Water Calculation:  Direct Use + Indirect (Virtual) = Total gallons per day (gpd)
 

• Direct Use Estimates: The USGS website provides estimates for many appliances, however there is no calculator provided. Therefore, a calculator is being created to accommodate the GSS Calculation.  Please refer back to the webpage for updates. 

o   Reference: USGS (2020).  Per capita water use: How much do you use in your home?  Retrieved from https://water.usgs.gov/edu/activity-percapita.php

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• Indirect (Virtual) Estimates: An example of several virtual water estimates are provided within a 2015 video from UNESCO, however there is no calculator provided.  Therefore, a calculator is being created to accommodate the GSS Calculation. Please refer back to this webpage for updates. 

o   Reference: UNESCO WWAP (2015). Where is Water? The Water Rooms #2. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1f-G6v3voA 

 

Energy Calculation:  Direct Use (hours/day) x Kilowatts (kWh) per item = Total kWh per day
 

• Direct Use: Direct Power Use per item (Total kWh per day). The Energy Use Calculator provides estimates of direct use of electricity consumption per item of household devices, however there is no calculator provided to attain a total per day.  Therefore, a calculator is being created to accommodate the GSS Calculation.  Please refer back to this webpage for updates. 

o   Reference: Energy Use Calculator. Retrieved from http://energyusecalculator.com/calculate_electrical_usage

 

Food Calculation: Food System Type + Food System Size + Energy Use = Sustainability Quality

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• Food System Type = alternative or standard

• Food System Size = small, medium, or large

• Energy Use = GMOs, organic, conventional, or sustainable

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There is no calculator for these items, therefore they are provided as educational guides. 

o. Reference:  Chait, J. (2019). The difference between organic and sustainable food.  The balance small business. Retrieved from https://www.thebalancesmb.com/difference-organic-sustainable-food-2538316 

o. Reference:  Leblanc, R. (2019). Types of food systems and tracking their sustainability.  The balance small business. Retrieved from https://www.thebalancesmb.com/tracking-food-system-sustainability-4174635

 

Waste Calculation: Estimated grams (g) per item x Number of items = Total grams per day (g/d)

 

• Direct Use: A Garbology Challenge provides estimates of plastic waste, however there is no calculator provided to attain a total per day.  Therefore, a calculator is being created to accommodate the GSS Calculation.  Please refer back to this webpage for updates. 

 

• Garbology Challenge:

o. Reference: Garbology Challenge. Retrieved from http://garbologychallenge.weebly.com/one-day-challenge.html

Plastic trash Quiz:

o. Reference: Retrieved from https://www.pri.org/stories/2016-12-19/plastic-trash-big-problem-how-much-do-you-throw-away-quiz