Personal Carbon Footprint Calculator
Estimate annual CO2 emissions from transport, home energy, and diet. Features actionable reduction tips and regional emission factors.
Transportation
Home Energy
Diet & Habits
About
Individual choices in transportation, energy consumption, and diet collectively drive global greenhouse gas emissions. However, the impact of these choices is often abstract. This calculator quantifies your personal contribution to climate change in kilograms of CO2 equivalent per year. It focuses on the three largest variables in a household budget: fuel combustion, electricity generation intensity, and agricultural methane/supply chains.
Unlike generic estimators, this tool accounts for regional grid differences (e.g., the carbon intensity of the US grid vs. the EU grid) and specific dietary habits. Accuracy is crucial here; a commuter switching from a large SUV to a hybrid can offset more carbon than a lifetime of recycling plastics. The goal is to identify high-leverage changes that reduce your footprint without requiring a complete lifestyle overhaul.
Formulas
The total footprint E is the summation of activity data A multiplied by specific emission factors F.
Etotal = n∑i=1 (Ai × Fi)
Where common factors are:
- Fgas ≈ 8.8 kg/gal
- Felec ≈ 0.4 to 0.8 kg/kWh (region dependent)
- Fmeat ≈ 27.0 kg/kg_consumed (beef)
Reference Data
| Activity / Source | Emission Factor (Approx) | Annual Impact (Avg User) | Reduction Potential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline Car (25 MPG) | 8.88 kg CO2/gal | 4,600 kg | VERY HIGH |
| Electricity (US Grid Avg) | 0.37 kg CO2/kWh | 3,900 kg | HIGH |
| Electricity (EU Grid Avg) | 0.25 kg CO2/kWh | 2,100 kg | MODERATE |
| Meat-Heavy Diet | 3.3 tons CO2/yr | 3,300 kg | HIGH |
| Vegan Diet | 1.5 tons CO2/yr | 1,500 kg | -- |
| Air Travel (Long Haul) | 0.15 kg CO2/km | 1,800 kg (1 trip) | HIGH |