Is there a way for us to know whether we are living in an ecologically considerate way and are satisfied and living well? In this episode, we are going to talk about measuring success. We know there are no numbers to tell us whether we are living sustainably and happily, but there are certain things we can assess to help us establish a benchmark and a starting point. The aspects of our lives that are measurable can be used to direct our decision-making, and in that way, guide us toward greater environmental awareness and overall higher quality of life. Joining in today, listeners will hear me talk about the different ways for us to measure sustainability and our happiness, using calculators and tools that evaluate our carbon emissions, water consumption, waste production, and even our anxiety and happiness levels.
Key Points From This Episode:
• Why is it important to measure our performance in terms of environmental sustainability?
• The concept of an ecological footprint and how we can measure the impact we make.
• Our contemporary culture promotes the overconsumption and exploitation of resources.
• The value of thinking about resources in terms of how much of the planet one person can consume.
• Resource use calculations help us to make better choices individually and collectively.
Key Messages:
1. Measurements can help us improve and give direction for positive actions.
2. The ecological footprint is a robust method of calculating overall ecological impacts.
3. We can get more specific with a carbon and water footprint calculator.
4. We can calculate waste by doing a household waste audit.
5. Life satisfaction or happiness surveys can be fun and provide helpful insights.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Ecological Footprint Calculator
United Nations Carbon Offset Calculator
Ecological Footprints Around the Globe
Water Footprint Video – A Film by UNESCO WWAP
Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on Earth
Water Footprint Calculator (Detailed)
Water Footprint Calculator (Simple)
United Nations: Water and Climate Change
USGS – Where Is Earth’s Water?
How To Do A Household Waste Audit—and Why
University of Pennsylvania – Authentic Happiness Test
