Carbon Footprint

Understanding Your Carbon Footprint

A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of carbon pollution produced. The larger your footprint, the more negative your impact on the environment. Over half of greenhouse gas emissions (carbon pollution) come from transportation (27%) and electricity use (25%). By learning about what contributes to these emissions, you can consciously make choices to reduce your impact.

Simple ways to reduce your carbon footprint include:

1. Drive less miles and utilize public transportation
2. Reduce your purchases of new items, opting for used items when available
3. Use energy efficient appliances
4. Eat less meat and choose local foods over imported options
5. Learn how to recycle, reducing the amount of waste going to landfills

Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

Want to learn how much you're contributing in greenhouse gases? Knowing where your emissions come from can help you find the best ways to reduce them, creating the greatest impact. 

• The Nature Conservancy
  • This calculator considers your travel habits, home energy use, eating habits, and shopping trends to calculate your footprint.
• Environmental Protection Agency
  • This calculator uses your home energy, transportation habits, and waste to generate your footprint. It also shows ways in which you can reduce emissions and save money