About

Individual carbon footprint assessment quantifies the greenhouse gases produced by daily activities. Precision matters here because aggregate personal data informs policy and infrastructure decisions. A miscalculation in energy usage or travel frequency distorts the baseline required for effective reduction strategies. This tool breaks down emissions into four primary sectors (Housing, Travel, Food, and Consumption) to isolate high-impact areas. It applies standard emission factors to convert raw usage data into carbon dioxide equivalents.

The calculation relies on specific coefficients for fuel types and electricity generation sources. Natural gas and coal-heavy grids produce significantly higher emissions per kilowatt-hour than renewable sources. Air travel calculations account for radiative forcing which multiplies the impact of high-altitude emissions. Understanding these distinctions allows for targeted lifestyle adjustments rather than vague reduction goals.

Formulas

The total carbon footprint C is the sum of emissions from all sectors. For a given activity i, the emission E is calculated by multiplying the activity data A (e.g. miles driven) by the emission factor F.

C = n∑i=1 (A_i × F_i)

For electricity usage, the formula considers the monthly usage U and the grid intensity factor I.

E_elec = U × 12 × I

Reference Data

Source Activity	Unit	Emission Factor (kg CO₂e/unit)	Annual Avg (US)
Electricity (Grid Avg)	kWh	0.386	10,715
Natural Gas	Therm	5.3	468
Gasoline (E10)	Gallon	8.78	450
Diesel	Gallon	10.21	200
LPG (Propane)	Gallon	5.68	80
Beef (High Impact)	kg	99.48	26
Poultry	kg	9.87	45
Air Travel (Long Haul)	pkm	0.102	3,000
Waste (Landfill)	kg	0.56	700

Frequently Asked Questions

Aviation emissions occur at high altitudes where they induce contrails and cirrus clouds. This traps more heat than equivalent CO2 released at ground level. We apply a multiplier (usually 1.9 or 2.0) to account for this non-CO2 warming effect.

Yes. Manufacturing with recycled plastic requires less energy than using virgin petroleum. The calculator deducts a specific credit for recycled waste based on material type (aluminum, glass, plastic) relative to landfill emissions.

Food emissions vary by supply chain. We use global average lifecycle assessment (LCA) values. Local sourcing reduces transport emissions but production methods (e.g. grass-fed vs grain-fed beef) remain the dominant factor in the total footprint.

Different gases trap heat at different rates. Methane is roughly 25 times more potent than CO2 over a 100-year period. CO2e standardizes these impacts into a single number for easier comparison and summation.

Offsetting involves funding projects that reduce or remove emissions elsewhere. While useful, direct reduction of your own consumption is the primary goal. Offsets should only address unavoidable emissions.