The carbon calculator provides a simple guide to your household carbon footprint based upon key features of your home, your personal energy use profile, your use of green technologies and your transport profile.
A household carbon footprint is the quantity of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere as a result of household energy use, transportation and waste disposal in one year.
This version of the carbon calculator is based on evidence from household energy studies in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, Singapore, and South Africa. It enables you to explore how changes to your home, the way you use energy and your transport choices can affect CO2 emissions.
Because the calculator does not ask you for specific data on how much fuel or electricity you consume, it is easy to use but is only intended as an approximate guide.
To use the calculator complete the questions within each of the four sections. As you select options within the calculator, the resulting CO2 emissions are displayed above.
What size is your carbon footprint?
The first step to lowering carbon emissions is to understand your carbon footprint. This tool helps you to estimate your household CO2 emissions and shows how different lifestyle choices, household features and new technologies affect the size of your footprint.
Select your country:
- select country -
China
Select number living in your household:
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Select your household type:
Small Public Flat
Large Public Flat
Private House
General Household Conditions
Efficient features such as compact fluorescent light bulbs and insulation can reduce household energy consumption and associated CO2 emissions. When purchasing new appliances look out for the Energy Star label in the USA or Grade A labels in Europe that indicate high efficiency. Features such as air conditioning or a heated swimming pool will increase your household energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
Household heating system:
Electricity
Oil
Gas
LPG
Wood
Cavity wall and loft insulation
Cavity wall insulation and loft insulation reduce heat loss from the building,reducing the amount of fuel you need to keep warm.
Draft Proofing
Draft proofing around external doors and windows reduces losses of heat from the building.
Double Glazing
Double glazed windows trap a layer of air between the two panes,creating an insulator that reduces heat losses.
Energy efficient light bulbs
Energy efficient light bulbs can produce the same amount of light with 80% less energy input than conventional tungsten bulbs.
Personal Energy Use Profile
By using energy wisely in your home you can make significant reductions to CO2 emissions. See the reduction that can be made to your household footprint by selecting some of the options opposite.
I switch off lights when not in room
I don't leave equipment on standby
I mainly take showers rather than baths
I adjust temperature controls to avoid overheating°
New & renewable technologies
New and renewable technologies can save money, reduce energy and reduce CO2. Investigate what reductions you could make by installing some of the technologies listed. You may need specialist advice to assess which technologies are suitable for your home.
Solar water heater
Solar electricity generation
Personal Travel
Use the menu to add information about your vehicles and flights to see how they impact your CO2 emissions.
#1 Vehicle
Hybrid/minicar
Standard sedan/hatch/station wagon
SUV/High performance
Diesel - large
Diesel - medium
Diesel - small
Motorcycle
Bicycle
0 Annual Mileage
500 Annual Mileage
1000 Annual Mileage
2000 Annual Mileage
3000 Annual Mileage
5000 Annual Mileage
7500 Annual Mileage
10000 Annual Mileage
15000 Annual Mileage
20000 Annual Mileage
25000 Annual Mileage
30000 Annual Mileage
#2 Vehicle
Hybrid/minicar
Standard sedan/hatch/station wagon
SUV/High performance
Diesel - large
Diesel - medium
Diesel - small
Motorcycle
Bicycle
0 Annual Mileage
500 Annual Mileage
1000 Annual Mileage
2000 Annual Mileage
3000 Annual Mileage
5000 Annual Mileage
7500 Annual Mileage
10000 Annual Mileage
15000 Annual Mileage
20000 Annual Mileage
25000 Annual Mileage
30000 Annual Mileage
#3 Vehicle
Hybrid/minicar
Standard sedan/hatch/station wagon
SUV/High performance
Diesel - large
Diesel - medium
Diesel - small
Motorcycle
Bicycle
0 Annual Mileage
500 Annual Mileage
1000 Annual Mileage
2000 Annual Mileage
3000 Annual Mileage
5000 Annual Mileage
7500 Annual Mileage
10000 Annual Mileage
15000 Annual Mileage
20000 Annual Mileage
25000 Annual Mileage
30000 Annual Mileage
Airline flights by your household
Short-haul flights are defined as approximately 300 miles (500 km) and long-haul flights are defined as approximately 3000 miles (5000 km).
Total number of short-haul return flights by your household:
0
1
2
3
4
5
5-10
10-20
20-30
30+
Total number of long-haul return flights by your household:
0
1
2
3
4
5
5-10
10-20
20-30
30+
Public Transport
Train
0 Annual Mileage
50 Annual Mileage
100 Annual Mileage
150 Annual Mileage
200 Annual Mileage
250 Annual Mileage
500 Annual Mileage
1000 Annual Mileage
2000 Annual Mileage
3000 Annual Mileage
5000 Annual Mileage
7500 Annual Mileage
10000 Annual Mileage
15000 Annual Mileage
20000 Annual Mileage
25000 Annual Mileage
30000 Annual Mileage
Bus
0 Annual Mileage
50 Annual Mileage
100 Annual Mileage
150 Annual Mileage
200 Annual Mileage
250 Annual Mileage
500 Annual Mileage
1000 Annual Mileage
2000 Annual Mileage
3000 Annual Mileage
5000 Annual Mileage
7500 Annual Mileage
10000 Annual Mileage
15000 Annual Mileage
20000 Annual Mileage
25000 Annual Mileage
30000 Annual Mileage
Underground
0 Annual Mileage
50 Annual Mileage
100 Annual Mileage
150 Annual Mileage
200 Annual Mileage
250 Annual Mileage
500 Annual Mileage
1000 Annual Mileage
2000 Annual Mileage
3000 Annual Mileage
5000 Annual Mileage
7500 Annual Mileage
10000 Annual Mileage
15000 Annual Mileage
20000 Annual Mileage
25000 Annual Mileage
30000 Annual Mileage
Taxi
0 Annual Mileage
50 Annual Mileage
100 Annual Mileage
150 Annual Mileage
200 Annual Mileage
250 Annual Mileage
500 Annual Mileage
1000 Annual Mileage
2000 Annual Mileage
3000 Annual Mileage
5000 Annual Mileage
7500 Annual Mileage
10000 Annual Mileage
15000 Annual Mileage
20000 Annual Mileage
25000 Annual Mileage
30000 Annual Mileage
Business Travel
Use the menu to add information about your vehicles and flights to see how they impact your CO2 emissions.
Car
Hybrid/minicar
Standard sedan/hatch/station wagon
SUV/High performance
Diesel - large
Diesel - medium
Diesel - small
Motorcycle
Bicycle
0 Annual Mileage
500 Annual Mileage
1000 Annual Mileage
2000 Annual Mileage
3000 Annual Mileage
5000 Annual Mileage
7500 Annual Mileage
10000 Annual Mileage
15000 Annual Mileage
20000 Annual Mileage
25000 Annual Mileage
30000 Annual Mileage
Car
Hybrid/minicar
Standard sedan/hatch/station wagon
SUV/High performance
Diesel - large
Diesel - medium
Diesel - small
Motorcycle
Bicycle
0 Annual Mileage
500 Annual Mileage
1000 Annual Mileage
2000 Annual Mileage
3000 Annual Mileage
5000 Annual Mileage
7500 Annual Mileage
10000 Annual Mileage
15000 Annual Mileage
20000 Annual Mileage
25000 Annual Mileage
30000 Annual Mileage
Airline flights by your household
Short-haul flights are defined as approximately 300 miles (500 km) and long-haul flights are defined as approximately 3000 miles (5000 km).
Total number of short-haul return flights by your household:
0
1
2
3
4
5
5-10
10-20
20-30
30+
Total number of long-haul return flights by your household:
0
1
2
3
4
5
5-10
10-20
20-30
30+
Train
0 Annual Mileage
50 Annual Mileage
100 Annual Mileage
150 Annual Mileage
200 Annual Mileage
250 Annual Mileage
500 Annual Mileage
1000 Annual Mileage
2000 Annual Mileage
3000 Annual Mileage
5000 Annual Mileage
7500 Annual Mileage
10000 Annual Mileage
15000 Annual Mileage
20000 Annual Mileage
25000 Annual Mileage
30000 Annual Mileage