Estimate your household's annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based on your energy consumption and lifestyle choices.
Gasoline
Diesel
Electric (will use electricity usage above)
Your estimated annual GHG emissions will appear here.
Understanding Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Your Impact
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat. They play a crucial role in regulating Earth's temperature, but human activities have significantly increased their concentration, leading to global warming and climate change. The primary GHGs include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases.
This calculator provides an estimate of your household's direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions, primarily focusing on CO2 equivalents (CO2e). CO2e is a metric used to express the global warming potential of different GHGs in a common unit. The calculations are based on average emission factors for various activities.
Calculation Methodology
The calculator estimates emissions from the following sources:
Electricity Consumption: This accounts for emissions from power generation. The calculation uses an average emission factor for CO2 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity consumed. The exact factor varies by region based on the local energy grid's mix of fossil fuels and renewable sources. Average U.S. Grid Emission Factor: ~0.404 kg CO2e/kWh.
Formula: Electricity Usage (kWh) * 0.404 kg CO2e/kWh
Natural Gas Consumption: This estimates emissions from burning natural gas for heating, cooking, etc. The calculation uses a standard emission factor for CO2 per therm of natural gas.
Emission Factor: ~5.306 kg CO2e/therm.
Formula: Natural Gas Usage (Therms) * 5.306 kg CO2e/therm
Vehicle Emissions: This estimates emissions from personal transportation. The calculation uses average emission factors for gasoline and diesel vehicles based on miles driven. Electric vehicles' emissions are accounted for in electricity consumption.
Gasoline Vehicle: ~0.008887 metric tons CO2 per gallon, and average fuel economy of ~24.7 miles per gallon. This results in an approximate factor of ~0.0003598 kg CO2e/mile.
Diesel Vehicle: ~0.01018 metric tons CO2 per gallon, and average fuel economy of ~29.2 miles per gallon. This results in an approximate factor of ~0.0003486 kg CO2e/mile.
Formula (Gasoline): Vehicle Miles Driven (Miles) * 0.0003598 kg CO2e/mile Formula (Diesel): Vehicle Miles Driven (Miles) * 0.0003486 kg CO2e/mile
Household Size Adjustment (Optional/Conceptual): While this calculator focuses on direct inputs, household size is often considered in broader carbon footprint analyses as it can influence per-capita consumption. This calculator sums the direct emissions.
Why Use This Calculator?
Awareness: Understand the primary sources of your household's GHG emissions.
Informed Decisions: Identify areas where lifestyle changes can have the most significant impact (e.g., reducing electricity use, driving less, choosing fuel-efficient vehicles).
Tracking Progress: Use it as a baseline to measure the effectiveness of emission reduction strategies.
Environmental Responsibility: Contribute to collective efforts to mitigate climate change by managing your carbon footprint.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate for informational purposes only. Actual emissions can vary based on specific appliance efficiency, driving habits, local energy sources, and other factors not included in this simplified model.
function calculateEmissions() {
var electricityUsage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("electricityUsage").value);
var naturalGasUsage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("naturalGasUsage").value);
var vehicleMiles = parseFloat(document.getElementById("vehicleMiles").value);
var fuelType = document.getElementById("fuelType").value;
var householdSize = parseFloat(document.getElementById("householdSize").value);
var electricityFactor = 0.404; // kg CO2e per kWh (average US grid)
var naturalGasFactor = 5.306; // kg CO2e per therm
var gasolineMilesFactor = 0.0003598; // kg CO2e per mile for gasoline cars
var dieselMilesFactor = 0.0003486; // kg CO2e per mile for diesel cars
var electricityEmissions = 0;
var naturalGasEmissions = 0;
var vehicleEmissions = 0;
if (!isNaN(electricityUsage) && electricityUsage > 0) {
electricityEmissions = electricityUsage * electricityFactor;
}
if (!isNaN(naturalGasUsage) && naturalGasUsage > 0) {
naturalGasEmissions = naturalGasUsage * naturalGasFactor;
}
if (!isNaN(vehicleMiles) && vehicleMiles > 0) {
if (fuelType === "gasoline") {
vehicleEmissions = vehicleMiles * gasolineMilesFactor;
} else if (fuelType === "diesel") {
vehicleEmissions = vehicleMiles * dieselMilesFactor;
}
// Electric vehicles' emissions are covered under electricity usage, so vehicleEmissions remains 0 for electric.
}
var totalEmissions = electricityEmissions + naturalGasEmissions + vehicleEmissions;
// Display result in kg CO2e
var resultElement = document.getElementById("result");
if (totalEmissions > 0) {
resultElement.innerHTML = "Estimated Annual GHG Emissions: " + totalEmissions.toFixed(2) + " kg CO2e";
} else {
resultElement.innerHTML = "Please enter valid positive numbers for your usage details.";
}
}