The Carbon Footprint Analysis measures the impact of individual lifestyles on the environment. The calculation is generally limited to the amount of energy a person uses in daily life, and to the quantity of material goods consumed. The output of the Carbon Footprint calculation is generally expressed in equivalent kg of CO2 (CO2e).
- Choose 1 Carbon Footprint Calculator from each column in the table below.
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Tons CO2/ Year
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lbs CO2/ year
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U of Earths
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CoolClimate Network
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EPA
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Global Footprint Network
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Carbon Independent
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PG&E
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World Wildlife Fund (UK)
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The Nature Conservatory
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American Forests
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Conservation International
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Carbon Footprint TM'
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U niSource Energy Services
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Many of these sites will ask you to make a donation to offset your carbon footprint.
You are under NO OBUGATION to make a donation.
- Calculate your carbon footprint at each site and record the answer in a table format (you may want to answer the question based on your family rather than on the way that you are living as a student). Record the calculator name and your results. Additional y, provide a description of how your carbon footprint was calculated.
- In a min. 1-page paper, compare and contrast the 3 calculators you used.
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Footprint Results
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Description / Example Questions
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Do you think the questions that were asked were valid?
Do you think that the result is a fair and adequate representation of your lifestyle?
What would change in the calculators to make the answer more realistic?
Is this website pushing a particular point of view?
Based on the results of the calculations and from your own personal knowledge, what one or two things could you do to reduce your carbon footprint?
- Choose the calculator that you thought was the most accurate and adjust your answers so your footprint is reduced by at least 25%. Is this something that you can realistically do? Explain.