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How to Use Our Carbon Footprint Calculator

3 min read

How to Use Our Carbon Footprint Calculator

Understanding your carbon footprint is the first step toward reducing it. Our Carbon Footprint Calculator estimates your annual CO2 emissions based on your daily habits.

What to Enter

The calculator covers your main emission sources:

  • Transportation -- Your daily commute distance, vehicle type, and fuel efficiency. Air travel (number of flights per year) is a major contributor for frequent flyers.
  • Home Energy -- Monthly electricity and natural gas usage. Your utility bills have these numbers.
  • Diet -- Your dietary pattern (meat-heavy, average, vegetarian, or vegan) significantly affects your footprint. Beef production generates roughly 10 times the emissions of poultry or plant proteins.
  • Shopping and Consumption -- General spending habits and purchasing frequency.

Understanding Your Results

The calculator shows your estimated annual CO2 emissions in metric tons. For context:

  • Average American: approximately 16 metric tons per year
  • Average European: approximately 6-8 metric tons per year
  • Global average: approximately 4-5 metric tons per year
  • Paris Agreement target: approximately 2 metric tons per person by 2050

Where to Make the Biggest Impact

The calculator breaks down emissions by category so you can see where your largest contributions come from. For most people, the top three are:

  1. Transportation (especially if you drive a gas vehicle or fly frequently)
  2. Home energy (heating, cooling, and electricity)
  3. Diet (particularly red meat consumption)

Small changes in big categories matter more than big changes in small categories.

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