Carbon Footprint Calculator
Your Estimated Carbon Footprint
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How to Improve
Your footprint is... You can reduce it by...
What is a Carbon Footprint?
A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHG), including carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane, that are generated by our actions. It measures our environmental impact in a standardized unit, typically pounds or tons of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per year.
Nearly every activity, from driving a car and heating your home to the food you eat, releases these gases into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. This calculator provides a simplified estimate based on the three largest areas of personal emissions: transportation, home energy, and diet.
How Your Carbon Footprint is Calculated
This calculator uses statistical averages and emissions factors from sources like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to estimate your annual footprint.
1. Transportation
This includes driving and flying. Driving is calculated by multiplying your weekly mileage by 52 (weeks) and then by an emissions factor (avg. U.S. passenger car: ~0.79 lbs CO2e/mile). Flying is estimated based on hours flown (avg. ~215 lbs CO2e/hour).
2. Home Energy
This is the "indirect" emission from your electricity and gas usage. We estimate your usage (kWh of electricity, therms of gas) from your monthly bill and multiply it by national average emissions factors (e.g., ~0.85 lbs CO2e/kWh for electricity).
3. Diet
The production of food has a significant footprint, especially meat. Red meat, in particular, requires large amounts of land and water and releases methane. This calculator applies a standard annual footprint based on your dietary pattern (e.g., a meat-heavy diet can be 2-3x higher than a vegan diet).
How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Once you know your impact, you can take steps to reduce it. The most effective actions include:
- Reduce Travel: Drive less by walking, biking, or using public transit. Reduce long-haul flights when possible.
- Improve Home Efficiency: Switch to LED bulbs, improve insulation, and use energy-efficient appliances. Consider renewable energy options like solar panels.
- Eat Sustainably: Reduce consumption of red meat. Prioritizing plant-based foods is one of the single most effective ways to lower your dietary footprint.
- Reduce and Reuse: Minimize waste, avoid single-use plastics, and recycle correctly.
Carbon Footprint FAQs
A carbon footprint measures only the greenhouse gases we emit, in units of CO2 equivalent. An ecological footprint is a much broader measure. It calculates the *total* productive land and sea area required to support your lifestyle—including producing all the resources you consume and absorbing all the waste you generate. A carbon footprint is a major *part* of your total ecological footprint.
Flying has a high impact for two main reasons. First, it burns a massive amount of jet fuel. Second, it releases emissions directly into the upper atmosphere, where they can have a more potent warming effect. A single round-trip transatlantic flight can create more emissions than a full year of driving for the average person.
Significantly. Global food production accounts for over a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock (especially cattle) are a primary source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Studies show that switching from a high-meat diet to a vegetarian diet can reduce your food-related footprint by 50% or more. Switching to a vegan diet reduces it even further.
This depends on your personal lifestyle. For many people in developed countries, the "big three" actions are: 1) Fly less, 2) Drive less (or switch to an EV), and 3) Reduce or eliminate red meat. If you are a frequent flyer, reducing flights will almost certainly be your most impactful action.