Calculating Your Carbon Footprint

Researchers at the University of California, Berkley’s Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory have published a study finding that everyone has a unique carbon footprint based on where and how they live. A carbon footprint is a measure of greenhouse gases release during production, use, and disposal of products and services. The study analyzed household carbon footprints in each U.S. state, 28 regions, six household sizes, and 12 income levels. It estimates that about one-third of typical household emissions are from transportation, about 20 percent from household energy, and about 15 percent from food, with the remainder from goods, services, housing construction, water, and waste.

The study’s results have been compiled in an online carbon calculator which an individual can use to estimate their carbon footprint, pinpoint areas where changes can be made to decrease their footprint, and compare it with footprints from other similar households. The carbon footprint estimate is obtained by answering questions pertaining to an individual’s location, household size, income, and lifestyle choices.