A rundown of carbon footprint tests

Posted by at Nov 1st, 2008 in Activism

Filed under: Activism , Green by the Numbers Last week I posted about a carbon/ecological footprint quiz that some people found less than helpful. I was a fan because it offered the science behind the numbers and because it didn’t guilt or chastise the user for the choices she made. But one reader pointed out that the calculator I’d mentioned from Conservation International was too simplistic. It sometimes went for an all or nothing approach. So I’ve checked around for a few other calculators, and have these suggestions: The BBC recently updated its carbon calculator from a cartoon guilt-trip to a few more scientific and exacting exams. The first is a quiz devised by environmental activist Mayer Hillman . It’s Euro-centric, so those who cannot use the London Tube may not have the most accurate results. You can, however, check out how other people fared. The second is from a newly launched page called Bloom. Another small, cartoony character helps the page viewer determine what’s fact and fiction about carbon contributions and which actions actually impact the environment for better. Shopping, gardening, cooking and holidays are just a few of the areas Bloom takes a look at. The Carbon Footprint company, a consulting firm aimed at greening business, has a very detailed calculator that requires not only your location but your average spending. It also compares your results to your average neighbor. I can’t vouch for Bon Apetit’s low carbon diet calculator, but it’s certainly an interesting concept. And after you’ve depressed yourself or found yourself superior to the rest of your countrymen, you can remind yourself of the size of David Beckham and Celine Dion’s footprints. A rundown of carbon footprint tests originally appeared on Green Daily on Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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A rundown of carbon footprint tests