CO₂ Calculator
Calculate your carbon footprint and discover how your lifestyle impacts the planet. Enter your travel, home energy, diet and waste habits to get your total CO₂ emissions and personalised reduction tips.
How the CO₂ calculator works
This calculator estimates your annual carbon footprint in kilograms of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) using UK government DEFRA emission factors. It combines emissions from transport (car, public transport, flights), home energy (electricity and heating), diet (meat consumption), and waste (recycling habits).
Enter your lifestyle details below, and the calculator will show your total footprint, a breakdown by category, and practical tips to help you reduce your environmental impact.
Step 1: Your Household
Why household size matters
Your carbon footprint is calculated per person. Sharing a household reduces per-person emissions due to shared heating, lighting, and appliances.
Step 2: Lifestyle & Habits
Understanding your carbon footprint
The average UK person emits about 8.5 tonnes of CO₂e per year. This calculator helps you understand your personal impact and where you can make changes.
Your Carbon Footprint
Your Annual Carbon Footprint
Detailed Breakdown
Category Details
| Category | Emissions (kg CO₂e) | % of Total | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car | 960 | 18% | Medium |
| Public Transport | 60 | 1% | Low |
| Flights | 480 | 9% | High |
| Electricity | 960 | 18% | Medium |
| Heating | 840 | 16% | Medium |
| Diet | 1,100 | 21% | High |
| Waste | 240 | 5% | Low |
Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
Every action counts
Small changes add up. If everyone in the UK reduced their footprint by just 10%, we’d save over 50 million tonnes of CO₂e per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a carbon footprint?
A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions. It is usually expressed in tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e).
What is the average carbon footprint per person in the UK?
The average carbon footprint per person in the UK is about 8.5 tonnes of CO₂e per year. This includes transport, home energy, diet, and consumption of goods and services.
How is CO₂e calculated?
CO₂e (carbon dioxide equivalent) is a standard unit for measuring carbon footprints. It converts different greenhouse gases into the equivalent amount of CO₂ based on their global warming potential. This calculator uses DEFRA emission factors for the UK.
What are the main sources of carbon emissions?
The main sources of carbon emissions are transport (cars, flights, public transport), home energy (electricity, heating), diet (especially meat and dairy), and waste (landfill and recycling).
How can I reduce my carbon footprint?
You can reduce your carbon footprint by using public transport, cycling or walking instead of driving, reducing flights, switching to renewable energy, eating less meat, reducing food waste, and recycling more.
Want to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint?
Discover personalised plans to reduce your emissions, switch to renewable energy, and live more sustainably. Get expert advice tailored to your lifestyle.
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