Let's Do This!
We can do this the Engineering Way or we can do this the Easy Way. You decide :)
The Easy Way
At a most basic level, your carbon footprint is a function of your household income. The more money you have the more you buy and the higher your footprint. Remember, our goal is to help you determine a reasonable carbon emission reduction.
On the right is a chart with carbon footprint by income. It also includes that 10% value of how much we would like you to commit to. Pick your number and head on to Commit Now!
If you don't like our estimate, skip to "The Hard Way". It will be more accurate.
Pick your 10%
Student: 0.5 kg/day
Household income below 50K per year = 1 kg/day
Household income between 50 and 100 = 2 kg/day
Household income between 100 and 200 = 3 kg/day
Household income between 200 and 500 = 10 kg/day
Household income over 500K = 20 kg/day
Taylor Swift type of lifestyle = 140 kg/day
The Engineering Way: Calculate your Carbon Footprint
If your goal is to reduce your carbon emissions by 10%, the first step is to determine your carbon dioxide emissions or Carbon Footprint.
There are two broad categories of carbon emissions: direct emissions and indirect emissions.
Direct emissions refer to the energy (and subsequent emissions) you purchase and use directly. This is the electricity and natural gas used in your home, and the gasoline you purchase and burn in your vehicle, your boat, or your lawnmower. It is also the emissions you create by flying in a plane.
Indirect emissions are the emissions related to the food you eat, the purchases you make (clothes, gadgets, appliances), and the emissions from data centers and AI computers when you are using social media or watching Netflix or other streaming services.
Carbon emissions for an average person in the US is about 10,000 kg per year* or about 30 kg per day, but these emissions vary widely based on income and lifestyle choices. If you are average, your 10% reduction would be 3 kg per day.
The second easiest way to calculate your carbon footprint is to use a carbon footprint calculator. There are many calculators available but I prefer CFCalc calculator because it is the one I created :) and I have verified that the results are reasonable.
For an average person, the breakdown of emissions for the different categories might be something like this:
Direct Emissions
Transportation~4000 kg/yr or 11 kg/day
Electricity~1300 kg/yr or 3.5 kg/day
Natural Gas~2000 kg/yr or 5.4 kg/day
Indirect emissions
Diet~1500 kg/yr or 4.1 kg/day
Consumption~1500 kg/yr or 4.1 kg/day
The most accurate way to determine your carbon footprint is to track your direct energy use (gasoline, electricity and natural gas) and estimate your indirect emissions by tracking your consumption. What is your annual use of electricity? Of natural gas? Of gasoline?
Calculating Your Reductions
Please don't fear the word "Calculating". We will make this easy.
If this is too scary go to Commit Now and pick your Numbers
Transportation is likely your largest source of emissions. This is where you will have the most impact.
Home emissions make up about 1/3 of your emissions. See what the big contributors are and what changes are most meaningful.
Do I get more points if my recycle bin is full?
