What's Your Bay Footprint?

Food

Sewage

Home

Land

Transportation

Our Bay and its rivers and streams should be full of healthy waters and vibrant wildlife.

One reason they aren't healthy is widespread nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution. These pollutants block sunlight and cause algal blooms that suck up oxygen, killing off other plants and animals in what's called the "dead zone." But how much are you contributing to the Bay's dead zone? It's time to find out!

In partnership with the University of Virginia, we've developed a calculator that estimates your contribution of nitrogen pollution, which is a good relative indicator of your Bay Footprint. So, get your nitrogen grade and see how you stack up against your neighbors.

It'll take just a few minutes to take the calculator and get your pollution grade.

Let's Start!

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Section 1: Food

The typical American eats 74 portions of food per week. We've filled out the following list with this typical diet, which may or may not be similar to your own! By comparison, a vegan, consuming the same amount of calories, would typically eat 66 portions of fruits, vegetables, grains, and veggie protein. So, adjust the amounts to better fit the food you eat in an average week . . .

Beef(7 oz cooked beef is one portion)

Chicken or pork(7 oz cooked chicken or pork is one portion)

Seafood(6 oz cooked seafood is one portion)

Milk or cheese(1 cup of milk or 2 oz of cheese is one portion)

Eggs(1 egg is one portion)

Fruits, vegetables, and vegetarian protein like tofu

Next Question, Please!

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Section 4: Land

How big is your lot in acres? Estimate to the best of your ability:

Acres

How much of your land is covered by the following?

Forest or native landscaping

Lawn

Driveway, pavement, or buildings

How many times a year do you fertilize your lawn?

Do you have any of the following at your house?

Permeable or porous pavement that allows water to seep through to the ground

Rain garden

Rain barrel(s)

Next Question, Please!

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Section 5: Transportation

How many vehicles do you have?

Vehicle 1

What type of vehicle do you have?

When was your car produced?

What do you estimate is your yearly mileage?(The average American drives 13,476 miles in a year.)

Give me my score!

(You can use the tabs to go back and change your answers.)

Almost done!

To see your score, enter your information below. We'll be sending tips and checking back with you on how much you've reduced your impact!

First Name

Last Name

City

State

Zip

Show me my score!

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We crunched the numbers, checked them twice, and determined your score.

Your
score:

You contribute a total of pounds of nitrogen to the Bay and its waters each year. That's than the average person using this calculator. Now share the calculator far and wide! See if your friends and family can beat your score, or if you leave them in the dust.

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Click on each category above to see how you stack up.

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University of Virginia / EPA / Kaiser Permanente®

Algal bloom on the York River. Algal blooms are caused by an excess of nutrients, including nitrogen. PHOTO: Bill Portlock/CBF Staff

This website was developed under Assistant Agreement No. 83563201 awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has not been formally reviewed by EPA. The views expressed are solely those of University of Virginia and CBF, and EPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned.

What's Your Bay Footprint?

Your lifestyle choices matter in how much nitrogen pollution ends up in the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. See if you make the grade!

Our Bay and its rivers and streams should be full of healthy waters and vibrant wildlife.

Section 1: Food

Section 2: Sewage

Section 3: Home

Section 4: Land

Section 5: Transportation

We crunched the numbers, checked them twice, and determined your score.