Carbon Footprint Calculator
Estimate your annual carbon footprint from electricity, gas, and driving. See total CO2 emissions in metric tons per year.
Total Annual CO2
11.96 metric tons
Total Annual CO2 vs Monthly Electricity Use
Formula
## How to Calculate Your Carbon Footprint Your carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions from your activities, measured in metric tons of CO2 per year. ### Key Emission Factors - **Electricity**: ~0.92 lbs CO2 per kWh (US average grid mix) - **Natural Gas**: ~11.7 lbs CO2 per therm burned - **Gasoline**: ~19.6 lbs CO2 per gallon combusted ### Formula **Total CO2 (metric tons) = (Electricity CO2 + Gas CO2 + Driving CO2) / 2204.6** Each source is computed from usage multiplied by its emission factor, then converted from pounds to metric tons.
Exemplo Resolvido
A household uses 900 kWh of electricity per month, 50 therms of gas per month, and drives 12,000 miles per year in a 25 mpg vehicle.
- 01Electricity CO2: 900 * 12 * 0.92 = 9,936 lbs = 4.51 metric tons
- 02Natural Gas CO2: 50 * 12 * 11.7 = 7,020 lbs = 3.18 metric tons
- 03Driving CO2: (12000 / 25) * 19.6 = 9,408 lbs = 4.27 metric tons
- 04Total: 4.51 + 3.18 + 4.27 = 11.96 metric tons CO2/year
Perguntas Frequentes
What is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases your activities produce, expressed as CO2 equivalents. The average American generates about 16 metric tons per year.
How can I reduce my carbon footprint?
The most impactful steps are switching to renewable electricity, improving home insulation, driving less or switching to an EV, and reducing air travel.
Why is it measured in metric tons?
Metric tons (1,000 kg or ~2,204.6 lbs) provide a standard international unit that makes it easy to compare emissions across countries and sectors.