Exercises — Lab 2: Eco-footprint and Water Footprint
1 hands-on tasks. Do them in order; each one feeds the Canvas item it names.
45 min · lab-scaffold
1. Lab 2 write-up scaffold
- HYPOTHESIS — Predict whether your ecological footprint will be above or below the U.S. national average (currently about 8 global hectares per person). State your reasoning.
- METHODS — Describe how you calculated your footprint and water footprint (which calculator tool, what inputs you used, how you estimated unknowns).
- DATA TABLE — Record your footprint results by category (food, transportation, housing, goods). Include your water footprint figure. Compare to U.S. average and global average.
- ANALYSIS — Which category contributed most to your footprint? How does your water footprint compare to the global average (~1,240 m³/person/year)? Calculate how many Earths would be needed if everyone lived like you.
- CONCLUSION — (1) Was your prediction supported? (2) What is one source of error or limitation in footprint calculators? (3) Name one realistic consumption change you could make, and estimate its impact on your footprint.
Turn in / bring: Submit completed write-up through Canvas as Word or PDF by 9/14 @ 11:59pm.