Your estimated annual carbon dioxide footprint is the sum of the carbon dioxide that is produced by your home energy use, auto transportation and air travel. The total number of pounds is converted to tons. On average, trees planted as part of the Fund's Go Zero® program sequester approximately one ton of CO2 equivalent over a 100-year period. Donations to Go Zero® support land acquisition, tree seeding purchase, planting and management of new forestland.
To ensure accuracy and consistency, The Conservation Fund uses averages and information provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
This calculator requires a minimum of information from you because it relies on state and national averages. Here are the averages and conversion rates used:
Carbon Coefficient: 1.52 pounds CO2/kilowatt-hour
CO2 Source: www.epa.gov
Average electricity use by household type source: www.eia.gov
Carbon Coefficient: 11.71 pounds CO2 per therm (117.080 pounds CO2 per million Btu)
CO2 Source: Energy Information Administration Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program fuel emissions coefficients
Average natural gas use by household type source: www.eia.gov
Carbon Coefficient: 22.39 pounds CO2/gallon
CO2 Source: Energy Information Administration Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program fuel emissions coefficients
Average home heating oil (fuel oil) use by household type source: www.eia.gov.
CO2 Coefficient: 12.65 lbs CO2 /gallon
CO2 Source: Energy Information Administration Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program fuel emissions coefficients
Average home propane (liquid propane gas) use by household type source: www.eia.gov
Waste CO2 Coefficient: 2.8 lbs of CO2/day/individual
Recycling CO2 Coefficient: 1.57 lbs of CO2/day/individual
The EPA estimates an average household of one person creates 1,021 pounds of CO2 from waste each year. If you recycle, the EPA estimates that average decreases to 574 pounds of CO2 from waste each year. CO2 Source: EPA Household Emissions Calculator
CO2 Coefficient: 19.64 pounds CO2/gallon
CO2 Source: Energy Information Administration Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program fuel emissions coefficients.
CO2 Coefficient: 0.61 lbs of CO2 per mile flown
Air travel definitions and factors are from the EPA May 2008 Climate Leaders Greenhouse Gas Core Modules Guidance
CO2 Source: www.epa.gov
The carbon dioxide footprint is the sum of all the above calculations (in lbs), resulting in an estimate of the carbon dioxide that is produced by home energy use, auto transportation, and air travel. The total number of pounds is converted to short tons. The cost to plant and monitor each tree is approximately $10.00.
For a complete list of formulas, calculations, and sources, download the Go Zero® metric sheet.
Go Zero makes it simple for individuals and many companies to measure their carbon dioxide emissions, learn helpful ways to reduce those emissions, and then offset the remainder by planting trees in protected national wildlife refuges across the nation.
If you would like more information about Go Zero, email Jena Meredith.
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1655 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 1300
Arlington, Virginia 22209-3199
Phone: 703-525-6300
Fax: 703-525-4610
Email: postmaster@conservationfund.org
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