This is an estimate of my carbon footprint for a subset of activities.
This gives me a rough guide how I can optimize my co2 output. I can make some small changes to how my house it heated, drive my car a lot less and try to make better choices with my food.
This gives me a rough guide how I can optimize my co2 output. I can make some small changes to how my house it heated, drive my car a lot less and try to make better choices with my food.
Domestic Heating
I live in a modern double glazed, centrally heated apartment. It has 2 external walls and 3 windows. It also has a large glazed juliet balcony door.
The amount of power I use for water is constant through the year but my heating varies significantly.
The heating basically off for 6 months of the year.
The amount of power I use for water is constant through the year but my heating varies significantly.
The heating basically off for 6 months of the year.
 Distribution of power use through 2023 |  Monthly power use Nov 2023 |
My total consumption for 2023 was 2500kWh (average 6kWh per day). A co2 calculator suggests that each kWh used for heating is 180g of co2 emitted.
Therefore my heating pumped about about 450kg of co2 for the year.
Therefore my heating pumped about about 450kg of co2 for the year.
My Car
My car is a used, modern 7 seat MPV with a turbo diesel engine.
It emits ~180g of co2 per mile.
I drove ~5000 miles (8000km) last year.
That equates to 900kg of co2. That is double my heating
It emits ~180g of co2 per mile.
I drove ~5000 miles (8000km) last year.
That equates to 900kg of co2. That is double my heating
My Food
This is where things get crazy. I didn’t think my food would be as much as the car. According to this article the average person in the US emits about 3300kg of co2 for food. That’s a complete figure including stuff like production and waste for a standard diet.
I’m basically a vegetarian for climate change reasons but I still eat some chicken, fish, eggs and cheese. Also I never learned to cook meat. I don’t waste a lot of food which the chart assumes.
I’m going to estimate my food footprint at 1800 kg of co2.
That's significantly more than my car and my heat combined, which is crazy.
The article gives a nice chart of various food co2 impacts per kg.
Are you as surprised by this, as I was?
For context a return flight from London to San Francisco in economy is 2600Kg of co2.
That's more than my food and heat combined.
I’m going to estimate my food footprint at 1800 kg of co2.
That's significantly more than my car and my heat combined, which is crazy.
The article gives a nice chart of various food co2 impacts per kg.
Are you as surprised by this, as I was?
For context a return flight from London to San Francisco in economy is 2600Kg of co2.
That's more than my food and heat combined.
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