1. Consumption
Water- 4 glasses of water, five minute shower, washed hands, flushed the toilet, washed the dishes
Food- 2 pieces of toast, pasta, pizza, and lemonade
Electricity- used the television for an hour and used very minimal lighting
Gasoline- I did not use any gasoline other than the amount used to heat my house
Money- I did not spend any money today
2. Reduction
Today although I did not exactly eat the food of a third world lifestyle I did not use the computer today. I also did not spend any money and watched a very little television.
3. Sustainability
Yet again I do think that I can continue taking shorter showers. I also think that I can reduce the amount that I use electronics on most days. I also think that I can manage my money better and only spend it on necessary things.
4. Following
By following other people I find that they are doing similar things that I am doing. Mainly they are reducing the amount that they are using electronics like I am
1. Consumption
Water- drank seven glasses of water, took a five minute shower, flushed the toilet, and washed my hands
Food- I ate grapes, walnuts, and a chicken Caesar salad
Electricity- today I used a bit more than usual I watched about three hours of television and used the computer for two hours. I didn’t use much lighting though.
Gasoline- I did not use any gasoline
Money- I spent about seven dollars on my chicken Caesar salad
2. Reduction
I reduced the length in which I took my shower. I also reduced my food intake to that of a third world lifestyle.
3. Sustainability
I do not think that I will be able to keep up my eating like a third world would. I am finding it to be very difficult and I am getting bored with the foods that I am eating
4. Following
By following other people I am realizing how bad my excess of electricity usage was today.
1. Consumption
Water- Four glasses of water, five minute shower, brushed teeth, washed hands, flushed the toilet, and ran the dishwasher
Food- Handful of carrots, walnuts, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, orange juice, and a burrito.
Electricity- I used the computer only for homework today which is a total of about two hours. I also used very few lights in my house, and watched television for about a half an hour.
Gasoline- I used to heat up my home
Money- I did not spend any money today!
2. Reduction
Today I reduced the time I spent in the shower, my computer usage and my television usage which I have been doing for most of the week so far. However I made an attempt to reduce the food in take, which I noticed yesterday was mainly Third World foods. So I made an attempt to eat basic foods that a person in a First World country would have access to such as carrots and walnuts. I also didn’t spend any money today which is really good because I’ve gotten out of the habit of buying a Mountain Dew every morning.
3. Sustainabiliy
I think I can make an attempt to change my food in take and reducing the amount of unhealthy First World foods that I consume. I also think that I can permanently change the length in which I am taking my showers unless I am washing my hair. That being the only exception in which I can take a ten or fifteen minute shower. I hope to continue my non spending habit but I find it difficult to do on certain occasions. But this project has really led me to realize how much I typically spend in a week without thinking about it.
4. Following
After hearing about the water footprint calculator in class I took the test and found that I use:
83 Gallons in my home and yard
962 Gallons in my diet
382 Gallons for transportation and energy
100 Gallons used by my stuff
I found this very interesting and I am hoping to reduce my water usage in my diet
1. Consumption
Water- Drank two bottles of water, took two ten minute showers, brushed teeth, washed hands, flushed toilet, and washed the dishes
Food- Pizza, and fries
Electricity- Very few lights on and half an hour computer usage for classwork only.
Gasoline- To heat up home, and cook
Money- I didn’t spend any money today
2. Reduction
I have not used my telephone today, which I use so much from texting to talking that I usually have to charge it once or twice a day. I also did not watch any television today, but rather read a book for majority of the night when I was not doing my homework. I also used one or two lights through out the night and I didn’t spend any money today. Sadly, I used much more water today because I took two showers and I am hoping to go back to my five minute shower once a day routine tomorrow.
3. Sustainability
I think that I could definitely keep up my non spending. I usually buy a Mountain Dew every morning, and although I bought one a few days ago today I completely forgot to buy one. I hope to continue this because this is an obvious waste of money. I don’t think that I could read a book every night but I could possibly reduce the amount that I watch television and use the computer and find something else to do instead.
4. Following
Through following others I am finding that they are doing pretty much the same things that I am. I have not found any other ideas except for lowering the temperature of the heat in my home and putting on a few more sweaters. Also, after observing my diet and a few other people’s diets I noticed a little difference. I hope to get into the habit of eating more Third World foods instead of the First World foods I have been having, such as the pizza and fries I had today.
1. Consumption
Water- Drank 3 glasses of water, took a ten minute shower, brushed my teeth, washed my hands, washed the dishes, and flushed the toliet
Food- a bagel with cream cheese, orange juice, ritz bits, and a meatball sub
Electricity- I did not use the internet today, except to write this post. I watched a little bit of television and did not turn on the lights until six. Even then I only turned on two lights.
Gasoline- Used to heat up my home, and turned on the oven to cook dinner
Money- I did not spend ANY money today
2. Reduction
I didn’t use the computer today,and reduced the amount of water that I used by taking a shorter shower than normal. I also turned on the lights a little bit later than usual, which is five.
3. Sustainability
I am getting in the habit of taking shorter showers and can see myself potentially doing this in the future. I can also see myself using the computer much less, mainly when it is absolutely necessary. I cannot see myself turning the lights on later than usual every night though because it was hard to see (obviously). I was only able to do this because I had the television on and did not require light due to the fact that the television provided a little.
4. Following
By reading other people’s posts I learned that I need to do more and to reduce.
1. Consumption
Water-Today I drank a glass of water. I took a five minute shower, brushed my teeth, flushed the toilet, and washed my hands.
Food-Spaghetti and Meatballs, Mountain Dew
Electricity- Turned on lights at five when it got dark. I used the computer for about three hours to do my homework and to write this post. I also watched television for about an hour.
Gasoline-Heated my home.
Money- I spent $1.50 on the Mountain Dew that I drank this morning.
2. Reduction
Today I cut back by taking a shorter shower. I also only used the computer for things that were necessary. I did not use my phone at all today which was a very difficult task for me but it was one that I wanted to accomplish one day during the project.
3. Sustainability
I want to continue to try to use the phone less for both texting, talking, and the use of the internet. Of course this is something that is not available to people in third world countries and I feel like I rely on it too much. I am hoping in the future to limit this usage to preferably an hour or two a day.
4. Following
I learned from the tumblr feed that people are actually turning off their heat and wearing more sweaters. I am proud of there initiative and I wish I could adjust my actions but I live in an apartment building where unfortunately I do not control the heat.
1. Consumption
Water: Today I took a shower, washed dishes on two occasions, and drank one bottle of water.
Food: I ate rice, peppers, chicken, beans and cookies. Other than the cookies I have maintained a pretty basic third world diet.
Electricity: I used light when it got dark at like five and watched an hour of television. I also used the computer to write this post.
Gasoline (Fossil Fuels): I used gas so that I could heat up my house.
Money: Surprisingly I did not spend any money today.
2. Reduction
Today I made an attempt to watch less television, and take a shorter shower. I also refrained from using the computer unless it was for homework. Lastly, I refrained from spending any money today.
3. Sustainability
I think I could potentially take shorter showers. This seems like a small change to my life style that also conserves. However, I am finding it difficult to stay off of the computer and the television and find it unlikely that I will be able to continue this.
