How To Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
How To Calculate Your Carbon Footprint
“What is a carbon footprint?” you ask.
We all leave a mark on our planet. Think of your carbon footprint as your personal impact.
In technical terms, your carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gas you produce in units of carbon dioxide. This footprint is determined by your daily lifestyle and activities, such as travel (car, plane, train, etc), electrical use, consumption of products and services, foods you eat, etc.
As discussed in our blog on the human causes of climate change, greenhouse gases are the primary contributors to many of today’s environmental issues, including pollution, climate change, and global warming.
There are a number of free resources online that show how to calculate your carbon footprint, including our handy calculator on the Just Green Lifestyle site, this calculator from The Nature Conservancy, or this one from the EPA.
Alexandra Shimo-Barry, author of “The Environment Equation,” has come up with a formula that explains how to calculate your carbon footprint at home, too! Simply follow the below steps, and voila.
- Multiply your monthly electric bill by 105
- Multiply your monthly gas bill by 105
- Multiply your monthly oil bill by 113
- Multiply your total yearly mileage on your car by .79
- Multiply the number of flights you’ve taken in the past year (4 hours or less) by 1,100
- Multiply the number of flights you’ve taken in the past year (4 hours or more) by 4,400
- Add 184 if you do NOT recycle newspaper
- Add 166 if you do NOT recycle aluminum and tin
- Add 1-8 together for your total carbon footprint
Keep in mind that an “ideal” carbon footprint (or a “low” footprint) is anywhere from 6,000 to 15,999 pounds per year. 16,000-22,000 is considered average. Under 6,000 is considered very low. Over 22,000? You may want to take some of these “living green” practices into consideration.
If your number is higher than you’d expect, don’t despair! There are a number of small sacrifices/measures you can make in order to lower your carbon footprint, such as recycling, utilizing these daily tips, or purchasing carbon offsets.
A carbon neutral lifestyle can be a challenge – but one that you don’t have to tackle alone. We’re here to help! Reduce your carbon footprint with help from JustGreen Lifestyle’s Carbon Offsetting program and products.
Resources:
http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/15/green-carbon-living-forbeslife-cx_ls_0415carbon.html
