Carbon Footprint Calculation

Learning Objectives

• Determine your carbon footprint using a calculator online

• Relate use of fossil fuels to your carbon footprint• Compare your carbon footprint to that of your

classmates, school, community, and nation• Describe the components or factors associated

with a carbon footprint• Predict ways to reduce your carbon footprint• Discuss political ramifications of “climate

change” or “global warming”

Background Information

• A carbon footprint describes the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere as a result of your activities such as travel, preparing food, and cooling or heating your home

• Most of the carbon dioxide that results from your activities is produced by the burning of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, oil)

Carbon vs Ecological

• An ecological footprint compares the total resources people consume with the land and water area that is needed to replace those resources.

• A carbon footprint also deals with resource usage but focuses strictly on the greenhouse gases released due to burning of fossil fuels.

• Greenhouse gas calculations make up a portion of an ecological footprint, but are not used in the same way as those in a carbon footprint. Both calculations illustrate

the impact of human activity on the environment. 

• Carbon dioxide is a “greenhouse gas,” which tends to trap energy released by the earth that would otherwise travel back into space. Thus, greenhouse gases act like a large blanket in the earth’s atmosphere which reduces heat loss by the planet. (Temperature goes up)

• Use of fossil fuels has greatly increased in the last 130 years. Correspondingly, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have also been increasing dramatically over the last century. In fact, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are higher now than they have ever been in the last 100,000 years.

• Corresponding to recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have been increases in the earth’s average temperature. Over the last 130 years the earth’s average annual temperature has increase about 1.5°C. Toward the poles, the temperature increases have been over three times greater.

• Many prominent scientist and political leaders are concerned that human production of greenhouse gases may have already contributed to this warming trend, and other climate changes, occurring over the last century.

Reduce your carbon footprintIn the USA, there may be one

car per person – which contributes greatly to pollution.

Use cleaner transport• Walk, bike, or take public

transit • 1 gallon of US gasoline =

35KWh energy• KWh = energy usage• Avoid short airplane trips –

take a bus or train instead

• Install compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) in all your home light fixtures

• Weatherproof (insulate) your home.

• Insulate your water heater, switch to a tankless water heater

• Choose energy efficient appliances

Add energy saving features to your home

Adopt energy-saving habits• Keep thermostat relatively low in winter and ease up on the air

conditioning in summer. Clean or replace dirty A/C filters as recommended to keep A/C operating at peak efficiency

• Unplug your electronics when not in use.• Make minimal use of power equipment when landscaping• Choose green electricity. Many utilities give you the option to purchase

electricity generated by wind and solar power for small rate surcharge.• Dry your clothes outside whenever possible

• These save money for your household, as well as saving energy

Reduce your Food Footprint• Eat more local, organic, in-season

foods• Plant a garden – it doesn’t get more

local than that• Shop at your local farmer’s market

or natural foods store. Look for local, in-season foods that haven’t traveled long distances to reach you

• Choose foods with less packaging to reduce waste

• Eat food lower on the food chain – going meatless for just one meal a week can make a difference. Globally, it has been estimated that 18% of all greenhouse gas emission are associated with meat consumption.

Reduce your Housing Footprint• Choose sustainable building

materials, furnishings, and cleaning products

• Explore green design features for your building, like passive solar heating, a rainwater catchment or grey water recycling system, and recycled materials

• Choose efficient appliances, including low flow shower heads, faucets, and toilets

• Plant drought-tolerant plants in your garden and yard.

• Use biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products

Adopt water-saving habits• Don’t use the garbage disposal. Compost

instead.• Run the dishwasher and the laundry machine

only when full• Wash cars rarely, or better yet, take them to a

carwash.• Avoid hosing down or power-washing your deck,

walkways, or driveway.• Take shorter, less frequent showers – this not

only saves water, but the energy necessary to heat it.

• Regularly look for and fix leaks.

Reduce your Goods and Services Footprint

• Buy less. Replace items only when you really need to.

• Recycle all your paper, glass, aluminum, and plastic. Don’t forget electronics.

• Buy recycled products, particularly those labeled “post-consumer waste”.

• Compost food waste for the garden. Garbage that is not contaminated with degradable (biological) waste can be more easily recycled and sorted, and doesn’t produce methane gases (a significant greenhouse gas contributor) when stored in a landfill.

Procedure

• This assignment asks you to calculate your own ecological footprint using this website: www.myfootprint.org

• Answer the following questions by typing your answers in the spaces provided in your workbooks. Include a summary of the Quiz Results (see page 11-6)