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.

## Contents

* 1 Conception
* 2 Development
* 3 See also
* 4 Notes and references

## Conception

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

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

PEIA is similar in concept to the ecological footprint.

## Notes and references

1. ↑ "Washington Post article on EnviroAccount, 1992". https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/74063428.html?dids=74063428:74063428&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+19,+1992&author=Terri+Shaw&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Environmental+Software&pqatl=google.
2. ↑ 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. https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/60220688.html?dids=60220688:60220688&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Mar+25,+1993&author=RICHARD+KAHLENBERG&pub=Los+Angeles+Times+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Rate+Your+Eco-IQ+Are+you+an+ecological+hero+or+a+dinosaur?+A+new+home+computer+software+program+allows+you+to+evaluate+environmental+habits.&pqatl=google.
3. ↑ Cretieneau, A.; Laperche, B.; Uzinidis, D. (2009). "Le développement durable". in Laperche, B.. Développement durable: pour une nouvelle économie. Bern, Switzerland: Peter Lang. p. 16.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gellene, Denise (1992-10-23). "Car Makers Win Most Cases in Arbitration" (in en-US). https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-10-23-fi-846-story.html.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Student logs in to inspire awareness, noy guilt" (in en). 1996-11-27. https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/student-logs-inspire-awareness-noy-guilt.

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