Jeanine Pfeiffer
Jeanine Pfeiffer (CAS’88) of Boonville, Calif., an ethnoecologist and a professor of environmental studies at San Jose State University, writes that she began calculating her carbon footprint 20 years ago. Each year, she took another step to reduce her footprint: growing her own food, switching to rechargeable batteries and solar power, and shopping exclusively in thrift stores. In 2015, she purchased a Ford shuttle bus with 150,285 miles on the odometer, removed all of the interior fittings, and set up a mobile office and living quarters. This move into 160 square feet was her most significant budget reduction. “By upcycling a used vehicle, I eliminated construction costs, got rid of any mortgage or auto payments, and designed household systems—electricity, water use, and waste management—that significantly reduced my environmental impact,” she says.
From the Fall 2017 issue.