The Earth Case
Some numbers regarding impacts from "Redefining Progress":
The average American consumes 46,414 pounds of materials in a year. This includes coal (7,400 lbs), oil (6,420 lbs – the weight of 1,069 gallons of gasoline), natural gas (3,240 lbs – the weight of 72,000 cu. ft.), cement (902 lbs), iron ore (440 lbs), and clays (290 lbs). This is about 7 times the weight of the food eaten (2200 lbs).
To measure your own impact on the earth, take one of the following quizzes:
Ecological Footprint Quiz
Kid’s Footprint Quiz
Office Footprint Quiz
The average American consumes 46,414 pounds of materials in a year. This includes coal (7,400 lbs), oil (6,420 lbs – the weight of 1,069 gallons of gasoline), natural gas (3,240 lbs – the weight of 72,000 cu. ft.), cement (902 lbs), iron ore (440 lbs), and clays (290 lbs). This is about 7 times the weight of the food eaten (2200 lbs).
To measure your own impact on the earth, take one of the following quizzes:
Ecological Footprint Quiz
Kid’s Footprint Quiz
Office Footprint Quiz
The Ecological Footprint
The Ecological Footprint was started by Mathis Wackernagel in 1993 and has grown to be recognized worldwide as the best resource for measuring impacts . It is a complex sustainability calculation that answers the question: How much of the earth's resources does your lifestyle require? The answer once calculated is a number of hectares that your lifestyle needs to be self-sustaining over time. The calculations are affected by your transportation, diet, house appliances, among many other choices. Remember, these are choices we make each day - voluntarily - we're in complete control!
According to their website:
"Using existing, official statistics that quantify the resources people consume and the waste they generate, Redefining Progress translates this consumption and waste flow data into a measurement of the biologically productive area required to sustain that flow. According to Redefining Progress’ latest Footprint Analysis, humanity is exceeding its ecological limits by 39%. Or, put another way, we would need to have over one third more than the present biocapacity of Earth to maintain the same level of prosperity for future generations."
According to their website:
"Using existing, official statistics that quantify the resources people consume and the waste they generate, Redefining Progress translates this consumption and waste flow data into a measurement of the biologically productive area required to sustain that flow. According to Redefining Progress’ latest Footprint Analysis, humanity is exceeding its ecological limits by 39%. Or, put another way, we would need to have over one third more than the present biocapacity of Earth to maintain the same level of prosperity for future generations."
Austin Water Supply
Water in Texas is a precious commodity - being such a dry climate of course. Historically the majority of the water we use in Central Texas comes from our groundwater (accessed commonly through wells) thus it's important for us to not deplete it. With our rapid population growth, causing a great increase in the amount of water used, our groundwater may be depleted within twenty years. Groundwater is replenished when it rains and the water soaks through the earth - unfortunately we're covering up the earth more and more with concrete and other such impervious surfaces which don't allow the water to soak in but it remains on the surface.
Here is a link to a Map of real-time streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the day of the year.
Here is a link to a Map of real-time streamflow compared to historical streamflow for the day of the year.
