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How Big's Your Footprint?
Hang your heads in shame - Australia has the 2nd highest carbon footprint in the world! The U.S. and China produce the most.
No, a carbon footprint isn't something you've trodden on, and left a trail of something nasty. Also known as an 'ecological footprint', a carbon footprint is to show how many tonnes of carbon (a greenhouse gas that increases global warming) you put into the air. For example: If you had a big 'footprint', you would be doing things like using your car to go places a lot, buying things from overseas, and leaving lights on etc. If you had a small 'footprint', you would do the opposite and use public transport, buy things locally, and turn lights off after you etc. 
Examples of a Big footprint: Use your car a lot Heat your home with electricity Use the airconditioner a lot Buy food and household products that have been imported (made in other countries) Use plastic bags at the shops Water your garden with a hose Leave lights on outside your house all night Have a Plasma TV Don't turn appliances off at the wall or power button. Live like a carnivore on hamburgers, meat & sausages.  
Examples of a Small footprint: Use public transport Heat home using green power electricity Ventilate and shade house and don't over rely on airconditioning Buy locally produced food and products Buy a rainwater tank (using gov't subsidies) to water garden Buy solar lights, or better still install a motion sensor for external lighting. Use a smaller LCD TV Turn off appliances at the wall or power button. Eat 3 vegetarian meals per week and some kangaroo. If we all do these little things, we can make the world a greener place! Find out how big your footprint is by going to: http://www.bp.com/extendedsectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9015627&contentId=7029058 Our family measured 9 tons per year. The average Australian home produces 14.36 per year. Have a go and see how you measure up! Images: www.footprintnetwork.org www.carbonfootprintreducers.com www.blogstoday.co.uk/BlogsImages/Blog3486q5W72r1h2k47e2/carbon_footprint.jpg www.norwichgreenparty.org/news/p/photos/ar_ecocar.jpg img.timeinc.net/toh/images/portals/gogreen.jpg |