Carbon Footprint Calculator
Measure your environmental impact from home, travel, and lifestyle
Emissions Breakdown
Home Energy
15,768 lbs/yrUS avg: ~900 kWh/month
1 therm ≈ 100 cubic feet
Transportation
8,400 lbs/yrUS avg: ~12,000 miles/year
Air Travel
0 lbs/yrNumber of round-trip flights per year
Diet
2,951 lbs/yrServings per week
Ways to Reduce Your Footprint
Home & Energy
- •Switch to LED bulbs and energy-efficient appliances
- •Consider solar panels or renewable energy providers
- •Improve home insulation and seal air leaks
Transportation
- •Consider an electric or hybrid vehicle
- •Use public transit, bike, or walk when possible
- •Carpool and combine errands to reduce trips
Air Travel
- •Take fewer flights and consider train travel
- •Choose direct flights (takeoff/landing use most fuel)
- •Purchase carbon offsets for necessary flights
Diet & Lifestyle
- •Reduce red meat consumption (biggest dietary impact)
- •Buy local and seasonal produce when possible
- •Reduce food waste and compost organic scraps
Emission factors based on EPA 2024 data. Individual results may vary based on location, energy sources, and specific circumstances. This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes.
How to Use the Carbon Footprint Calculator
Enter Your Home Energy Usage
Input your monthly electricity usage (kWh) and natural gas consumption (therms). Check your utility bills for accurate figures. Include any propane or heating oil if applicable.
Add Your Transportation Details
Enter your weekly driving miles and vehicle type. Include the number of flights you take per year, categorized by short-haul (under 3 hours) and long-haul trips.
Select Your Diet Type
Choose your diet category from meat-heavy to vegan. This factors in emissions from food production, transportation, and packaging across different dietary patterns.
Review Your Carbon Footprint Results
View your total annual CO2 emissions broken down by category. Compare your footprint to US and global averages, and explore personalized reduction recommendations.
Pro tip: Your data is processed entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to any server, ensuring complete privacy.
Understanding Your Carbon Footprint
Your carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by your activities. Understanding where your emissions come from is the first step toward reducing your environmental impact and contributing to a more sustainable future.
What Makes Up Your Carbon Footprint?
Home Energy (30-40%): Electricity, natural gas, and heating fuel for your home are typically the largest contributors. The average US household uses about 900 kWh of electricity per month, producing approximately 8,700 pounds of CO2 annually from electricity alone.
Transportation (25-35%): Driving a typical gas vehicle 12,000 miles per year produces about 8,500 pounds of CO2. Electric vehicles reduce this significantly, producing only about 2,500 pounds from the electricity used to charge them.
Air Travel (0-30%): A single round-trip transcontinental flight produces about 4,000 pounds of CO2 per passenger. For frequent flyers, this can be the largest single category of emissions.
Diet (10-25%): Food production, especially red meat, is a significant source of emissions. Beef production generates about 6.6 pounds of CO2 per serving, compared to just 0.2 pounds for vegetables.
How Does Your Footprint Compare?
The average American produces about 16 metric tons of CO2 per year, roughly four times the global average of 4 metric tons. To limit global warming to 1.5°C as recommended by climate scientists, the average global footprint needs to drop to about 2 metric tons per person by 2050.
Highest Impact Changes
- Go car-free or switch to EV: Saves 2-4 tons CO2/year
- Skip one transatlantic flight: Saves 1.5-2 tons CO2
- Go vegetarian: Saves 0.8-1.5 tons CO2/year
- Switch to renewable energy: Saves 1-3 tons CO2/year
- Buy fewer new products: Saves 0.5-1 ton CO2/year
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (primarily CO2) produced directly and indirectly by your activities, measured in metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year. It includes emissions from home energy, transportation, food production, and goods you consume.
What is the average carbon footprint in the US?
The average American has a carbon footprint of approximately 16 metric tons CO2 per year, which is about 4 times the global average of 4 metric tons. This higher figure is primarily due to larger homes, more driving, and higher consumption patterns.
How can I reduce my carbon footprint?
The most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint include: driving less or switching to an electric vehicle, reducing air travel, installing solar panels, improving home insulation, eating less red meat, and buying local products. Even small changes in daily habits can add up to significant reductions.
How many trees does it take to offset my carbon footprint?
On average, a mature tree absorbs about 48 pounds of CO2 per year. For the average American with a 16 metric ton footprint, that would require approximately 730 trees to offset. However, tree planting is just one part of carbon offsetting - reducing emissions at the source is more effective.
Related Tools
Calculate carbon offsets needed for flights, driving, and other activities. Learn how to reduce your impact.
Calculate electric vehicle charging costs and time. Compare home vs public charging, see cost per mile, and calculate savings vs gas. Supports Tesla, Rivian, Ford, and all EVs.
Calculate how much you could save by switching to a heat pump from gas or oil heating.
Calculate solar panel ROI, payback period, and lifetime savings. Factor in tax credits, electricity rates, and panel degradation. See if solar is worth it for your home.