January 2008
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FacebookBy Lauren Mangion
Tomorrow my daughter is going to a birthday party hosted by Petland. I wish it were as innocent as it might seem.
In their obvious attempt to exploit the under-ten market, Petland is one of many big-box stores promoting unlimited consumption and, in the process, jeopardizing the future of our planet.
Events like this birthday party have the same intent as the commercial messages streaming into our lives from every direction: TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, the web, billboards, toilet stalls, buses, trains, taxicabs, elevators, even floor tiles. It’s an endless avalanche of advertising that celebrates and encourages consumption.
No wonder so many of us, particularly in North America, accept without question that limitless consumption is normal. Canadians are little different than their neighbours to the south, who represent only 5% of the world’s population yet consume 30% of the world’s natural resources, and whose leaders – to thunderous applause – insist “The American way of life is not negotiable.”
Fortunately, the ecological footprint concept is beginning to make its own footprint on our collective consciousness. It was developed by Drs. William Rees (UBC) and Mathis Wackernagel (Redefining Progress, Oakland).
According to a report commissioned by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the ecological footprint, or EF, is a measure of people’s demand on nature’s goods and services: the amount of land and water (seas, lakes, rivers) we consume to meet our needs, relative to the biologically productive land and water that supply nature’s goods and services.
Think of it as a tool to help us balance the supply of and demand for natural resources necessary to sustain humanity.
Currently, our species uses 20% more than what is biologically available on the earth. The EF is a means of helping countries, cities, corporations, industries, and individuals clearly see where they most need to reduce their impact.
You can easily determine your EF using one of many calculators available online. Some are comprehensive, measuring transportation, consumption, waste generation, and food sources, as well as electricity, gas and water usage. Some are overly simple, measuring only one or two areas of human impact.
Detailed or not, however, these calculators are valuable. They demonstrate that, at our current consumption rates, we’re rapidly outstripping the natural resources available to us.
A Local Glimpse
Calgary has the highest footprint per capita of any Canadian municipality. To sustain the way we live in this city, we currently require land and sea equivalent to 9.86 global hectares per person. Fifty percent of this number is energy related, with shelter and mobility accounting for most of our consumption.
The map below shows how large Calgary’s footprint is relative to the physical size of the city. It was developed by Ashley Lubyk, BSc. in Environmental Science, for Clean Calgary Association.
“But we no longer have that window,” says Reading. “At the rate we’re consuming now, we’ll be at a 50% overshoot of what the earth can supply us, and that’s just not sustainable.”
So how do we reduce our high demand without slashing our quality of life?
TAKE ACTION:
- Measure your footprint at www.zerofootprint.net, globalfootprintnetwork.org, redefiningprogress.org, or one of the other sustainability websites offering footprint calculators. Find out where you most need to improve.
- Jeff Reading believes becoming more energy efficient will produce the quickest results. Switch lightbulbs to carbon florescent, which are 75% more efficient and last six to 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Check out www.projectporchlight.com to learn about a Canadian not-for-profit organization that is reducing greenhouse gases nationwide by replacing one incandescent bulb at a time. Contact Scott Payne at Calgary@onechange.org to get involved locally.
- Do your research when it’s time for a new appliance, such as a water heater or fridge. Look for Energy Star ratings. Invest in the most efficient product you can afford. Check out the Government of Canada’s EcoEnergy Retrofit grants if you’re considering a home renovation project. The provincial and federal governments are offering grants of up to $2000 for the purchase of a fuel-efficient vehicle.
- If you’re building a house or renovating your home, invest in efficiency now, so you’ll be less affected as utility costs continue climbing.
- You don’t have to be a tomato to live in a green house. Scrutinize your habits. Each time you use water, turn up your thermostat, get in your car, go shopping etc., is an opportunity to reduce your EF.
- Donate used items instead of trashing them. Freecycle is a fun way to make use of stuff you don’t need.
- Start composting. It will significantly reduce your EF by diverting up to 40% of your organic waste from the landfill where it would decompose anaerobically and produce methane – one of the most harmful greenhouse gases. Visit Clean Calgary for indoor and outdoor products.
- If you’re wondering… How should I get started? Where are the resources I need? What grants/incentives might I qualify for?… maybe you need an Eco Coach. A friendly expert who gladly makes housecalls and can guide you toward a greener life. Send a note to lauren@conscioushome.ca, or visit www.conscioushome.ca to learn more.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Sustainability at home is a toolkit that helps Alberta homeowners understand how to apply sustainable development concepts to everyday household decisions.
The toolkit covers an explanation of sustainability; questions to ask while making household decisions; concrete and simple suggestions for every room in your house; renovations; resources for further information and ideas and a whole lot more!
February 6th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Thanks for sharing this resource, Cheryl. We will post it on our Resource page as well for easy reference.