Assignment Overview:
In this course, we have learned that sustainability is a critical issue because of the impact of human activities on the environment and the need to ensure that the Earth's resources are used in a responsible and sustainable manner. Considering your own consumption habits can be a valuable way to increase your sustainability practices.
Directions:
In this journal assignment, you will reflect on your consumption habits and the role they play in sustainable development.
First, consider your consumption habits over two or three days. You may use the optional Consumption Tracker Template (located in Supporting Materials) to record your daily consumption. By tracking your consumption for a few days, you will be better prepared to describe your habits and explain your discoveries about them.
Specifically, you must address the following:
1. Describe your consumption habits over two or three days.
- How much water, food, gas, electricity, and so forth did you consume each day, and how did you consume it? Use your best estimate when measuring your consumption.
- Did you consume more than you needed?
2. Explain what you discovered about your consumption habits.
- Are your consumption habits better or worse than you may have expected? If so, how?
- Did you notice any trends in your consumption habits or waste habits? If so, what were they?
- How your consumption habits relate to sustainable development as a whole?
3. Describe some changes in your behavior that could reduce consumption or improve sustainability.
- What can you change now?
- What can you change over time?
- How can these changes reduce consumption or improve sustainability?
- What are the pros and cons of these changes? (For example, it would be more sustainable for trees if you used fewer paper towels, but your reduced usage of trees might not be enough to offset the water you consume and pollute to clean reusable towels.)