Thank you to Twisted Yarns for pointing out to me that to look at our carbon footprint I must also be willing to calculate energy and fuel consumption. This is what I did today
Twisted Yarns sent m to a great website that calculates your carbon footprint: http://www.whatsmycarbonfootprint.com/calculate.htm
When my partner and I entered our data, we were surprised to find that our household emits 104,771 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. We are slightly higher than average….. and in this case (unlike on standardized tests) above average is NOT a good thing……. I think one of the things that pushed us from average to slightly higher was all of the long-haul flights we take each year. My partner and I are living far away from our families…. it is at least 18 hours worth of flight time to get to either family (and, of course, they are nowhere near each-other).
Take the time to learn how you are effecting your environment (thank you again, Twisted Yarns!!!)
Today, 253 days ’til 40, I continue to be amazed at the reality of the footprint my family is leaving on the world…. it makes me realize I must, at least, consciously look at everything I am doing and seeing how I can make small efforts to reduce the impact my family has on our environment. I need to start looking at the small steps we can take. I hope you do too.
~400daystil40
Fortuitous Forty!!! 
silverbells2012
June 13, 2012 at 00:23
It is hard to do without some things. I only live about 100 miles from my parents but a round trip to see friends is usually about 60-200 miles as well. Sometimes we could take a train but in reality with a small child and luggage, plus changes and then buses, it woud be a mammouth effort to do that for all our journeys. So, if you need to fly, you need to fly!
400daystil40
June 13, 2012 at 11:03
Yes, well we really have no choice about the flying being that there are oceans between us and family in either direction! We have become very seasoned flyers (yea, that is what I get for marrying a foreigner!!!) It is amazing what my daughters passports look like at such a young age – at their age I did not even own a passport!
silverbells2012
June 13, 2012 at 11:27
My daughter had a long haul flight when she was four months old to see her grandparents on the other side of the world but fortunately we haven’t needed to go back since!
oolalang
June 13, 2012 at 06:00
That’s a super good point. I was thinking about your blog today while I was doing the dishes and I started to wonder how much water I’m using, and how much I use that I don’t need to. I always get confused because I know water is processed and cycled, but I also know that takes a long time to do especially if it’s contaminated by toxic chemicals. May be something I need to research. Thanks for making me think!
400daystil40
June 13, 2012 at 11:00
This is a very important and interesting question…. I think my family wastes the most water with long, VERY LONG showers… and all four of us are very guilty of this…… I try to tell my daughters to go faster, but then I don’t……
400daystil40
June 13, 2012 at 10:59
Me too!!!!!!!
kokorimbaud
June 13, 2012 at 10:00
I really love this project, and this week’s focus resonates with me in a particular. Maybe it’s because I’m from Germany originally, where we have recycled household garbage since the eighties, or maybe I’m just a hopeless romantic who thinks it’s not too late to save the planet.
Either way, another great post! Isn’t it humbling to look at the details of what our convenience really costs?
Somebody probably said this before (I’m sorry, I didn’t have time to read through all comments yet), however websites like http://www.treehugger.com/ have many tips how to reduce your overall impact by changing little things.
Thanks for doing this 🙂
400daystil40
June 13, 2012 at 10:59
I like your thoughts, and tend to agree with you that it is never too late…. even if there is a lot of damage, we can certainly prevent further damage, can’t we????
Viveka
June 13, 2012 at 12:57
Thanks for the link – I use it – you’re excellent with you mission. Well done.
400daystil40
June 13, 2012 at 23:05
Thank you so much!!!
evatenter
June 13, 2012 at 19:05
Hi, I have nominated you for a few blogging awards as a gift of gratitude for your wonderful blog! It really is amazingly inspiring! More info about the awards – http://evatenter.wordpress.com/2012/06/13/awards-many-lovely-awards/
Much love! 🙂
400daystil40
June 13, 2012 at 23:04
Thank you so much, I feel so honored that you have nominated me and how cool to do many at once! This means so much to me and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your kindness! Thanks for the great smile as I head to bed!!!! 🙂
narf77
June 13, 2012 at 23:39
I headed on over to that site and now am going to have to do some detective work to find all of our usage bills etc lol…oh well…that will give me something to do when I get bored today won’t it?! 🙂
400daystil40
June 14, 2012 at 20:21
You will have to let us know what you find out!
Kinenchen
June 15, 2012 at 02:38
Didja ever consider having a meatless Monday? It’ll recoup all the carbon you expend driving (car flatulence) by not supporting livestock flatulence.
400daystil40
June 16, 2012 at 01:02
Ah, such a good point! We do this more often than I would like – my partner is a vegetarian and I am not…. we eat meat 2-4 times a week……
PS – your post also made me laugh because in our house we talk about how our own human flatulence is killing the ozone! 😛
mskatykins
June 16, 2012 at 18:30
Check out your amazing number of Likes – great work! 🙂 I’ve just clicked on this website and hope to not be above average, I’ll settle for the dunce cap. 😉
mskatykins
June 16, 2012 at 18:33
Okay, I took the test and my result was NaN?! Eh? Don’t know what that means. We got to cheat a little because our electric bill is included in our rent, so not actually sure what that figure was…
400daystil40
June 17, 2012 at 01:06
I have no idea what that response means!!!!! 🙂
400daystil40
June 17, 2012 at 01:07
That made me laugh! I need to get below average – I suppose carbon footprint is the only area in my life where I want to be BELOW average!!!!! 🙂 🙂