My footprints made of carbon

Many wonder what actually is a carbon footprint and why does it matter to know our own. A carbon footprint is the effect you have on the climate in the terms of Carbon Dioxide units. This is important to know because when we emit too much carbon dioxide, we effect global warming and climate change in a bad way. Each gallon of gas that we burn, the more carbon is produced and released into the environment. With the increase of CO2 in the climate, the temperatures rise and causes the life on earth to change. The rise in temperatures can cause major effects on the oceans, animals, glaciers, plant growing seasons, people and much more. 


Our carbon footprints are calculated from two major emissions, our household energy and transportation. In terms of transportation, the miles driven each month is divided by miles per gallon to determine the number of gallons of fuel that is used each month. This quantity is then converted to kg then to lbs of CO2. For the emissions from household energy, the number of kilowatt hours is multiplied by pounds of CO2 produced per kilowatt hour to get the total pounds of       CO2. The US average is 1.34 lbs of CO2 per kilowatt hour.


I calculated my carbon footprint and my boyfriend's carbon footprint and here are the results below:


My carbon footprint:

• Household average is 3211 lbs. of Carbon Dioxide per month.
• My individual emissions are 803 lbs of CO2 per month.
• 89% from home energy and 11% from transportation.

My boyfriend's carbon footprint:

• Household average is 1023 lbs. of Carbon Dioxide per month.
• His individual emissions are 512 lbs of CO2 per month.
• 77% from home energy and 23% from transportation.

This calculation is completely accurate because when there are multiply people in your household, not all of the carbon dioxide emissions are produced by you. In my case, I actually only stay at my apartment about once or twice a week. So the huge amount of CO2 that is emitted from my apartment is caused from my roommates who don't have any concern about how much energy they are wasting. But I will own up to the amount of CO2 I am emitting from transportation. I work in Lansing so it is about a 120 miles drive there and back but I only work there every other weekend to try to reduce the amount of gas I am using to travel. I have been trying to find a job in Kalamazoo to try to reduce my driving distance but so far it is going very slowly. 

If your interested in calculating your Carbon Footprint too, all you need are your energy bills and visit this site below:

http://www.safeclimate.net/calculator/

Kalamazoo, Michigan

http://www.checkoutlosangeles.com/

We talked in class on Tuesday about how many people don't want to change their habits to lessen the amount that they consume. The real issue is that they need things to do that will replace their old habits.

Here is a list of activities and events that are happening around Kalamazoo this summer that can help us lessen our impact on the earth:

Michigan Recreation Passport ($10)
This replaces the state park sticker to get you into all 98 state parks and 1,000 boat launches in Michigan. The Michigan's Recreation Passport is one way you can show support for outdoor recreation and help preserve green spaces for future generations. When you buy your recreation passport, your money goes to preserve and protect local parks, trails and historic and cultural sites in state parks. You can get your Recreation Passport when you renew your license plate online, by mail, at Self Service Stations, at a Secretary of State Office or when getting a new plate. 
Here's a link to get you started: http://www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport

Woods Lake Park- Public Beach (2900 Oakland)
Woods Lake Park is located on Oakland Drive north of Parkview and is open to the public. There is no lifeguard on duty and no admission charge. To respect the park, Wood lake Park does not allow alcoholic beverages, dogs on the public beach and glass containers. The mission of Woods Lake Association is to preserve the ecology of Woods Lake and protect the beauty of surrounding areas.

Trails 
Kalamazoo County Ramble (22.3 miles)
Located between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek
Great for biking and walking.
I got a ride in Kalamazoo: Kal-Haven Trail State Park (29.8 miles)
North on 10th street in Kalamazoo
This former railroad is not a lime-stone surface that links South Haven with Kalamazoo.
West Lake Wetland Walk and Bog Walk (3.5 miles)
West Lake Nature Preserve is 110 acres and is located in the middle of the city of Portage, just minutes from I-94. The park is a upland hardwood forest bordered on three sides by either extensive bog or West Lake.







Battle Creek Linear Park (22 miles)
This former railroad track has been turned into 22 miles of beautiful trails that hug the banks of the kalamazoo and battle creek rivers. There are dozens of signs that educate about surrounding animals and plant life, as well as the area's history and culture.

Kalamazoo Nature Center (7000 N. Westnedge Ave.)
We all know about the Nature Center because of Will and Sarah from our camping trip but there are a few interesting events that are going on there soon. Here's a link for a few adult programs that we can get involved in: http://naturecenter.org/Home/AboutKNC/AdultProgramsatKNC.aspx
Hours: Mon-Sat: 9am-5pm, Sun: 1pm-5pm
$6 for adults
$5 for seniors
$4 for kids
$25 membership fee to get in free
Earth Day Celebration (Saturday April 16th 9am- 5pm)
FREE ADMISSION TO THE NATURE CENTER!!
There will be nature lead walks throughout the day starting at the Kalamazoo Nature Center booth on the hour, every hour from 10am to 2 pm.
Kalamazoo Nature Center Trails (8 miles) 


Stewards of Kleinstuck Work Day
Sunday April 10, 2011 ( 3pm- 5pm) at Kazoo school
Volunteer work day to work on kleinstuck management plan
This even happens every 2nd Sunday of the month.
Hope to see you there!

Kalamazoo Institute of Art (Free)
314 S. Park St.
Hours: Mon- Closed,
Tues, Wed, Sat- 10am-5pm
Thurs, Fri- 10am-8pm
Sun- noon-5pm
Come view the exhibits or join an art class! http://www.kiarts.org/
Current Exhibits:
The Wyeths: America's Artists (Until April 17, 2011)
Familiar Surroundings (Until April 10, 2011)
Ukiyo-e Redux: Contemporary Japanese Prints (Until April 23, 2011)
Upcoming Exhibits:
Portrait and Presence: (April 16- August 20)
Young Artist of Kalamazoo County: (April 30- May 15)
2011 West Michigan Area Show: (May 7- June 26)
2011 High School Area Show: (May 21- June 19)
KIA Art Fair (June 3-4 2011)
60th Anniversary

Air Zoo (6151 Portage Road, Portage) FREE!
The Air Zoo is a type of amusement park that brings flying to life. It's like no other place.
http://www.airzoo.org/
Mon-Sat: 9am- 5pm
Sunday: noon-5pm

Pink Floyd or U2 Laser Show $3 (KalamazooValley Museum) 
Every Friday at 8:30 
The digistar 4 laser projector fills the planetarium dome with computer made images that go along with the music.
Last 50 minutes 
Art hop (May 6, 5pm- 8pm) Free (Kalamazoo Valley Museum)


City of Kalamazoo Farmer's Market 
Fresh Produce, Plants, Flowers, Baked Goods, Fresh Meats and Hand Made Crafts
1204 Bank Street, between Lake Street and Stockbridge Ave.
Opening Date: May 7, 2011
Closing Date: November 19, 2011
Hours: 7am- 2pm
May and November: Saturday only
June- October: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
For any more info visit: www.kalamazoocity.org

If your interested in taking any type of classes here in Kalamazoo, visit the website for the City of Kalamazoo, you may be able to find things that may interest you: http://www.kalamazoocity.org/portal/kzoolife.php?page=calendar&view=week

My Green Thumb

I love plants and gardening but since I have moved to an apartment this year, it's a little different than being able to plant everything I want. At my parents house, we usually have a garden every year so this is my way of bringing home to school with me and it's so much fun!

My orchid and Bamboo in my room

I just got this one last week!

Where the garden begins :)

The start of my green peppers

Squash,
almost in need of being transplanted

Sunflowers

Baby chives

Wild flowers just sprouting!

This may look just like dirt but
 theres a few flowers sprouting there

 This is just the start of the garden and a few of my plants have not sprouted yet but they will soon!

Kerala, India

            In many eyes, Kerala would be thought of as a terrible place to live because the city does't have all the luxuries and electronics that many grew up on. But in my eyes, I think that it seems like a place I wouldn't mind living. There would be some steps to be made to be able to slowly reduce our dependence on electricity and the many amenities that we grew up on but I think it is possible. We don't need a lot of the things that we own. Most of the things are just wants and we feel like we need them but we can live without a nice flatscreen tv, or designer clothing.
             Just yesterday, me and my boyfriend have decided to reduce our consumption of television, computer time and video games. We went all yesterday with turning the T.V. on once in the thought that we might want to watch it to go to bed but we turned it off right away because it was a better idea to just talk. I actually am going to unplug the tv in my room so I don't have the urge again. This may be a small baby step, but that is what it takes. Many people don't rely on other people and the natural things around them to be entertaining during leisure times because they only rely on the tv to entertain them. I find this way of life wrong!
        In Bill Mckibben's book, Hope, Human and Wild he does a great job at bringing us along with him on his journey to Kerala and almost makes me want to experience the place first hand by saying "This is what the world looks like" as he strolled through the state. Kerala is said to mirrors the United States on about one-seventieth the cash and be just or even more happy with a score of 88 out of 100 on the human well-being scale. I love that Kerala has changed the rules of the game that you need to be rich to live a long and happy life. I am not rich and I have no idea if I will be some day but Kerala gives me some comfort on the issue because I know I will be happy even if I don't end up having a lot of money. But Kerala has to be kept in mind as an example and not somewhere I should visit but somewhere like it. It is remarkable that they have found a place that is "the one large human population on earth which currently meets the sustainability criteria of simultaneous small families and low consumption." I am on board with Bill to undermine the developed world's instinctive resistance to change and make them change.
          I absolutely loved reading this book, everything that Bill was talking about were things just like what I was just talking about with boyfriend the other day. I am all about living the sustainable life not just because it is the right thing to do but it just seems more enjoyable. I look forward to reading Eaarth: Making Life on a Tough New Planet by Bill Mckibben later this week and filling everyone in on my views from another one of his books.

350.org

I just viewed the website http://www.350.org/mission and I was a bit amazed. To be honest, I don't personally know many people who know much or care much about the environment and the types of harm we are causing to the earth. Because I don't know people who are concerned about this issue, I haven't been brought up to date     about any of the issues, but 350.org knows all about what is going on. I may be a bit out of the loop, but it is nice to know that there are many people out there that are working hard toward the goal of bringing our CO2 emissions down to be at long-living levels. I believe that we are currently at 388ppm which is above our save zone. Back 200 years ago, our atmosphere contained 275ppm of CO2 which is a good amount. But now with our CO2 emissions so high, we are at risk of life on earth becoming extinct.
        It is a terrible sham that we were given life on this planet to make it strive and appreciate everything that grows naturally and we are destroying it. I feel like a small person on this issue like I thought to myself, "how can I even make a difference if I'm just one person?" But if every person comes together to make more awareness of the issue and start changing their actions, even if just baby steps, it all makes a difference. I may have a small network as of this age of my life but I plan to widen that network and let everyone that I know about this issue that we are facing today.
       I am very interested in getting more involved in events that are coming up in Earth week and I hope to learn more about how I can make difference. I will let everyone know what I have learned to widen the awareness.

Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica

I have always dreamed of visiting Costa Rica, actually I considered studying abroad there last summer but my parents wouldn't allow it because the cost were a little ridiculous. Costa Rica has over one fourth of its land covered with natural reserves and conservations, wildlife refuges and national parks. There are so many beautiful and breathtaking places in Costa Rica and I would love to visit all of them someday but for the moment, I'm going to focus on my visit to the Corcovado National Park  located on the Osa Peninsula. The Corcovado National Park is home to the only largest tropical lowland rain forest in the WORLD! It is famous for holding 3% of the biodiversity on this side of the planet and it also has a huge amount of endangered species. While visiting the Park, you could experience approximately 6,000  different insects, 500 species of trees, 367 birds, 140 mammals, 117 amphibians and reptiles and 40 species of freshwater fish.

http://www.agarman.dial.pipex.com/ocelot.htm

 One of the endangered species from this region is the Ocelot which is part of the sub-genus Leopardus. The Ocelot is hunted and prized for their distinctive fur which has led to the Ocelot's extinction in some of its range.
 The Nature Conservancy is helping to save the rain forests of
 Costa Rica from the outside world of improved transportation
 and expanding developments. Osa's forest are starting to disappear due to lands being cleared for logging and agricultural at a higher rate than anywhere else in Costa Rica. The Costa Rica government is doing what they can to save the land by acquiring and protecting lands, strenghtening the management of protected land, hiring and training park staff, establishing a network of marine protected areas, ect. The Nature Conservancy has also launched a program where you can adopt a acre of the forest to help the conservancy protect and restore this highly threatened region. Here is the link below if anyone is interested:

https://support.nature.org/site/Donation2?4380.donation=form1&idb=1265079635&df_id=4380

a little stumbleupon

Here is something that would have to do with the things we were talking about today in class. I found it interesting and relevant:
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/5LFyHa/www.breathingearth.net/