After the mass of tables I will preview what I have achieved and learnt throughout the unit including my own personal interests in sustainability education.
Ecological Footprint
| | Beginning of unit | End of unit |
| Hectares | 8 | 6.3 |
| Planets | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Breakdown: | | |
| Food | 30% | 26% |
| Shelter | 28% | 27% |
| Mobility | 22% | 25% |
| Goods | 8% | 6% |
| Services | 12% | 16% |
Waste
-
Waste Breakdown.
Beginning of Unit
End of unit
Type of waste
Amount (approx volume) Litres
Paper
1.5
0
Plastic
8
10
Metal
0
1
Organic Food
2
2
Other
0.5 (glass)
0
Water Usage
Where Used
Percentage of Daily Usage
Beginning of Unit Per Person Daily in Litres
End of Unit Per Person Daily in Litres
Total Household
100%
798L a day. 199.5L a day per person
722L a day 180.5L per day per person
Bathroom
40%
79.8 L
72.2 L
Toilet
20%
39.9 L
36.1 L
Kitchen
15%
29.9 L
27.1 L
Garden
0%
00.0 L
00.0 L
Laundry
25%
49.9 L
47.1 L
Energy Consumption
Energy Source
How Used
%
Beginning of Unit Per Person Daily
End of Unit Per Person Daily
Gas
Total Household
100%
109.895 Mega Jules
123.875 Mega Jules
Gas
Space Heating
80%
87.916 Mega Jules
99.1 Mega Jules
Gas
Water Heating
15%
16.484 Mega Jules
18.58 Mega Jules
Gas
Cooking
5%
5.495 Mega Jules
6.19 Mega Jules
Electricity
Total Household
100%
6.12 Kilo Watt Hours
5.92 Kilo Watt Hours
Electricity
Appliances
80%
4.896 Kilo Watt Hours
4.74 Kilo Watt Hours
Electricity
Lighting
20%
1.224 Kilo Watt Hours
1.18 Kilo Watt Hours
Petrol
Private Transport
100%
10- 15 L of unleaded
10- 15 L of unleaded
Electric
Public Transport
1.72 Mega Jules
1.72 Mega Jules
Reviewing the Data
Ecological Footprint
This data was really disappointing. My stats go all over the place, some u some down and in almost the opposite of what I believe they should. Even though my family didn’t put much effort in as a whole the base stats of global hectares and planets seem to work pretty well as a judge of progress. I think we have done ok all things considered…all things being the lack of major effort.
Especially since my Father pointed out that the original bills were from before I moved back home. But I do doubt the EPA’s Ecological Footprint analysis; I think it is more of a way of demonstrating the need for change rather than a tool for comparison.
It did the trick though, it had us all thinking.
Waste
Waste was never going to go down well but I was very surprised at the results. From some initially negative reactions my family decided it was wise to at least start separating the different waste types up rather than hoping someone would sort it all out later. We throw our compost to the dogs, as it happens most of what we throw out is healthy stuff for them it’s just a bit tougher at times, so long as it’s mixed with the meat they love it and it keeps us looking at the waste because no one wants to hurt the expensive pups.
Other than that our waste hasn’t changed we still eat a lot of packaged food so there is a full load of random plastics every day. I am of the belief that if they do not make it simple to recycle plastics they cannot expect us to. I tried figuring it all out but it seemed useless.
Water
We saved a little bit of water everywhere. At times we even watered the garden with the grey water, but I don’t see that as worth putting on the table as any water we make up that way is a bonus to pay off our large water debt. We still shoot over 155 but it is closer. I am a little annoyed with myself that I didn’t think to use mulch to prevent waterless in the garden when I was trying to grow things. But at least I have adapted not, if slowly. So all in all I think that was a decent gain and not in a specific area so I’d reason that out to be more about us thinking about our water a little bit more possibly.
Energy Consumption
This one is rather dull. We didn’t really have any noticeable change at all. Gas went up a tad and electricity went down a tad. So I guess this report is rather mediocre.
Transport as I said stayed still because no one changed their routine at all. I could of car pooled, but the train still would have been running so it makes no difference.
Gardening and Visits
I had an ace time playing around with a veggie patch which I plan on continuing with for the benefit of myself and the possible career. We still intend to go do a permaculture course but things like trips around Australia come first at the moment with holidays on their way.
Visiting the places in regards to sustainability has been good fun and I have built a small knowledge of what I want to know; now I just have the problem of trying to get it all into my head. Which I assume will take considerable time.
Just couple of points I thought were interesting or felt I had to write down and never squeezed them into the Blog, they are what I can remember I often forget long before the pen hits paper so to speak (but on the bright side I remember when it’s relevant to something else):
· We often fill that lovely large green waste bin, but we fill it with stuff from our soil, therefore we are constantly throwing away little bit of the resource every time.
· Mulch is a must next time and every time after until proven otherwise.
· Organic farming (we attempted to) seems really hard to get going, there must be an easier way to start it and keep it going. (Clearly I am missing key information)
· If so many chemicals are added what blooming affect do they have on my body?
· Food seems extremely difficult to control without growing your own or as a community.
· If I lack references on this Blogs it’s because I don’t want to read so much about this from random sources I want to learn hands on, see a Organic Jedi master and read their books first.
· Craig and I have found that even though watching grass grow is rather bland for some reason keeping an eye on what we are growing is surprisingly addictive and entertaining, I would not of put money of that this time last year.
There is likely plenty more to add to this but that’s all I had on my scrap paper for the moment.
Assuming this is pretty much the last post I will be graded on GOOD DAY TO YOU!
I will try and keep this blog running for the heck of it but I wouldn’t hold my breath about it either.
Thanks for a good unit :p
-AiDz Out!-
