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Researchers at the Univesity of Kassel in Germany compared carbon dioxcide emissions from the daily lifestyles of the average German household, 3 local "ecological households," and 2 German Eco-Villages: Kommune Niederkaufungen and Ökodorf Sieben Linden. The researchers measured CO2 emissions along the chain of events to create, use, and/or transport electricity, heating, water, and food (including the transport of food grown elsewhere to the local markets). They also measured the CO2 emissions of each member's work and vacation travel. Given the current number of people on the planet, they determined the baseline for an acceptable amount of CO2 emissions. (Not surprisingly, they found that the average German household emitted 6 times the minimum acceptable level of CO2 emissions.)