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Get our CO2
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Calculate Your CO2 Footprint

We all play a role in global climate change. Use our Carbon Footprint Calculator (Below) to determine your household's contribution to greenhouse gas production.

Instructions: Start with Step 1 to understand your household's emissions, and then use Step 2 to determine how to reduce your carbon footprint!

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The Basics

How many people live in your home?

How do you heat your house?

Transportation

Lbs. CO2/yr.

On average, how many miles do you put on your car(s)?

231 miles per week is about average in the US.

What is the average gas mileage for your car? Click here if you don't know.

12,100 pounds is about average per vehicle over a year.

Emissions = (number of miles driven per week * weeks in a year) / average household fuel efficiency * pounds of CO2 emitted per gallon * emissions of greenhouse gases other than CO2.

Pounds of CO2 emitted per gallon = 19.4
Emissions of greenhouse gases other than CO2 = 100/95
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005, Emission Facts: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from a Typical Passenger Vehicle

Air Travel

Click on the From and To to lookup an airport, or you may enter the miles directly.
Check the box if the flight is to be calculated as a round-trip.

Lbs. CO2/yr.

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	=	If you don't know the mileage for the flight, click on the From and To, and we'll calculate the mileage for you. Otherwise, you can enter the miles in the form directly. CO2 emissions are calculated based on this formula: Short Haul (< 281 miles) = 1.2 Pounds CO2 per mile Medium Haul (281 - 994 miles) = 0.85 Pounds CO2 per mile Long Haul (> 994 miles) = 0.74 Pounds CO2 per mile

Home Energy

Lbs. CO2/yr.

What is your average monthly electric bill? ($100 is the average in the U.S.)

$100 is about average in the United States for a household of two people.
Our calculations assume that you pay 10 cents/kWh. We estimate your emissions based on the national average mix of fuels used to generate electricity. Your actual emissions may be higher or lower depending on your electricity provider's power mix.

16,290 pounds is about average for a household of two people over a year.

Emissions = (average monthly electric bill / price per kWh) * electricity emission factor * months in a year

Average US price per kWh = $0.10
Emission factor (electricity/kWh) = 1.37
Source: Energy Information Administration. Electric Power Annual 2005, Table 5.1 (October 2006)

What is your average monthly gas bill?
($105 is the average in the U.S.)

$105 is about average in the United States for a household of two people.
Our calculations assume that you pay $13.83/thousand cubic feet.

11,000 pounds is about average for a household of two people over a year.

Emissions = (average monthly gas bill / price per thousand cubic feet) natural gas emission factor * months in a year

price per thousand cubic feet = $13.83
Source: Energy Information Administration: Natural Gas Annual

emission factor (natural gas/thousand cubic feet) = 120.61
Source: U.S. EPA, Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2004, Annex 2,Table A30

What is your average monthly fuel oil bill? ($130 is the average in the U.S.)

$130 is about average in the United States for a household of two people.
Our calculations assume that you pay $2.37/gallon.

14,500 pounds is about average for a household of two people over a year.

Emissions = (average monthly fuel oil bill / price per gallon) fuel oil emission factor * months in a year

Price per gallon = $2.37
Source: Energy Information Administration: US No. 2 Distillate Prices by Sales Type, Table 15.

Emission factor (fuel oil/gallon) = 22.28
Source: U.S. EPA, Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2004, Annex 2, Table A30

Waste

Lbs. CO2/yr.

Total Waste Emissions Before Recycling

2,036 pounds is about average for a household of two people over a year.

Emissions = number of people in household * average lb CO2 equivalent. generated from waste per person per year

Average lb CO2 equivalent. generated from waste per person per year = 1010
Source: Based on EPA's Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990-2004, Chapter 8, Table 8-3.

Do you recycle newspaper?

Yes No

If your household recycles newspaper, then, number of people in household * average number of pounds of CO2 equivalent per person per year that could be saved by recycling newspaper

Average number of pounds of CO2 equivalent per person per year that could be saved by recycling newspaper = 184.3
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006. Solid Waste Management and Greenhouse Gases: A Life-Cycle Assessment of Emissions and Sinks, EPA530-R-06-004.

Do you recycle glass?

Yes No

If your household recycles glass, then, number of people in household * average number of pounds of CO2 equivalent per person per year that could be saved by recycling glass

Average number of pounds of CO2 equivalent per person per year that could be saved by recycling glass = 25.6
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006. Solid Waste Management and Greenhouse Gases: A Life-Cycle Assessment of Emissions and Sinks, EPA530-R-06-004.

Do you recycle plastic?

Yes No

If your household recycles plastic, then, number of people in household * average number of pounds of CO2 equivalent per person per year that could be saved by recycling plastic

Average number of pounds of CO2 equivalent per person per year that could be saved by recycling plastic = 46.6
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006. Solid Waste Management and Greenhouse Gases: A Life-Cycle Assessment of Emissions and Sinks, EPA530-R-06-004.

Do you recycle aluminium & steel cans?

Yes No

If your household recycles metal, then, number of people in household * average number of pounds of CO2 equivalent per person per year that could be saved by recycling metal

Average number of pounds of CO2 equivalent per person per year that could be saved by recycling metal = 165.8
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2006. Solid Waste Management and Greenhouse Gases: A Life-Cycle Assessment of Emissions and Sinks, EPA530-R-06-004.

Total Waste Emissions After Recycling

Total waste emissions before recycling
- emission reduction from recycling newspaper
- emission reduction from recycling glass
- emission reduction from recycling plastic
- emission reduction from recycling metal

Your CURRENT Total Annual Emissions

Total emissions = emissions from vehicle use + emissions from electricity + emissions from natural gas + emissions from fuel oil + emissions from waste

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Make Some Changes - Reduce Your Household Carbon Footprint

Now that you know what your total emmissions are, you might be wondering what you can do about it! The next section of this form is designed to help you discover how much you could reduce your footprint by making some simple lifestyle changes. We think that you will be surprised by the results!

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On the Road

Lbs. of CO2 /
% Reduced

Buy a vehicle that gets more MPG than your current.

more MPG

Emission reduction = annual emissions from vehicles - (number of miles driven per week * weeks in a year) / your current car's fuel efficiency + increased fuel efficiency) * pounds of CO2 emitted per gallon * emissions of greenhouse gases other than CO2

Pounds of CO2 emitted per gallon = 19.4
Emissions of greenhouse gases other than CO2 = 100/95
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005, Emission Facts: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from a Typical Passenger Vehicle

Give your car a break. Reduce the number of miles you drive by this amount.

less miles

Emission reduction = (miles avoided per week * weeks in a year) / your current car's fuel efficiency (or your new car's fuel efficiency if you plan to buy a more efficient car) * pounds of CO2 emitted per gallon * emissions of greenhouse gases other than CO2

Pounds of CO2 emitted per gallon = 19.4
Emissions of greenhouse gases other than CO2 = 100/95
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2005, Emission Facts: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from a Typical Passenger Vehicle

• Learn More about driving more efficiently.
• Learn More about how to offset your car emissions.

At Home

Lbs. of CO2 /
% Reduced

Turn down your thermostat by degrees F on winter nights.

# of degrees

Dropping the heat at night can make a difference.

Assumes thermostat is turned down for 8 hours each night November through March.

Emission reduction = CO2 emissions from heating * percentage of energy source allotted to heating * percent fuel consumption decrease per 1 degree * number of degrees thermostat is turned down

Percent fuel consumption decrease per 1 degree = 0.5
Source: U.S. DOE, 2005: A Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Thermostats and Control Systems.

Replace 75-watt incandescent bulbs with 25-watt compact fluorescent light bulbs.

# of bulbs

You'll get the same amount of light for less energy and lower monthly bills. By replacing the five most frequently used lights in your home with ENERGY STAR qualified lighting, you can save about $60 each year in energy costs.

Emission reduction = number of 75-watt incandescent light bulbs replaced * annual kwh savings per lamp * electricity emission factor

Emission factor (electricity/kWh) = 1.37
Source: U.S. DOE, 2005: A Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Thermostats and Control Systems.

Annual kWh savings per lamp = 73
Source: ENERGY STAR

Would you replace an old refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR model?

Yes No

Emission reduction = (average kWh/year old fridge - average kWh/year new fridge) electricity emission factor

Emission factor (electricity/kWh) = 1.37
Source: Energy Information Administration. Electric Power Annual 2005, Table 5.1 (October, 2006)

Annual kWh savings = 380
Source: ENERGY STAR

Average kWh/year old fridge = 820
Source: ENERGY STAR

Average kWh new fridge 440
Source: ENERGY STAR

Would you replace an old gas, oil furnace or boiler with an ENERGY STAR model?

Yes No

Emission reduction = (average MMBtus/year of old model - average MMBtus/year of new model) emission factor

Average MMBtus/year of old model = 115.71
Source: ENERGY STAR

Average MMBtus/year of new model = 90
Source: ENERGY STAR

Emission factor (fuel oil/gallon) = 22.28
Source: U.S. EPA, Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2004, Annex 2, Table A30.

Emission factor (natural gas/thousand cubic feet) = 120.61
Source: U.S. EPA, Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2004, Annex 2, Table A30

Turn up your air conditioner thermostat by degrees F.

# of degrees

Emission reduction = percent of total electricity emissions accounted for by air conditioning * percent emission reduction per degree * electricity emissions * number of degrees increased * assumed percentage of the year air conditioner is in use

Percent of total electricity emissions = .16
Source: EIA 2001. End-use Consumption of Electricity

Percent emission reduction per degree = .05
Source: Parker, D., Mazzara, M., Sherwin, J., 1996. "Monitored Energy Use Patterns In Low-Income Housing In A Hot And Humid Climate," Tenth Symposium on Improving Building Systems in Hot Humid Climates, Ft. Worth, TX, p. 316. Note that this publication assumes a 10 percent efficiency gain per 1 degree; we use 5 percent as a more conservative estimate.

Assumed percentage of the year air conditioner is in use = .42
Source: EIA 2001. End-use Consumption of Electricity

Would you replace single-glazed windows with ENERGY STAR windows?

Yes No

Emission reduction = (average single glazed windows annual energy loss (Btu) - Low-e annual energy loss (Btu)) emission factor

Average single glazed windows annual energy loss (Btu) = 37,800,000
Source: ENERGY STAR and ACEEE, Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings

Average low-e annual energy loss (Btu) = 9,450,000
Source: ENERGY STAR and ACEEE Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings

Emission factor (fuel oil/gallon) = 22.28
Source: U.S. EPA, Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2004, Annex 2, Table A30

Emission factor (natural gas/thousand cubic feet) = 120.61
Source: U.S. EPA, Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2004, Annex 2, Table A30

• Learn More about minmizing carbon emissions at home.
• Learn More about how to offset your home's emissions.

Air Travel

Utilize carbon offsets for your Air Travel

Our "Understanding Carbon Offsets" page provides information and links about methods you may use to offset your CO2 emissions.

Waste

Lbs. of CO2 /
% Reduced

Would you be willing to recycle the materials you don't currently recycle?
(review the Waste section above)

Yes No

Could you also recycle magazines?

Yes No

Emission Reduction = number of people in household * average number of pounds of CO2 equivalent per person per year that could be saved by recycling magazines

Average number of pounds of CO2 equivalent per person per year that could be saved by recycling magazines = 47.7
Source: Management and Greenhouse Gases: A Life-Cycle Assessment of Emissions and Sinks, EPA530-R-06-004.

If you took all the actions listed above,
you would REDUCE your emissions by:

Your NEW Total Annual CO2 Emissions:

= lbs./yr.

Average US Household Carbon Footprint FACTS

The average US household produces 7.5 tons of CO2 equivalents per year.

Energy Efficient Appliances

Approximately 30% of residential energy consumption is used to operate appliances within the home. Learn more about energy efficient appliances >>

Improve Your Energy Efficiency on the Road

Our ACT section features tips on how to maximize your fuel efficiency while on the road. Learn more about how to drive more efficiently and also which cars are the most fuel efficient. >>

Residential Energy Consumption

Use of appliances and heating and cooling systems contribute significantly to household CO2 production. Learn tips for reducing your household electricity and gas usage. >>

What Else You Can Do:

Purchase Green Energy

Energy production from fossil fuels is the largest contributor to CO2 emissions. Reduce your footprint by buying energy generated from renewable resources. Learn more about how you can purchase renewable green energy in your area. >>

Learn How to Neutralize or Offset Your Carbon Emissions

There are ways to "offset" your carbon emissions. Learn more about carbon offsets and some of the businesses that offer this service. >>

What Else Can You Do to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint?

See WhatsMyCO2.com's Act section for ideas for your home, transportation, travel and more. >>

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