Sopris Sun THE
VOLUME 1, NUMBER 10 • APRIL 16, 2009
Carbon dale Foot print By Jeremy Heiman
ohann Aberger and Lindsay Herlinger have a pretty good profile. This Carbondale couple’s environmental impact is less than half that of a typical American couple. Dan and Holly Richardson and their two boys are in a similar bracket. Their combined lifestyles introduce an estimated 21,618 pounds of carbon dioxide into Earth’s atmosphere annually, or about 5,405 pounds per person. That’s a very low impact. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average American spews about 21,750 pounds of atmospheric carbon every year. Carbondale residents, in general, are more aware than most Americans of how their day-to-day activities affect the environment. As the 39th annual Earth Day approaches, we thought we’d take a closer look at the effect individuals and families have on global warming and other aspects of environmental degradation, and what steps we can take to reduce those impacts. Two families volunteered to do a basic analysis of their impacts and to talk to us about their environmental footprint (a metaphor for the size of the impact they have on the earth’s resources). We chose two families that are environmentally concerned, live in energy-efficient houses and have very low environmental impacts. Perhaps Johann and Lindsay and the Richardsons will inspire readers to check their own environmental impacts and go on to take some big steps toward a smaller footprint. The families’ environmental impacts were measured using two Web-based calculators. (See sidebar on page 5 for more information.)
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Two families take steps to help save the environment The Richardson family in Carbondale isn't afraid to get close to the earth. Their house includes both passive and active solar design, high-efficiency appliances, and high-performance insulation. Shown here is Henry Richardson digging in the dirt while dad Dan hangs out in their front yard. Photo by Trina Ortega
Let the sun shine in Johann and Lindsay don’t have children. Johann is an outdoor education instructor at Colorado Mountain College and Lindsay is a self-employed fine art printer working in Basalt. The two live in a new house designed with energy-saving and resource-stingy features. The house’s orientation takes advantage of passive solar gain. FAMILIES page 5