A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, cooking and transportation etc.

The carbon footprint is a measurement of all gases we individually produce and has units of tonnes, (kg) or pounds (lbs) of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Home Energy

Electricity:

Step 1
You should know your average monthy electric bill. You can see these on your Meralco bills under Billing Info-Total Current Amount at the middle left corner.

Step 2
Formula:

Emissions = Ave. monthly electric bill / Price per KWH x Electricity Emission Factor x Months per year

Alternate Formula:
If you know your KWH per month. You can see these on your Meralco bills just above Total Current Amount at the middle left corner.

Emissions = KWH per month x Electricity Emission Factor x Months per year

Step 3
Assumptions:

Average Philippine Price per KWH = Php10
Emission Factor = 1.37 lbs CO2 (Electricity)
Months in a year = 12

Sample Computation:
For KWH per month = 389 (Equivalent to = Php3,533.45 per month)

Emissions = 389 KWH/mo x 1.37 Lbs CO2 x 12 mo/yr = 6,395.16 Lbs CO2 per year (To convert to tonnes CO2 per year = 6,395.16 lbs x 1 kg/2.2 lbs x 1 tonne/1000 kg = 2.90 tonnes CO2 per year)

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Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cooking:

Step 1
You should know how long your 11 kg LPG tank lasts. An average single Filipino household consumes 1 tank of 11 kg LPG in a month.

Step 2
Formula:

Emissions = kilo-liter (KL) per month x LPG Emission Factor x Months per year

Step 3
Assumptions:

KL per month = No. of tank x 11 kg/tank-month x 1 lb/2.2 kg x density of LPG (1 gal/4.23 lb) x 3.78 li/1 gal x 1 KL/1000 li = No. of tank x 0.00447 KL/tank-month

if your household consumes 1 1/2 tanks in a month, let: No. of tanks = 1.5
if your household consumes 2 tanks in a month, let: No. of tanks = 2

Emission Factor = 1.6 tonnes CO2/KL

Sample Computation:
For a household who consumes 1 tank of 11 kg LPG per month.

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Transportation

Step 1
You should know, how many miles or kms (1 mile =1.6 km) you put on your car(s).
You should know the average mileage (MPG) for your car. If you don't know your car's fuel economy, you can download the latest Fuel Economy Guide for 2009 at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG2009.pdf

Step 2
Formula:


Step 3
Assumptions:

Pounds of CO2 per gallon (lbs CO2/gal) = 19.4
Emissions of greenhouse gases other than CO2 = 100/95 = 1.053

Sample Computation:
For a Toyota Corolla: Transmission = 5 speed Manual, Gasoline Engine = 2.4/4 cylinders driven from Valenzuela to Manila back and forth from monday to friday.

MPG (City Driving) = 26
(Highway Driving) = 35
Ave. distance from Valenzuela to Manila = 17 km (To convert to miles: 17 km x 1 mile / 1.6 km = 10.62 miles)

Emissions = (10.62 miles x 2/day x 5 days/week x 52 weeks/year) / 26 miles/gal x 19.4 lbs CO2/gal x 1.053 = 4,338.95 lbs CO2/year

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Waste Emissions Before Recycling

Step 1
Based on the number of people in your household, you can also estimate your greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from waste. However if you currently recycle certain materials, your waste emissions may be lower.

Step 2
Formula:

Emissions before recycling = number of people in household x average lbs CO2 equivalent generated from waste per person per year

Step 3
Assumptions:

Average lbs CO2 equivalent generated from waste per person per year = 1,018

Sample Computations:
For a two person household

Emissions = 2 persons x 1,018 lbs CO2 generated from waste/person/year = 2,036 lbs CO2 generated from waste/year

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Waste Emissions After Recycling

Step 1
Do you recycle newspaper?

Step 2
Formula:
Emissions = number of people in household x average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling newspaper

Step 3
Assumptions:

Average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling newspaper = 184.3

Sample Computations:
For a two person household

Emissions = 2 persons x 184.3 lbs CO2/person/year that coud be saved by recycling newspaper = 368.6 lbs CO2/year

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Step 1
Do you recycle glass?

Step 2
Formula:
Emissions = number of people in household x average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling glass

Step 3
Assumptions:

Average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling glass = 25.6

Sample Computations:
For a two person household

Emissions = 2 persons x 25.6 lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling glass = 51.2 lbs CO2/year

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Step 1
Do you recycle plastic?

Step 2
Formula:

Emissions = number of people in household x average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling plastic

Step 3
Assumptions:

Average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling plastic = 46.6

Sample Computations:
For a two person household

Emissions = 2 persons x 46.6 lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling plastic = 93.2 lbs CO2/year

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Step 1
Do you recycle aluminum and steel cans?

Step 2
Formula:

Emissions = number of people in household x average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling metal

Step 3
Assumptions:

Average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling metal = 165.8

Sample Computations:
For a two person household

Emissions = 2 persons x 165.8 lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling metal = 331.6 lbs CO2/year

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Total Waste Emissions After Recycling = (2,036 + 368.6 + 51.2 + 93.2 + 331.6) lbs CO2/year = 2,880.6 lbs CO2/year

Your Total Emissions = Emissions from Electricity + Emissions from LPG cooking + Emissions from Vehicle Use + Total Emissions After Recycling