WWF LIFESTYLE TEST


How much are you changing the climate?



Human beings, particularly those living in industrialized countries, are constantly adding to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that are responsible for global warming.

The more energy we consume, the more we change the climate.

To find out just how much energy you use, and how much you are contributing to global warming, fill out this simple WWF questionnaire.


Some explanatory notes
.................................................




Instructions

Tick the appropriate answer.

You may find that none of the answers correspond exactly to your lifestyle
- if so, tick the one that comes closest.


1. First of all, how big is your living space?


(To calculate: divide the total floor area by the number of people living in your home)


I occupy:

less than 25 m2
25-30 m2
31-38 m2
39-43 m2
41-51 m2
52-57 m2
more than 57 m2

2. Are you a hot-water guzzler?



Each week I shower for a total of :

... up to 10 min.
... 10-20 min.
... more than 20 min.

I take a bath ...

... less than twice a month
... 1-2 times a week

3. How warm do you keep your home in winter?



My home is heated ...

... to 19°C
... to 20°C
... to 21°C
... to over 21°C

4. Do you waste heat?



I don't heat my bedroom, and keep warm with extra covers. In winter, I air the room briefly and keep the windows closed. I make sure that windows and doors are airtight or sealed with insulating tape. I turn the heating down whenever I go away.

I follow this procedure ...

... all the time
... most of the time
... never

5. And what about your cooking habits?



I use thick-bottomed pans with close-fitting lids. When appropriate I use a pressure cooker. I use the oven up to 2 hours a week. I do not preheat it, and turn it off before the end of the set cooking time: food will continue to cook even though the oven's cooling down. I keep the refrigerator set at + 5 to
+ 7°C, the freezer at -18°C.

I fit this description ...

... 100%
... 50%
... not at all
I make a habit of eating in restaurants

6. Now for your laundry routine



If my clothes are still clean after I have worn them, I simply hang them up to air. I wash at low temperatures (30-60°C) as often as possible, and only boil and prewash very dirty clothes. I always run a full machine and only occasionally use the 1/2 full setting. I do not tumble-dry my laundry.

That's me!

... exactly
... fairly accurately
... not at all

7. And your use of electrical appliances



I use energy-saving lamps wherever possible and keep lights burning only when it is really necessary. I always switch off the TV and other electrical appliances completely after using them and never leave them on standby. I turn off the refrigerator whenever I go on holiday.

This describes my behavior ...

... exactly
... fairly accurately
... not at all

8. How would you rate your eating habits?



I eat ...

... no meat
... less than 1kg of meat per week
... more than 1kg of meat per week
... more than 2kg of meat per week

I eat pre-cooked products or frozen foods ...

... at most once a week
... less than four times a week
... more than four times a week

I eat ...

... mainly seasonal products
... seasonal products half the time
... anything that takes my fancy

9. Are you a shopoholic?



... No! I generally only buy things I really need and look for durability and
quality.
... I buy very little but occasionally splash out on something because I like it
-- not because I really need it.
... I buy more than I really need but look for quality and try to pass on to
others things I don't use any more.
... I sometimes buy more than I need and often pick up special offers.
... I always buy the latest products -- if I want something I buy it!

10. And now -- transport....


NB There are different questions for car-owners and the car-free

Questions for people without a car:

I generally use public transport or a bicycle. I take a taxi, rent, or share a car if necessary

I drive less than 2,000km a year
I drive more than 2,000km a year

I have a car:

I drive less than 12,000km a year with an average occupancy of at least:

- 1.7 persons in a small car
- 2.4 persons in a medium-size car
- 3 persons in a large car
I drive less than 12,000km with low occupancy, or drive a lot with a full
car.
None of the conditions apply to me:
I drive more than 12,000km with low occupancy.

Additional deductions:

We are a two-car family.
My family has more than two cars

Questions on aeroplanes:


In the past five years I ...

... have not flown at all
... flew 2 short flights,or 2 middle-distance flights, or 1 long flight
... flew 1 short flight + 1 long flight
... flew 4 short flights or 4 middle-distance flights or 2 long + 1 short flight

or 1 long flight
... flew a total of 40,000 km
... flew more than 40,000 km

KEY:

Short flights are under 800 km.
Middle-distance flights are 800-2000 km.
Long flights are over 2000 km.

Recreational activities


My recreational activities hardly require any energy input:
e.g. seeing friends who live locally, reading, gardening,
hiking, cycling, football.
I spend part of my free time as described above, but regularly participate in
energy-consuming sports e.g. skiing
Most of my free time is spent in energy-consuming sports.






Copyright 1996, The World Wide Fund For Nature