GGH3701
Assignment 1 Semester 1 2025
Unique #:146642
Due Date: 9 April 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, QUESTION 1
Evaluating My Environmental Footprint
My name is [Insert Name], and I currently reside in [Insert Area, e.g., a suburban
township in Gauteng, South Africa]. My community is semi-urban, with a growing
population and access to most basic services such as electricity, running water,
and waste disposal. However, we face challenges such as water scarcity, illegal
dumping, inconsistent recycling services, and rising electricity costs. These
environmental issues are noticeable in everyday life, as we often have to limit
water use during restrictions and witness the effects of pollution in open spaces.
Living in this environment, I have become increasingly aware of my personal
environmental footprint. My lifestyle, like that of many people around me,
contributes to both local and global environmental impacts. While I do not
consume resources excessively, I realise that my daily choices what I eat, how I
travel, how I use electricity and water play a role in shaping the broader
ecological picture.
1. Five Most Common Resources I Use Daily
After observing my daily habits, I identified the following five resources as the
most common in my daily routine:
1. Electricity – Used for cooking, lighting, charging devices, and powering
appliances such as the fridge and washing machine.
2. Water – Used for drinking, bathing, cooking, and cleaning.
3. Plastic packaging – Mostly from groceries and household products.
4. Paper – Includes toilet paper, notebooks, receipts, and packaging.
5. Fuel for transportation – I use a minibus taxi to commute, which,
although shared, still contributes to fossil fuel consumption.
2. My Calculated Environmental Footprint
Using the Global Footprint Network calculator, I answered the questions about
my food, transportation, energy use, and consumption habits. My personal
environmental footprint was calculated at 2.7 Earths, meaning that if everyone
Varsity Cube 2024 +27 81 278 3372
Assignment 1 Semester 1 2025
Unique #:146642
Due Date: 9 April 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, QUESTION 1
Evaluating My Environmental Footprint
My name is [Insert Name], and I currently reside in [Insert Area, e.g., a suburban
township in Gauteng, South Africa]. My community is semi-urban, with a growing
population and access to most basic services such as electricity, running water,
and waste disposal. However, we face challenges such as water scarcity, illegal
dumping, inconsistent recycling services, and rising electricity costs. These
environmental issues are noticeable in everyday life, as we often have to limit
water use during restrictions and witness the effects of pollution in open spaces.
Living in this environment, I have become increasingly aware of my personal
environmental footprint. My lifestyle, like that of many people around me,
contributes to both local and global environmental impacts. While I do not
consume resources excessively, I realise that my daily choices what I eat, how I
travel, how I use electricity and water play a role in shaping the broader
ecological picture.
1. Five Most Common Resources I Use Daily
After observing my daily habits, I identified the following five resources as the
most common in my daily routine:
1. Electricity – Used for cooking, lighting, charging devices, and powering
appliances such as the fridge and washing machine.
2. Water – Used for drinking, bathing, cooking, and cleaning.
3. Plastic packaging – Mostly from groceries and household products.
4. Paper – Includes toilet paper, notebooks, receipts, and packaging.
5. Fuel for transportation – I use a minibus taxi to commute, which,
although shared, still contributes to fossil fuel consumption.
2. My Calculated Environmental Footprint
Using the Global Footprint Network calculator, I answered the questions about
my food, transportation, energy use, and consumption habits. My personal
environmental footprint was calculated at 2.7 Earths, meaning that if everyone
Varsity Cube 2024 +27 81 278 3372
