Eco-logical Living Calculator

The following questions are intended to help you raise your awareness of how you impact the Earth and give you a score that you can compare against yourself from time to time to see if and by how much you are evolving to become an ‘Eco-Logical’ human being.

ECO-NOMY
Please select all applicable options.
Do you:
- Financially support any environmental or organisation or society
- Financially contribute to any social or welfare causes
- Invest in a socially and environmentally friendly pension or savings fund
- Bank with a financial institution that demonstrates a commitment to social and environmental sustainability
- Add your voice and support calls for action against bad environmental practices from social and environmental activist groups such as: 350.org; Climate Action Network; Friends of the Earth; Greenpeace; 90×2030; Avaaz; WWF

How often do you check yourself before making a significant purchasing decision: "Do I really need this or is it unnecessary and wasteful ( i.e. allowing myself to be psychologically manipulated into buying it)"?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Half the time
- Most of the time
- Always

AT WORK
Please select all applicable options.
At work:
- Are your work occupation activities beneficial and helpful to the wellbeing of “People and Planet”?
- Do your work occupation activities conflict with your moral and environmental values?
- Do you financially support any environmental or social welfare organisation as part of your Corporate Social responsibility?
- Do you invite and challenge your employees to consider how you can produce your products or deliver your services in a more socially and environmentally friendly manner?
- Do you educate and require your suppliers to deliver their products and services in a ( continuously improving) ecologically friendly manner?
- Do you avoid incurring travel miles by hosting virtual meetings wherever practically possible?

Are you eco-logically conscious in your use of paper (Such as: only printing when absolutely necessary; printing on recycled or environmentally friendly paper; printing on both sides)?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Half the time
- Most of the time
- Always

Are you eco-logically conscious with regard to waste generated from your office (Such as: Recycling all materials that can be recycled; Using recycled or refillable printer ink cartridges; Disposing of used ink cartridges at registered hazardous waste disposal sites; Donating old computers and other E-Waste to schools or delivering them to a registered E-Waste recycler for environmentally responsible disposal; Buying second hand or refurbished office furniture instead of new or commissioning a local artisan to build your office furniture using recycled or alien woods?)
- Never
- Sometimes
- Half the time
- Most of the time
- Always

WASTE CONSCIOUSNESS
Please select all applicable options.
Waste consciousness:
- Do you dispose of batteries, light bulbs and other toxic materials at designated hazardous waste disposal facilities?
- Do you use recycled plastic trash bags?
- Do you avoid buying bottled water by owning ( and using) a non-disposable drink bottle?
- Do you participate at least once-per-year in a local environmental clean-up operations?

How much of your household waste do you recycle or re-purpose?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

How much do you avoid using disposable items (such as: single use plastic shopping bags; disposable coffee cups; pens; razors; drinking straws; plastic eating utensils)?
- Not at all
- Sometimes
- Half the time
- Mostly
- Always

When a household item is broken, how often will you try to repair it instead of simply replacing it?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Half the time
- Most of the time
- Always

FOOD AWARENESS
How much of your food is ‘home cooked’ (as opposed to pre-prepared or fast food takeaways)?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

How much of your food is organic?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

How much of your food is vegetarian or vegan?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

How much of your foods do you consciously choose to buy ‘in-season’ from local sources – in order to avoid the ‘food miles’ created by importing foods?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

How much of your foods do you consciously choose to be Non-Genetically Modified (GMO) foods?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

When buying food how often do you choose from Fair Trade sources and /or buying SASSI approved "Sustainable Fish"?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Half the time
- Mostly
- Always

Do you do a weekly bulk shop instead of a daily grocery shopping in order to save on food-miles and packaging?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Half the time
- Mostly
- Always

TOXIC AWARENESS
Please select all applicable options.
TOXIC AWARENESS:
- Do you use a non-toxic brand of household and kitchen surface cleaners?
- Do you use earth-friendly washing powders?
- Do you choose earth-friendly cosmetics that are not tested on animals and made from natural, organic , non-toxic materials?
- Do you avoid using chemical fertilizers in your garden?
- Do you avoid using chemical insecticides in your house and garden?
- Do you dispose of light bulbs, batteries, ink cartridges and computer equipment only at appropriate hazardous waste collection facilities?

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
How often do you turn off lights, TV and other appliances when not needed or in use?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Half the time
- Mostly
- Always

When buying electrical appliances – how much of your buying decision is based on the energy efficiency of the products?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

How much of your household energy do you generate from solar power and or wind power?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

How much of your household lighting are energy efficient compact fluorescent (CFL’s) or Light Emitting Diodes (LED’s)?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

How much of your home has double glazing?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

How much of your washing do you air-dry?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
- Have you installed heat insulation around your water geyser and reduced the temperature setting of your geyser to 55-60 degrees?
- Do you use gas or energy efficient space heaters to warm your home?
- Do you dispose of light bulbs, batteries, ink cartridges and computer equipment only at appropriate hazardous waste collection facilities?

WATER
Please select all applicable options.
WATER:
- Do you collect and use rain water?
- Do you collect and use grey water from your bath or shower; washing machine or dish washer?
- Do you avoid washing your car using municipal water?
- Have you installed a HIPPO or other mechanism to reduce the amount of water used in your toilet flush?
- Do you have a compostable (waterless) toilet?
- Do you save water and energy by wearing your clothes more than once between washes?

How often do you shower instead of bathing?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Half the time
- Most of the time
- Always

How many of your bathroom and kitchen taps are fitted with "low flow" nozzles?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

How many of your bathroom and kitchen taps are fitted with "low flow" nozzles?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

HOME
How often do you consciously look for eco-friendly products for your home (such as: low VOC paints; reclaimed building materials; refurbished; second hand; vintage; recycled or upcycled products)?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Half the time
- Most of the time
- Always

How much of your clothing is locally made in South Africa?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

How much of a ‘Fashion-addict’ are you (buying new clothing not because you need to but because you feel the need to "be in fashion")?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Half the time
- Most of the time
- Always

Do you recycle or donate old clothing or unused household items to a local charity or someone else who could benefit from it – instead of just throwing it away?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Half the time
- Most of the time
- Always

How much do you participate in local community activities and building the social cohesion of your community?
- Never
- Sometimes
- Half the time
- Most of the time
- Always

How many of the gifts you give to others are ‘a gift of an enriching experience’ ( like a massage or a music performance) instead of a material gift for a Birthday or Festive Season?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

How many days per week do you consciously engage with Nature (such as walking in nature, bird watching, gardening or other physical contact with nature)?
- None
- 1-2 days
- 3-4 days
- 4-5 days
- 6-7 days

TRAVEL
Please select all applicable options.
TRAVEL:
- Do you drive an electric or hybrid vehicle?
- Do you drive a small fuel efficient vehicle?
- Do you check your tyre pressure once per week?
- Do you keep your vehicle regularly serviced – at least once per year?

How many days per week do you work from home?
- None
- 1-2 days
- 3-4 days
- 4-5 days
- 6-7 days

How many days per week do you car-pool, use a taxi or public transport to get to work?
- None
- 1-2 days
- 3-4 days
- 4-5 days
- 6-7 days

How many days per week do you walk or cycle to work?
- None
- 1-2 days
- 3-4 days
- 4-5 days
- 6-7 days

GARDEN
Please select all applicable options.
GARDEN:
- Do you put mulch around plants in order to retain soil moisture?
- Do you compost your green waste and/or have a worm farm?
- Do you plant bird and butterfly attracting plants?
- Do you grow your own fruit, vegetables and /or herbs in your garden?
- Do you water your garden only in the cool of early morning or evening to avoid evaporation?
- Have you installed a water efficient drip irrigation system to water your garden?

How many of your plants are indigenous "water-wise"?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

What percentage of your garden is water greedy lawn?
- None
- Some
- Half
- Most
- All

Thank you! Hit the SUBMIT button now to see your score. By doing so, you will also be anonymously making an important contribution to our ongoing research.
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