Consumption and Sustainability

Running Head: CONSUMPTION AND SUSTAINABILITY

Consumption and Sustainability

Victoria Gray

DTE 331 Humankind, Society and Technology

Chadron State College

March 16, 2009

Consumption and Sustainability

For many years, human consumed various resources of Earth including energy and raw materials not only to provide for their basic needs but as well as for their comfort. Adversities have risen owing to the growing consumption of available resources. The world is currently threatened due to the decreasing availability of resources. An evidence of this is the price hikes in oil, electricity and water consumption. As population grows, there is more need for residence and thus the construction of more homes contributes to the growing problem.

This paper analyses the problems that originate from the consumption of energy and other resources. It also identifies the adverse effects of human practices in the sustainability of these resources. More importantly it will highlight the possible solutions that are offered towards diminishing these problems and prolonging our resources.

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Self-Assessment on Consumption

Individually, self-evaluation of consumption of resources is important. It makes us aware of our contribution to the growing problem. Upon taking a self-assessment test in myfootprint.org, I have found out the consequences of my consumption. I reside in a two-bedroom apartment in a rural area of , it is very warm in the summer we do not get much snow in the winter time. In this light, my self-assessment revealed that I am living an ecological and conscientious lifestyle. Results of the quiz revealed that my consumption and lifestyle would result to 1.61 earths consumed (Appendix A). The amount of my consumption would be sustainable for the resources (Ecological, 2009). This means that there is balance between consumption and production of resources. I live in a warm...