Carbon Footprint Calculator
Estimate your annual CO2 footprint from transport, home energy, diet, and consumption. Uses EPA averages and compares against the 16-ton US average.
Your annual carbon footprint
Transport
Home energy
Diet
Consumption
Annual CO2
17.6 metric tons
1.6 tons above the US average of 16 tons.
Breakdown
Transport6.86 t
Home energy6.66 t
Diet2.50 t
Consumption1.55 t
Top ways to cut emissions
- Skip one long-haul flight per year to cut about 2.4 tons of CO2.
- Carpool, telework, or switch to an EV to reduce car emissions.
Estimate using EPA averages for US households. Actual emissions vary with local grid mix, vehicle, and travel mix.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Carbon Footprint Calculator
What is the average carbon footprint in the US?
The EPA puts the average US household at about 16 metric tons of CO2 per person per year, more than triple the global average of roughly 4 tons.
Which choices cut my footprint the most?
Skipping one long-haul flight saves about 2.4 tons. Switching to a renewable electricity plan can cut 3-5 tons. A mostly plant-based diet saves 1-2 tons vs heavy meat eating. Driving less or going EV trims several tons more.
Do carbon offsets actually work?
Verified offsets from registries like Gold Standard or Verra fund real reductions, but offsets should come after you cut what you can. Treat them as a complement to lower emissions, not a substitute.
Where do these emission factors come from?
Gasoline (8.887 kg CO2 per gallon), natural gas (5.3 kg per therm), and heating oil (10.2 kg per gallon) come from the EPA Emission Factors Hub. Flight averages come from ICAO and DEFRA. Diet ranges come from peer-reviewed lifecycle studies.
Is this calculator exact?
No. It is a fast estimate using national averages. Your real footprint depends on your local grid mix, specific vehicle, flight routes, and shopping habits. Use it to spot the biggest levers, not for accounting.
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