Asher’s Recent Comments

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  Suggestions re: footprint calculators

  Unfortunately, carbon footprints are a bit of a tricky business.  The first issue is that you're dealing with approximations and averages, so even detailed footprint calculators have to infer a significant amount of data.

  The second, more critical issue, is that few calculators use life cycle assessments---they instead just collect data from directly attributable data (home energy use, driving and flying).  The reason why is because it's very difficult to even estimate the carbon footprint of all kinds of lifestyle/indirect impacts: everything from drinking water to plastic bags to computers, manufacturing cars, etc.  The data is simply not there yet.

  In terms of good calculators out there.  I would first recommend University of Berkeley's LCA calculator: http://bie.berkeley.edu/calculator.  It makes a valiant attempt at integrating all of those indirect co2e emissions we're all responsible for.  

  A few others that include recommendations for actions to take to reduce your impact are below:
  Make Me Sustainable: http://www.makemesustainable.com
  Earthlab: http://www.earthlab.com
  Yahoo Green: http://green.yahoo.com/calculator

  The last three are part of "pledge" sites, which allow you to choose certain actions you can take and track your footprint reductions over time.

  The unfortunate thing with these is that they don't really walk your through the process.  Umbra's reference to weight loss programs is very apropos. I've been working with some local Bay Area groups to launch a campaign that utilizes the best of the web and the support of real-life networks to help people make reductions that are achievable and relate to their lifestyles.  It's called Climate Relay: http://www.climaterelay.org.

  Hope that helps,

  Asher On Umbra on carbon calculators posted 1 year, 5 months ago 11 Responses

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  Losing most people...

  I think these tips are great, particularly for people who are engaged enough to be visiting Grist.  But like so many other recommendations I've read, these "simple" changes are not deemed simple or accessible by most unengaged Americans.  Cutting tv viewing in half? Hang drying clothes?  These are easy to say, far harder to do.

  Is that an excuse? No! But it's a reality.

  Climate Changers... it's a matter of degrees.

  On How to reduce your household energy consumption, easy-like posted 2 years, 6 months ago 30 Responses