You likely have come into contact with an event, organization or individual that has discussed offsetting their carbon emissions. I came into contact with the idea when Jack Dangermond announced a plan to offset the carbon emissions from the airline travel of all registrants at the 2007 ESRI International User Conference.
It’s an intriguing idea, and I’ve been wondering about my own carbon footprint for some time. A quick web search on carbon calculator will reveal a number of options. I chose Conservation International’s website that assists you in calculating your yearly carbon emission.
The online form asks questions about home energy consumption, car travel, air travel and diet. I was intrigued by the impacts of adjusting various metrics. For instance, having four bedrooms instead of three in a single family home increases your carbon by .4 tons per year. Driving a SUV for 10,000 miles per year versus a sub-compact car that same distance increases your carbon by 1.4 tons per year. Being a vegetarian versus an omnivore reduces your carbon by 1.1 tons per year.
There isn’t a great deal of flexibility for adjustment in this calculator. For instance, there’s no input regarding the efficiency of your home (i.e. Energy Star) or your car (i.e. Hybrid). But obviously a lot of research went into coming up with these metrics.
I also was pleasantly surprised by the relatively low cost of offsetting emissions. The average person contributes 24 tons of carbon per year, which can be offset for $240. Offsetting the average home costs just $50 for the year. Offsetting a typical international flight costs $30.
A carbon calculator provides a meaningful means to promote conservation efforts. There’s an instant personal connection when filling out the form, and it fosters a feeling of doing your own part for the environment.
