Challenge: Determine your carbon footprint

I'm looking for two or three South Sound families or individuals to embark on a year-long journey with me.

Sorry, this is not an all-expenses-paid trip to some dream destination where we can leave our worries behind. Far from it.

Rather, I'm asking you to calculate your household's carbon footprint for the past year, ending July 1, then keep track of it again for the next year, beginning Aug. 1.

You’ll share the results with me and I'll share them with readers of The Olympian's environment page, which, in the months ahead, will place an increased emphasis on climate change topics at the local, state and regional level.

A carbon footprint is a measure of the greenhouse gases - primarily carbon dioxide - we produce in our daily lives. Simply put, the more we produce, the more we contribute to the accumulation of gases in the atmosphere that lead to global warming.

We’ll use a carbon footprint calculator provided by The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit conservation group working around the world in a cooperative way to protect environmentally-sensitive places for the benefit of people, fish and wildlife.

The calculator measures carbon dioxide emissions in four major categories: home energy, driving and flying, food and diet, and recycling and waste. It features enough detail to be useful without being overwhelming.

I took the test this week. Here's some of the things I learned about my own carbon footprint during the past 12 months.

My home energy consumption weighed in at 13 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, which was 31 percent above the national average for a one-person household. I think it’s because I’m living in a three-bedroom home by myself most of the time.

I also was penalized for not yet switching all my incandescent light bulbs over to compact fluorescent and for failing to unplug electronic gadgets not in use.

My driving and flying

Emissions were 10 tons of CO2, or 55 percent below the national average. I drove my medium-sized car 8,500 miles last year, which is below average. I also flew twice within the country.

My diet, which includes some red meat and some homegrown fruits and vegetables, weighed in at 3.4 tons, or 15 percent below the national average.

By recycling religiously and composting my food waste, my carbon footprint was 56 percent below the national average for solid waste.

So my overall carbon footprint totaled 27 tons of CO2, which is about average for an adult in the United States.

Here's a sobering thought: A typical U.S. citizen has a carbon footprint more than five times the global average.

Looks like I need to sell Horsefeathers Farm and move to an apartment in town, if I want to make a bigger dent in my carbon footprint. Or I could wait for my young adult children to move back home to justify such a large house.

Barring those drastic measures, I expect to reduce my carbon footprint in the upcoming year in other ways. For example, I plan to add insulation in the attic to reduce my home heating needs. And I don’t see two airplane trips in the household budget this year.

Are you willing to join me in this year-long journey? If so, here are two things to do:

First, check out the carbon footprint calculator at www.nature.org/initiatives/climate change/calculator. Be aware that The Nature Conservancy wants you to participate in a program they offer to purchase carbon offset credits. The Olympian project is neutral on that option.

Second, e-mail me at jdodge@theolympian.com by July 7 and tell me a little about your family and the reasons you're willing to participate. Let's call the project "Green Steps."