Understanding Your Carbon Footprint
Your carbon footprint represents the total greenhouse-gas emissions—mainly carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O)—that result from your daily activities. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere and are the main drivers of climate change. By estimating your footprint, you can identify high-impact areas and make informed decisions to reduce them.
1 What is CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e)?
CO₂e is a standard unit that expresses the warming potential of all greenhouse gases in terms of the amount of CO₂ that would create the same effect. For example, one kilogram of methane has roughly 25 times the warming effect of one kilogram of CO₂, so it is counted as 25 kg CO₂e.
2 Why estimate your footprint?
- To understand your environmental impact.
- To set reduction targets for energy, travel, or waste.
- To compare lifestyle choices and monitor improvement over time.
3 Emission sources included in this calculator
- Electricity use: emissions from power generation based on average grid mix.
- Fuel consumption: petrol / diesel used by personal vehicles.
- Air travel and public transport: estimated per passenger kilometre.
- Natural gas: for cooking or heating.
- Waste generation: average emissions from landfill or incineration.
4 How the calculator works
The calculator multiplies each monthly activity input by a standard emission factor in kg CO₂e per unit of activity. All results are summed to give monthly emissions and multiplied by 12 to give an annual estimate in tonnes CO₂e. You can view the derivation by enabling “Show step-by-step derivation.”
5 Interpreting your results
A lower total means a smaller environmental impact. The global average footprint is roughly 4.5 tonnes CO₂e per person per year. Sustainable targets are around 2 tonnes or less. Your footprint can be lowered through energy efficiency, cleaner transport, renewable electricity, and waste reduction.
6 Example calculation
Suppose you use 350 kWh electricity, 80 L petrol, 40 m³ gas, 500 km air travel, and 25 kg waste each month.
Electricity = 350 × 0.475 = 166.25 kg CO₂e
Petrol = 80 × 2.31 = 184.8 kg CO₂e
Gas = 40 × 2.05 = 82 kg CO₂e
Air travel = 500 × 0.15 = 75 kg CO₂e
Waste = 25 × 0.45 = 11.25 kg CO₂e
Total monthly = 519.3 kg CO₂e; annual ≈ 6.23 tonnes CO₂e.
7 Reducing your carbon footprint
- Switch to renewable electricity or install solar panels.
- Drive less, car-share, or use public transport.
- Replace short flights with train journeys where possible.
- Insulate your home to lower heating demand.
- Reduce, reuse, and recycle materials to minimise waste.
- Adopt energy-efficient appliances and LED lighting.
- Buy local and seasonal food to cut transport emissions.
8 Limitations of the estimator
All emission factors are approximate global averages. Actual results vary by region, energy mix, vehicle efficiency, and waste management systems. For rigorous carbon accounting, use national databases or professional LCA tools.
9 Benefits of tracking your footprint
- Creates awareness and motivation to adopt sustainable habits.
- Helps organisations report environmental performance.
- Supports climate education and behavioural research.
10 Conclusion
The Carbon Footprint Estimator is a quick way to translate everyday activities into measurable climate impact. By recording and comparing monthly results, you can plan practical actions that collectively move society toward net-zero emissions.