Reducing Your Ecological Footprint
Ecological footprint (EF) analysis is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems and natural resources. It compares human consumption of natural resources with planet Earth's ecological capacity to regenerate them. It is an estimate of the amount of biologically productive land and sea area needed to regenerate (if possible) the resources a human population consumes and to absorb and render harmless the corresponding waste, given prevailing technology and current understanding. Using this assessment, it is possible to estimate how many planet Earths it would take to support humanity if everybody lived a given lifestyle. While the ecological footprint term is widely used, methods of measurement vary quantitatively.
Ecological footprinting is now widely used around the globe as an indicator of environmental sustainability. It can be used to measure and manage the use of resources throughout the economy. It can be used to explore the sustainability of individual lifestyles, goods and services, organizations, industry sectors, neighborhoods, cities, regions and nations. Since 2006, a first set of ecological footprint standards exist that detail both communication and calculation procedures. They are available at www.footprintstandards.org and were developed in a public process facilitated by Global Footprint Network and its partner organizations.
Ecological Footprint Calculators
- EarthDay Footprint Quiz
Allows to choose your country and language, and calculate your footprint based on shelter, food, transport. After the test you can "play" with individual items like the type of food you eat to evaluate the impact it will have on your footprint. - Redefining Progress
Redefining Progress works with a broad array of partners to shift the economy and public policy towards sustainability. Good FAQ list with more details plus spreadsheet with conversions to EF
Pollution Calculators - Reduce Your Ecological Footprint
- The Carbon Neutral Company Calculators
Calculate your flight emissions. Airline flights are one of the biggest causes of CO2. Here you can calculate precisely the emissions of any airline flight in the world and offset them by flying Carbon Neutral in 3 easy steps. - Travel Calculator
Three calculators - to calculate your pollutant emissions from your journeys by road, calculate the energy you use on your journeys (in calories), and calculate the full annual cost of car ownership.. Miles/km conversion. For easy mileage (mpg) vs l/100km conversion click here. - Commuting Cost Calculator
Use the calculator to find out the true cost of your own drive-alone commute, or click here to find out how much your commute costs the earth. How much do you spend on your commute? It may be more than you think. - Electricity Pollution
Use the Infinite Power Pollution Calculator to find out how much pollution is in the electricity you use every day. - Electricity Pollution
The Cleaner And Greener calculator will return the emissions of your electricity use based on your consumption and the state you live in. This one looks at CO2, VOC, NOX, SO2, CO, PM10, mercury. - Electricity Pollution
This electricity pollution calculator allows you to choose the type of powerplants. Generic appliance electricity calculator. - Pollution Reduction - Energy Efficient Buildings
Find out how much money you can save and the pollution you can reduce by investing in energy efficiency in your home or workplace, from Cleaner And Greener. - AAA Fuel Cost Calculator
The AAA Fuel Cost Calculator estimates the amount and cost of gasoline needed to complete a vacation trip. - TrackYourGasMileage.com
On TrackYourGasMileage.com you can keep track of your vehicle's gas mileage history. By tracking your mileage over time, you can see how much money you are spending on gas, how your vehicle's gas mileage is developing, and paint a picture of the overall health of your car!
Other Ecological Calculators
- WarmAir.com - Energy Conservation Calculators - Here you can estimate energy conservation by improving: attic insulation, windows, heat exchangers, air conditioners with higher SEER, thermostat set-back, etc...
- Solar Hot Water Calculator - How much would an investment in a solar water heater save you in energy costs?
- Grid-tie PV Performance Calculator - PVWATTS calculates electrical energy produced by a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system. Currently, PVWATTS can be used for locations within the United States and its territories. Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed PVWATTS to permit non-experts to quickly obtain performance estimates for grid-connected PV systems.
- Nutrition Calculator - Lets you input the type (frozen, raw, baked, ...) and amount of any kind of food and you'll get the nutritional information of your meal or monthly diet. It will also recommend you any additional food based on your data that may help if you have nutritional deficiencies.
- Air Pollution Indicator - Score Card lets you indicate where you live and will tell you how much and what is being released in the atmosphere and by who.
- Calorie Intake Calculator - Calculate approximately how much energy you burn during the day.
- The real car cost Calculator - This calculator will help you find out the total cost of your car and how much you might have saved at retirement age should you not have owned a car.