David Kenney
Personal Sustainability Challenge
9/9/2022
A) The main components of my greenhouse gas emissions during the pre-baseline period
(before lockdown) were comprised mostly of transportation. At this time, I was driving
frequently and traveling medium-long distances on airplanes. During the baseline period
(lockdown), electricity/appliance use and heating/cooling comprised the majority of my
emissions, likely because my family was using household energy 24/7 for several months.
During the experimental period, all categories were reduced, but eating/diet comprised the
majority of my emissions. Although the three calculators used varied greatly in quantitative data,
the overall trends in reductions, for the most part, were complimentary to one another. Along
with a table of the data collected from the calculations, I decided to highlight the breakdowns for
each period only for the Cool Climate Calculator. I found this to be the most comprehensive of
the three, displaying the most detailed data into each of the five subcategories tested. This data
can be found in Appendix 1-9. However, it is important to note that there are several limitations
to this data. First, because the remaining two calculators did not display the subcategories of
emissions in their reports, data is not available to highlight for some subcategories, noted with an
“N/A” in the tables below. Additionally, for the experimental period, the data shows a dramatic
decrease in the emissions for both electricity and appliance use along with heating/cooling.
Although these categories of emissions are essential in targeting, my living situation during the
time of the experiment was in a university dorm where these categories cannot be measured and
therefore cannot be reported on. I do believe though, that with the measures taken in my plan, my
personal emissions did drop for these categories, but there is no way to tell.
B) I succeeded in reducing all five categories of emissions including transportation,
heating/cooling, electricity/appliance usage, eating/diet, and product purchases/recycling. The
following emission reduction figures will be based on the Cool Climate Calculator as this can
provide the most data on each of the subcategories of emissions than any of the three. In terms of
total emissions from the baseline to the experimental period, my emissions were reduced by 30
tons CO2eq/year (Appendix 4). In terms of transportation, my emissions were reduced by 2.57
tons CO2eq/year (Appendix 5). In terms of eating/dieting, my emissions were reduced by 7.84
tons CO2eq/year (Appendix 8). In terms of product purchasing/recycling, my emissions were
reduced by 6.35 tons CO2eq/year (Appendix 9). As previously mentioned, my experimental
period could not measure reductions in emissions for the categories of heating/cooling and
electricity/appliance use. Therefore, my total emissions were higher than 7 tons CO2eq/year
(Appendix 4). However, I did still take measures to reduce these emissions in my plan, outlined
below.
C. In creating my personal challenge, I made it a goal to change something about my
everyday life for each of the five subcategories. This plan was tested for one week’s time which
yielded the data found in Appendix 3-9. Here is what the plan comprised of:

Transportation: I decreased car usage (including ridesharing apps like Lyft) by utilizing
walking, biking, and public transportation to get around.

Heating/Cooling: While my dorm does not have HVAC, I put my fans on lower settings
and turned them off whenever I left the room.

Electricity/Appliance Use: I limited my laundry use to one load per week and washed the
clothes in cold water and airdried them after on a drying rack.

Eating: I cut out all red meat and dairy from my diet.

Product Purchases/Recycling: I limited the amount of single use plastic products and
recycled all eligible waste into its proper bins.
In taking part in the “experiment” resulting from shutdowns, I did not make personal
goals and a sustained effort to reduce my emissions, but in the very nature of the shutdown,
many of my emissions decreased from the pre-baseline period. For example, I could not leave
the house, so my transportation emissions decreased dramatically as a result. Although these two
experiments were vastly different in nature, these periods gave us insight on what the battle
against reducing emissions will be like in the future. It is reasonable to assume that this battle
will not be easy. While my personal experiment significantly reduced my emissions in each of
the five subcategories, this was a voluntary experiment. Reducing our emissions to the goaled
level CAN be done, but we just do not want to as Americans value convenience more at this
moment. When Americans were forced into shutdowns, emissions decreased dramatically, but
only because we were forced to. And, even when forced to, Americans still resisted as it was
inconvenient. As seen with masks, if optional, Americans will not choose the best option for
their health/wellbeing if a more convenient option arises. In this case, reducing emissions will be
better for all citizens’ long-term health, but because things like air conditioners, cars, and single
use plastics exist and make their lives more convenient, they will continue to choose to use those.
Unless we mandate that action be taken on everyone’s parts to reduce our emissions, Americans
will continue to pollute and destroy the planet. During my personal experiment, I did encounter
several obstacles/inconveniences. These ranged from not being able to find appetizing food in
the dining halls that did not contain red meat/dairy, to feeling less safe taking public
transportation, to feeling uncomfortable in my living space because of the increase in room
temperature. Some of these obstacles can be overcome, but they require massive amounts of
government intervention, money, and time. For example, for one to feel safer while riding public
transit, the government must first address the growing homelessness problem in Los Angeles and
provide shelter for them to allow the metro to be utilized for its intended purpose. However, this
plan also came with some benefits. For example, with decreased heating/cooling, our energy bills
will be less expensive. Additionally, due to the growing price shock of red meat, cutting it out of
your diet and purchasing alternatives like chicken, tofu, or tempeh will also save you money on
your grocery bills. This incentivizes reducing individual emissions, which can increase the
amount of people taking action to reduce emissions. Although my personal plan did reduce my
personal emissions, personal accountability is not enough to reach our emissions goal. We need
legislation passed that holds corporations accountable for their pollutants which make up the
majority of emissions worldwide. But, if we all act now to decrease our emissions, it will be
steps in the right direction.
D: Although my personal plan did significantly reduce my personal emissions, there are
steps that should be taken at a higher level (not within my control) to reduce emissions even
more. Often the most sustainable choice is not to cut out something altogether, but instead to
replace it with something comparable but more efficient. For example, USC could implement
newer, more fuel-efficient heating and cooling systems throughout their buildings along with
replacing all lighting with LED lights. These actions would be able to sustain our desires for a
more comfortable living environment all the while reducing emissions. As previously stated, this
was an obstacle I came across along my personal plan in that I knew there could be further
actions taken but I did not have the power to do so. This further hints to the reality of how much
the individual can do, and that corporate accountability on a large scale is more important than
personal accountability.
Appendix:
Appendix 1: Cool Climate Data (pre-baseline)
Appendix 2: Cool Climate Data (baseline)
Appendix 3: Cool Climate Data (Experimental Period)
Appendix 4: Total Carbon Emissions Data
Total Carbon
Emissions
Cool Climate
Calculator
EPA Calculator
Conservation
International
Calculator
Pre-baseline (Before
Shutdown)
Baseline (During
Shutdown)
Experimental Period
60 tons CO2eq/year
26.22 tons CO2eq/year
37 tons CO2eq/year
18.9 tons CO2eq/year
7 tons CO2eq/year
1.38 tons CO2eq/year
19.51 tons CO2eq/year
11.21 tons CO2eq/year
9.91 tons CO2eq/year
Pre-baseline
Baseline
Experimental Period
15.77 tons CO2eq/year
7.1 tons CO2eq/year
2.8 tons CO2eq/year
0.35 tons CO2eq/year
0.23 tons CO2eq/year
0.35 tons CO2eq/year
8.96 tons CO2eq/year
0.7 tons CO2eq/year
0.03 tons CO2eq/year
Appendix 5: Transportation Emissions Data
Transportation
Emissions
Cool Climate
Calculator
EPA Calculator
Conservation
International
Calculator
Appendix 6: Heating/Cooling Emissions Data
Heating/Cooling
Emissions
Cool Climate
Calculator
EPA Calculator
Conservation
International
Calculator
Pre-baseline
Baseline
Experimental Period
4.47 tons CO2eq/year
10.67 tons CO2eq/year
5.25 tons CO2eq/year
10.94 tons CO2eq/year
N/A
N/A
6.51 tons CO2eq/year
6.52 tons CO2eq/year
N/A
Appendix 7: Electricity/Appliance Use Emissions Data
Electricity/Applicance
use Emissions
Cool Climate
Calculator
EPA Calculator
Conservation
International
Calculator
Pre-baseline
Baseline
Experimental Period
5.07 tons CO2eq/year
6.65 tons CO2eq/year
5.16 tons CO2eq/year
6.87 tons CO2eq/year
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Pre-baseline
Baseline
Experimental Period
10.9 tons CO2eq/year
N/A
10.8 tons CO2eq/year
N/A
2.96 tons CO2eq/year
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Appendix 8: Eating/Diet Emissions Data
Eating Emissions
Cool Climate
Calculator
EPA Calculator
Conservation
International
Calculator
Appendix 9: Product Purchases/Recycling Emissions Data
Product
Purchases/Recycling
Emissions
Cool Climate
Calculator
EPA Calculator
Conservation
International
Calculator
Pre-baseline
Baseline
Experimental Period
19.04 tons CO2eq/year
N/A
8.66 tons CO2eq/year
N/A
2.31 tons CO2eq/year
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Bibliography:
Jones, Christopher M. “Coolclimate Network.” CoolClimate Calculator, 2013,
https://coolclimate.org/calculator.
Regan, Michael S. “Carbon Footprint Calculator | Climate Change | US EPA.” EPA,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1 June 2015, https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprintcalculator/.
Oxford, Pete. “Carbon Footprint Calculator.” Conservation International, SC Johnson,
https://www.conservation.org/carbon-footprint-calculator#/.