Personal environmental impact accounting
Personal environmental impact accounting (PEIA) is a computer software-based methodology developed in 1992 by Don Lotter[1][2][3] for quantifying an individual's impact on the environment via analysis of answers to an extensive quantity-based questionnaire that the individual fills out regarding their lifestyle. The questions are arranged in six areas: home energy and water, transportation, consumerism, waste, advocacy, and demographics.
Conception[edit]
Lotter, at the time a graduate student in ecology at the University of California, Davis,[4] developed the PEIA methodology while teaching a course on the History of Western Consciousness in the UC Davis Experimental College.[5] He realized that, while individuals in contemporary Western society generally have an enormous environmental impact, most were unaware of it, and no method existed for its quantification or assessment.
Development[edit]
The first software version of the PEIA methodology was the DOS-based EnviroAccount software, written in QuickBasic and completed in 1992. The program asked users 115 questions, then provided a score to indicate the user's personal environmental impact.[4]
Lotter later created EarthAware, released in 1996, which built from EnviroAccount, and ran on Windows 3.1. EarthAware provided internet links for users to learn more about their environmental impact.[5] After the test, users could print out their test results and areas for improvement.[5] They would also receive a label ranging from "Eco-Titan" for the most environmentally friendly to "Eco-Tyrannosaurus Rex" for those "bound for extinction" doing the most harm to the planet.[5]
Lotter also authored a book on the topic, EarthScore: Your Personal Environmental Audit and Guide.
See also[edit]
PEIA is similar in concept to the ecological footprint.
Notes and references[edit]
- ^ "Washington Post article on EnviroAccount, 1992". Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
- ^ Kahlenberg, R. (1993-03-25). "Rate Your Eco-IQ Are you an ecological hero or a dinosaur? A new home computer software program allows you to evaluate environmental habits". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
- ^ Cretieneau, A.; Laperche, B.; Uzinidis, D. (2009). "Le développement durable". In Laperche, B.; Cretieneau, A.; Uzinidis, D. (eds.). Développement durable: pour une nouvelle économie. Bern, Switzerland: Peter Lang. p. 16.
- ^ a b Gellene, Denise (1992-10-23). "Car Makers Win Most Cases in Arbitration". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2023-09-10. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
- ^ a b c d "Student logs in to inspire awareness, noy guilt". UC Davis. 1996-11-27. Archived from the original on 2023-09-10. Retrieved 2023-09-10.