2010 Fall LAS 101: Freshman Seminar
Theme: Environmental Sustainability and World Citizenship
Homework 5: Ecological Footprints and Environmental Sustainability (4 points)
Due: Week 7 In-Class
Students Name: zhen zhen
Section:
Name of LAS 101 Intern: Max Kneierim
Points earned:
/4
Instructions: Answer all 10 of the questions below by typing your answers into the document. Do not
copy and paste information from other sources. Cite your source(s) if you make a direct quote or
paraphrase. [Citation hint: See the APA Style website FAQs for help on how to cite information from
webpages, at http://www.apastyle.org/learn/faqs/index.aspx.] Bring the hard copy of the completed
homework document (with your word-processed answers) to class Week 7 to obtain credit. You may
not submit your homework by e-mail. Late homework and handwritten homework will not be
accepted.
In order to answer Questions 1-5, you must take the Ecological Footprint quiz found on the Global
Footprint Network website, at: http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/ .
Print your results. [If you have trouble accessing the quiz, please try another computer with an
updated browser.] Then use your Ecological Footprint quiz results and other information from the
Global Footprint Network website to answer Questions 1-5.
1. If everyone lived like you, how many planet earths would we need to provide enough resources?
We need 4.4 earth to provide enough resources.
2. How many global acres does it take to support your lifestyle?
It takes 21.3 global acres to support my lifestyle.
3. What sector (food, shelter, mobility, goods, or services) makes up the majority of your Ecological
Footprint? What sector represents the smallest percentage? What, if anything, surprised you
about your quiz results?
Services makes up the majority and Shelter represents the smallest
percentage. The results surprised me by telling me how much energy to
matain the current life quality.
4. According to the information provided in the FAQ sections of the Global Footprint Network, what is
an Ecological Footprint and how is it calculated?
The Ecological Footprint is a metric that allows us to calculate human
pressure on the planet.
The personal Footprint calculated by using National Footprint Accounts
data for selected nations. With different nations, people will have
different categories(food, shelter, mobility, goods and services) to
calculate Footprint
The cretira is based on different national average behavior.
5. In your judgment, how credible is the Global Footprint Network website as a source of scientific
information about sustainability? What criteria did you consider in making this judgment? Please
explain.
Ecological Footprints and Environmental Sustainability
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The Global Footprint Network is very credible since there are hundreds
of individuals, 200 cities, 23 nations, leading business, scientists,
NGOs, academics and 90-plus global Partners joined in the group.
6. What are the names of two sustainability-focused, or green, Registered Student Organizations at
the University of Illinois and what is the mission/purpose of each? Use following the website to
help you answer: http://sustainability.illinois.edu/studentgroups.html
Alternative Spring Break and American Fisheries Society
The purpose of ASB is make people to learn about and actively combat
social justice and environmental issues by tralling through countries.
"The mission of AFS is "to improve the conservation and sustainability
of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and
aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries
professionals."
Cited from http://illinois.collegiatelink.net/Community?
action=getOrgHome&orgID=21131
7. According to information available at the website of the Office of Sustainability at the University of
Illinois, at: http://sustainability.illinois.edu/reports.html , the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign participates each year in a survey distributed by the Princeton Review. What does
the Green Campus portion of the survey measure? What is Illinois green ranking among Big 10
Universities?
he Green Campus portion of the survey measures "the sustainability
education and research, LEED certified buildings and other sustainable
operations practices, transportation options, local foods in dining
halls, and student involvement in sustainability initiatives."
cited from"
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?
q=cache:XS9vsZC0RaoJ:sustainability.illinois.edu/reports.html+green+camp
us+portion+of+the+survey&cd=1&hl=zh-CN&ct=clnk&gl=us
Ranking second among Big Ten Universities
8. According to information available at the website: http://sustainability.illinois.edu/ssc.html, what is
the purpose of the Student Sustainability Committee?
The first purpose is "to explore the options for the use of the student
fees for sustainability and alternative energy generation", and the
second one is "to evaluate the feasibility of projects being discussed
with the professional assistance of engineers in the Division of
Facilities and Services."
cited from
http://sustainability.illinois.edu/ssc.html
9. How does your dorm encourage its residents to live a sustainable life style? Please explain.
Recyling paper and ecourage us to paint on the both side of paper. Turn
off the light when we are not in dorm. Turn off the tap when we do not
need water.
Ecological Footprints and Environmental Sustainability
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10. What is the City of Urbana doing in order to reduce its ecological footprint and promote
sustainability? Use the sustainability webpage of the City of Urbana website to help you answer:
http://urbanaillinois.us/sustainability.
The City of Urbana is trying to creating an Urbana Climate Action Plan.
This plan is to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions in the community.
The City is trying to increase the quality of life and supporting
economic vibrancy.
The City also have Climate Action Plan which will guide the community in
the reduction of its energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions.
The City have a U-CYCLE recycling program which is a significant
environmental initiative.
Ecological Footprints and Environmental Sustainability
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