Blog Entry #10 - Ecofootprint

Ecofootprint Calculator

According to the EcoFootprint calculator, my footprint is 5.0 earths, which is above average. If everyone lived like me, we would need 5 planet earths to provide enough resources. My footprint is mostly made up by Services (@ 40%) and Food (@ 30%). It takes 22.2 global acres of the Earth's productive area to support my lifestyle.

Some things that would change my ecofootprint are:

1. Reduce animal-products I eat by half - 4.6 Earths
2. Purchase products with less packaging and/or made out of 100% post-consumer recycled content material - 4.2 Earths
3. Plan a local vacation rather that flying this year -  4.1 Earths


By simply changing three things in my lifestyle, I can lower my footprint by 0.8 Planet Earths!

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Blog Post #9 - Is Energy Too Cheap?

Energy is too cheap. There is an obvious need for the way that we consume energy (ie... gas, fossil fuels, coal, etc...) The unfortunate thing is that as energy prices drop (which, right now they are the lowest that they have been in a while), the incentive to find an alternative energy source is lessened. 


Conservation isn't a dirty word. Some ignorant people who believe that there isn't anything wrong with what we are doing to the environment and the natural world because they don't see the effect their behavior has on it. Without an active effort for conservation of our earth's natural resources, the world will be over-harvested and polluted.


Jimmy Carter's effort to reduce energy consumption while broadcasting to millions of viewers was great. He wore his cardigan during his famous "fireside chat" because he was lowering his consumption by keeping the heat turned down.


I think it is up to private investors to increase the use of alternative energy. The government can regulate consumption and require standards for technology, but the process is just so slow. By the time the government intervenes and passes laws, damage has already been done. If the prices of oil went up drastically enough, it would cause gasoline consumption to fall, and cause people to invest in alternative energy. 


Nuclear energy is our best bet for renewable energy. While the short-term costs are high, the benefits in the long-term (I believe) outweigh them. Nuclear power plants can power huge areas , unlike other popular alternatives like wind and solar energy. Huge solar fields are required to power any substantial area (especially vs. nuclear). 


I can take a lot of steps to reduce my carbon footprint in the upcoming days and years. I can reduce my water consumption by taking shorter showers, and decrease my power consumption by unplugging appliances and lamps and telephone chargers, and decrease my fuel consumption by driving less. In the longer-term, I plan on building an environmentally friendly home, and drive a fuel efficient car. I hope to live relatively close to work so that I can even further decrease my energy use. This will not only save me money, but help takes steps to a better environment.

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Blog Post # 8 - Climate Change

I think that global climate change is both antropogenic AND natural. History shows a cyclic trend of heating and cooling. However, since the onset of the industrial revolution, there has been a MUCH steeper increase in the rate of warming. (See below, it has risen to levels MUCH higher than in the past.)

A few good sources of climate information are NASA Earth Observatory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.


I think that climate change is over-dramatized by some media outlets and under-dramatized by others. There seems to be no "happy medium" when it comes to opinions on climate change.

The effects of climate change on future generations will be a decreasing availability of natural resources and natural beauty. It will also effect the way that they live everyday life. I don't think my children or grandchildren will have the luxury that we (and previous generations) have had with being able to consume at such a high level. They will have to monitor energy consumption much more carefully (fossil fuels WILL be nonexistent someday, it's inevitable). Technology will need to advance at a level as fast or faster than the rate of global climate change, or it will be very difficult for future generations.

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Blog Post #7 - ArborGen

Eucalyptus trees are native to Australia, beside inland bodies of water. The tree is subject to regular flooding in its natural habitat. These trees live hundreds of years. They are not native to Southwest Florida. If genetically modified eucalyptus was to be planted at FGCU, it would encroach on the natural species that currently inhabit the environment. According to The Heartland Institute however, scientists have "inserted a gene that prevents the cold tolerant eucalyptus trees from pollinating." Intrinsic concerns include the alteration of the natural species, causing unknown effects on other aspects of that species (IE... the cold resistant gene may cause a deficiency somewhere else). The life-cycles of surrounding environments will change because of the introduction of this new species. The only benefits of the introduction of this alien plant species are short term. They will have a positive effect on the paper and eucalyptus product industries in colder climates/seasons, but at a much larger cost to the environment, by disrupting the natural ecosystem.

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Blog Post #6 - ECHO Nursery

ECHO was an eye opening experience. It's hard to think that there are that many people in the world that have as much trouble finding clean water or enough food to eat. It's great that there is an organization like ECHO to be able to teach people in developing nations how to grow their own food and care for their own goats and rabbits and ducks. They were able to raise ducks over the top of the lake, and their waste creates an algae which the Tillapia can feed on.

It was interesting to me that they have started echocommunity.org, which allows farmers to talk to other farmers from around the world, sort of a "social network" for farmers in developing countries. That way, people can learn from the experiences of people at ECHO and other farmers.

The use of "appropriate technologies" means to build what is necessary, with what is available. Seen below is an irrigation system, a type of pump that is made of two drums, a bicycle wheel and some other everyday parts. Using everyday items makes repair easier (you don't need a mechanic to fix the irrigation system), and it's much less expensive.

This is a different type of tool than I picture when I think of American Agriculture. I think of heavy machinery, steel, and gasoline... It's amazing to think of what you can do with just some basic equipment compared to this stuff...

I feel that ECHO's work benefits the developing world in many ways. By developing new ways of doing things can really help people and save lives. I learned about the Neem , which has tons of medicinal properties, and the Moringa, which also has medicinal properties. Moringa is even used in the fight against HIV/AIDS in African communities. The plant alleviated the symptoms of HIV in patients.

I would love to volunteer or even do my service learning hours at ECHO, but it's a bit far from my house... The experience looks great, and I feel that I'd learn a lot of useful things. More Pictures on the field trips page.

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