How To Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

Going about your daily life, no matter how hard you try, you are leaving a carbon footprint. But what is a carbon footprint? By definition, the carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce. So whether you are commuting to work, cooking, creating shelter for yourselves or family we are always contributing to the greenhouse gas emissions, but how do we really contribute?

The exact calculation is of one’s carbon footprint is by no means a simple calculation. With a number of different variables to take into consideration it is hard to come up with more than just a rough estimate of what your footprint really is. Although it can be difficult to obtain an exact number, there are still ways to calculate the carbon footprint for yourself and family. Using the formula below you should be able to get a very close idea on where you and your family stand.

1.)  Take your average monthly electricity bill and multiply it by 105
2.)  Take your average monthly  gas bill and multiply it by 105
3.)  Take your average monthly oil bill and multiply it by 1130
 If you don’t use either number 2 or 3, please enter 0
4.)  Multiply your total yearly mileage by .79
5.)  Multiply the number of flights, 4 hours or less, by 1,100
6.)  Multiply the number of flights, 4 hours or more, by 4,400
7.)  Do you recycle?  If no, add 350. If yes, add 0.

Once you have figured the totals for each question, take the answers and add them all up together.  For example, take the answer to question number 1 and add to it the answers to numbers (2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7); the total of all seven questions is equal to your carbon footprint.

So what does this number mean to you? It breaks down like this. A number less than 6,000 is considered an excellent number. Although there is no way to create a carbon footprint of zero, having a footprint of 6,000 pounds per year is great! What if your number wasn’t quite so low? A score between 6,000 pounds per year and 15,000 pounds per year is still good. However, a score between 16,000 and 22,000 pounds per year is right around the average per household.  Of course, having more than one driver in the family or driving an older vehicle or large gas guzzler will increase your number, as will the number of people in the household, the state you live in, the type of dwelling you have, and the type of food you eat.  Making small changes in your everyday life style such as turning off lights, the television, and the computer when not in use or turning down your central heating or water heater just a couple of degrees can make a difference, and in no time you can make a large impact.