For this assignment, I had to calculate my carbon footprint using three different calculators: Cool Climate Network Calculator, Carbon Calculator, and the EPA Carbon Footprint Calculator. I assessed how much electricity and natural gas was used in my student house, where 7 individuals live. I got different results from each calculator. I believe that the difference in results was due to the fact that two of the calculators were based on the footprint of the average American household, such as the Barkeley calculator and the EPA calculator. For the American based calculator, I used the zip code 14301 for Niagara Falls, NY.
The calculator I found the easiest to produce results in comparison to the others was the EPA calculator, as you could input how much money you spent monthly on natural gas and electricity. However, the results were in pounds which had to be converted to metric tons of CO2. The downside of this calculator is that it based on U.S averages, as opposed to Canadian averages, and the result could vary frequently, because the monthly total for natural gas and electricity could fluctuate. For example, one month we paid $80 for utilities each, where as another month we paid $120 each. This calculator made it easier than others to see how they produced the results as it took the amount spent monthly and compounded it in how many pounds of natural …show more content…
The analysis was based off how much money was spent yearly on natural gas, electricity and heating oils. However, my result for this may have been higher than the others because I had to estimate the amount paid towards heating oil and other fuels, and the square footage of my household. A positive aspect about this calculator is the fact that it provides climate solutions that are geared towards different users and populations. It is not just for individual use, but can also be used by organizations, businesses, or
The calculator I found the easiest to produce results in comparison to the others was the EPA calculator, as you could input how much money you spent monthly on natural gas and electricity. However, the results were in pounds which had to be converted to metric tons of CO2. The downside of this calculator is that it based on U.S averages, as opposed to Canadian averages, and the result could vary frequently, because the monthly total for natural gas and electricity could fluctuate. For example, one month we paid $80 for utilities each, where as another month we paid $120 each. This calculator made it easier than others to see how they produced the results as it took the amount spent monthly and compounded it in how many pounds of natural …show more content…
The analysis was based off how much money was spent yearly on natural gas, electricity and heating oils. However, my result for this may have been higher than the others because I had to estimate the amount paid towards heating oil and other fuels, and the square footage of my household. A positive aspect about this calculator is the fact that it provides climate solutions that are geared towards different users and populations. It is not just for individual use, but can also be used by organizations, businesses, or