Eco Tests
August 13th, 2007 by Mollie
I am a bad test taker. I really am. I have test anxiety and don’t do well on tests as a result. This is the only reason I can come up with for doing so poorly on those stupid environmental impact, ecological footprint tests. Seriously, I can’t think of any other reason. It cannot be something I am doing or not doing that might actually give me a score of 2.6 planets or a carbon output of 5 tons/year. I kind of want to cheat on these tests. How stupid is that? These tests are designed to make us more aware of our impact and I want to cheat. Stupid, I know. But true.
I feel like I am working to make changes to my life and that I am very conscious of living a life that reflects my values. Taking tests like these ones though can sometimes make me feel like I am failing at doing that.
Then I remember that I am a work in progress.
These tests are good to take because they give me a reality check. I am still using more resources than one person should use. Hence, the 2.6 planets. However, it is important to remember that they don’t look at the details of the whole picture. They aren’t meant to. They are meant to be short and easy (so people will actually be willing to take them) and to give you a general idea of the impact you are making. I think that they are good for serving this purpose. I do have a ways to go, but I have also come very far. When I first took one of those tests a couple of years ago I was at around 7 planets. So, when I remember that, I realize how far I have come. There are still many changes I can and need to make. And…there are also a lot that I have already made while walking this path that have indeed made a big difference.
I will continue to use these tests to mark my progress, point me in the right direction, AND I will remember that they don’t tell the whole story.
Off to continue my journey.
August 13th, 2007 at 11:41 am
Yeah I got a score of 3.2 planets which really bummed me out. I recycle, buy goods made of recycled goods, eat all organic food, conserve electricity religiously. I also live really close to my work - I don’t commute all over hill dale with my car idling in traffic. Of course it didn’t ask me any of those questions…
August 14th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Where do I go to pick up a couple of extra planets? Apparently I will need 1.7 more than I have now. Is there a discount planet store?
August 14th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Where do I go to pick up a couple of extra planets? Apparently I will need 1.7 more than I have now. Is there a discount planet store?
August 14th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
I would need 4.1 planets. But honestly, I’m not sure what to do with the information. We can’t afford to live in the city, so we live in a south suburb, which means we naturally have to drive more. However, we intentionally only own one car (Bryan works from home or commutes on the bus), and we live in a walkable community with many of our needs within walking distance.
I feel we do the best we can with our financial resources.
September 4th, 2007 at 9:27 am
Jen,
I have been wanting to write you back for a while and now I am finally going to do it.
I think situations like yours (and most of us have some area of our lives like this) where finances or location (or fill in the blank) leaves us making a bigger eco-footprint and using up more resources than one person should are when carbon offset programs are good. Terrapass or The Conservation Fund are just two examples.
As far as what to do with the information that your lifestyle causes you to need 4.1 planets. Well, I guess what I did and do when I take these is look at what is causing me to make the biggest impacts. Is it how much I drive? The energy I use in my house? The amount of trash I produce? and then I pick one and try to figure out ways to lower my impact in that area as much as possible.
I am working on the energy I use right now and it is making sure that I turn off lights when I leave a room and try not to turn lights on during the day. I have started air-drying my clothes instead of using the energy sucking drying machine. I have been unplugging anything that I am not using at that moment with 2 exceptions. Then I move on to the next thing and occasionally go back and take the test again. So, I guess that is what I would suggest doing with that information. It really can be a good overview marker of how you are doing and the impact you are making.
I think I might turn this into a post. Would you mind if I mentioned your comment? Let me know. I still enjoy reading your blog!