Do Your Part, How to Be and Live Green in Charlotte, NC

Did you know that each one of us leaves a measurable footprint on the planet. It's called an eco-footprint and it's the amount of energy and natural resources that the planet must provide to sustain our lifestyles. Do you have any idea what your eco-footprint is? You can measure it by using the eco-footprint calculator at DoYourPart.com. And trust me, it's eye opening!

You start with entering basic information about where you live, how many people live with you, and the size of your home

Then, you are asked about what forms of energy you use at home, the light bulbs you choose, and how you save electricity.

After you enter the miles you travel each year...it's all about how you eat - what you eat and where you shop for food.

You'll be asked about water saving measures in your home, products used to build your home and the chemical you use to clean it.

And last, it's about your trash. How much do you create every week, and what items you recycle on a regular basis.

Then it calculates how many planets it takes to maintain that lifestyle ....and the result may shock you!

It's not a perfect test, but it's a start on making each one of us realize how much we take from the planet every day. In fact, this year alone we'll take 40% more than the planet can produce in a years time. That means we're dipping into the future just to keep up our lifestyle and that's not sustainable.

My hope is that you'll measure your eco-footprint and start finding ways to tread lightly on our planet by reducing, reusing and recycling.