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A carbon footprint is a way to measure the impact your personal activities have on the environment. Things like driving, electricity use, the food you choose to eat and the products you buy can all have an impact on your carbon footprint. Any activity that burns fossil fuels and/or emits greenhouse gases will contribute to your carbon footprint. There are many places where you can calculate your carbon footprint:
- The Carbon Footprint Calculator from carbonfootprint.com
- The Carbon Counter
- Calculator from Conservation International
- Carbon Fund's carbon calculator
To most accurately figure out your carbon footprint, find a calculator that asks for actual data and then use things like your electric bills to fill in the most accurate count of information that you can. Some counters will ask questions like how long is your average commute, do you recycle and if you eat beef and calculate your footprint based on national averages. This is rarely a very accurate picture.
A good practice to use, whether you calculate your carbon footprint or not, is to be more mindful of what you are doing. Drive less. Look at the options at the grocery store. If something is produced or grown locally choose it over something that has been shipped from far away on a truck. Buy things with less packaging, turn down the thermostat and just work to put yourself on a carbon diet. Find out what affects your carbon footprint and do less of it.
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