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Understanding Your Carbon Footprint
Formula
A carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by a person, expressed in tons of CO₂ equivalent per year. The average American produces about 16 tons of CO₂ annually, compared to a global average of about 4 tons.
The largest contributors for most households are transportation, home energy use, and diet. Electricity generation produces about 0.417 kg CO₂ per kWh (US average), natural gas about 5.3 kg per therm, and gasoline about 8.887 kg per gallon.
Common use cases:
- Personal environmental impact assessment
- Setting reduction goals
- Comparing lifestyle choices
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. David Park
Applied Mathematician, PhD Mathematics
David holds a PhD in Applied Mathematics from MIT. He has published research on numerical methods and computational algorithms used in engineering and scientific calculators.
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