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How Green are You?

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Taking small eco-friendly help save the planet, but looking at the bigger picture can save you money. According to Harris Interactive, more Americans are finding a way to improve their home’s energy efficiency such as turning off unnecessary lights (84 percent). If you too want to save money and the environment, maybe you should try using a green calculator.

The key to measuring our impact on the environment is efficiency— making sure that our living space, workplace, and means of transportation have little effect on the planet. Most people calculate their carbon footprint or the total greenhouse gases they produce daily. However, you can also measure your water footprint, trash or garbage footprint, etc… Not sure where to begin? The “green calculators” listed below can help.

3 “Green Calculators”

  1. Yahoo! Green. This basic calculator is a great start to calculating your carbon footprint. You take a simple quiz about your home and travel schedule. They compare your results to an average American’s CO₂ emission (9.44 metric tons a year). They also list tips for reducing your score, such as putting your house on a diet, reducing its consumption heat and air conditioning.
  2. National Geographic. This calculator takes the basics into account like whether you prefer showers or baths. However, it also asks questions about your travel plans, purchases, and diet which can determine your water footprint, for example, it takes 338 gallons of water to produce only 3 ounces of beef. In the end, they compare your average to the US average (1,981 gallons a day) and offer tips for improving your score, such as upgrading old faucets and toilets.
  3. Low Impact Living. This is a more thorough calculator. To create a detailed analysis it asks specific questions like the square footage of your home or the type of appliances you use. It calculates your water, energy, carbon dioxide, wastewater, runoff water, and trash footprint, as well as much it is costing you. Low Impact Living also suggests what you can do to improve your score and how much money you can save.

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