Your Carbon Footprint
Driving
Flights per Year
Home Energy
Diet Type
Your Annual Carbon Footprint
Your Total
14.3
tons CO₂/year
US Average
14.5
tons CO₂/year
vs. US Avg
-0.2
1.1% below
Estimated offset cost: $287/year (at $20/ton CO₂)
Emissions Breakdown
Driving3.55 t CO₂
Flights1.40 t CO₂
Home Energy6.89 t CO₂
Diet2.50 t CO₂
How This Calculator Works
This calculator estimates your annual personal carbon footprint across four major emission categories using established EPA emission factors and peer-reviewed research:
- Driving: Miles ÷ MPG × 8.887 kg CO₂/gallon (EPA gasoline factor)
- Flights: Short-haul ~200 kg CO₂ each; long-haul ~1,000 kg CO₂ each (including radiative forcing)
- Electricity: kWh/month × 12 × 0.386 kg CO₂/kWh (US average grid factor)
- Natural Gas: Therms/month × 12 × 5.3 kg CO₂/therm (EPA factor)
- Diet: Vegan 1.5t, Vegetarian 1.7t, Average 2.5t, Meat-heavy 3.3t per year
Frequently Asked Questions
A carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gases generated by your actions, measured in metric tons of CO₂ equivalent per year. The average American emits about 14.5 tons of CO₂e annually — one of the highest in the world.