6 billion people were treated
equally).
Identify the categories that contribute the largest amount to your
Footprint. Can these be reduced? If so, how?
Prepared by Lamont C. Hempel and Jason
Venetoulis with funding from the Population Coalition. revised 9/30/99