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The calculator below is an educational tool to help you discover what your personal energy use generates in CO2 emissions. If you sign up now you will also be able to save your entries for future reference.

Calculate Your Household's Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions
       
1. Tell us about your household Enter your data  
How many people live in your home?  
How do you heat your house?  
How do you heat your water?  
 
2. Please answer the questions below. Enter your data CO2 emissions per year
On average, how many miles do you put on your car(s)?
400 miles/week or 20,800 miles/year is about average in the United States
miles
Per Week Per Year
 
What is the average gas mileage for your car?
If you're unsure, assume your car gets 22 miles per gallon, which is about average.
miles per gallon
18,500 pounds per year is about average in Vermont.
On average, how much do you pay for electricity each year?
$880 is about average for a Vermont household Our calculations assume that you pay 11.8 cents/kWh

6,600 pounds per year is about average in Vermont
On average, how much do you spend on natural gas each year?
$1050 is about average for a Vermont household.Our calculations assume that you pay $1.00 / ccf

12,600 pounds per year is about average in Vermont
On average, how many gallons of fuel oil do you purchase each year?
14,500 pounds is about average
On average, how many gallons of propane do you purchase each year?
11,500 pounds is about average
What proportion of recyclables (paper, glass, metals, plastics) does your household currently recycle?"
25% is about average in the United States
percent
4800 pounds is about average in the U.S. for a household of two people
Your Total Emissions  



Actions You Can Take to Reduce Your Emissions
       
Transportation
Suggested action:
Pounds of CO2 you could avoid Will you take this action?
Reducing Your Car Use    
Walk miles per week instead of driving
pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Bike miles per week instead of driving
pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Avoid driving your car miles per week by telecommuting
pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Avoid driving your car miles per week by taking the bus or train
pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Avoid driving your car miles per week by using RideShare
pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Buy a vehicle that gets more miles/gallon than your current one pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No



Home Energy Actions

The following actions save energy, money, and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. Select the actions you plan to implement, to see how much each action saves. The actions are divided into two categories. Choose from the first set if you decide to replace equipment that is currently working. Choose actions in the second section if you are already shopping for new equipment (you are not retiring something to reduce emissions) and you plan to choose efficient equipment. Please note that it is fine to choose some actions from the first set and some from the second to help you reach your 10% Challenge Goal.

Replace Inefficient Home Energy Equipment:
Select actions in this section if you plan to retire items early and replace them with more energy efficient equipment. This can be a great way to reduce your houshold emissions.

       
Suggested action: Pounds of CO2 you could avoid Will you take this action?
Lighting    
Replace incandescent light bulb(s) with high efficiency compact fluorescent lamp(s).
pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Install dedicated fluorescent fixture(s) instead of a fixture(s) that uses incandescent bulbs.
pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Replace halogen torchiere(s) with a compact fluorescent model.
pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Install lighting controls (such as motion sensors and timers) and use them to control indoor lighting
pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No

Appliances    
Dispose of or unplug that old refrigerator in the garage/basement pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Replace your old refrigerator (at least 10 year old) with a new ENERGY STAR refrigerator pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Replace your old clothes washer (at least 10 years old) with a new ENERGY STAR clothes washer. pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Instead of using your clothes dryer, line dry clothing whenever the weather allows pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No

Water Heating    
Install a solar hot water system to supplement your existing hot water heater pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Install showerhead aerators
pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Install faucet aerators
pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No

Space Heating    
Insulate the shell of your house
pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Air-seal the shell of your house
pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
If you do not always set back the thermastat when you leave the house and go to sleep, install a programmable thermostat and use it to set back the temperature when you are out of the house and at night pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No

When Shopping for New Appliances and Home Energy Equipment:

Replace Inefficient Home Energy Equipment:
Select actions in this section if you are already planning to buy a new piece of equipment, and will be choosing an efficient model. Remember that considering energy efficiency always makes good cents when shopping for new equipment.


Appliance    
If you need a new clothes washer, select one with an Energy Star label pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
If you need a new refrigerator, pick out an Energy Star Refrigerator pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
If you need a new dishwasher, choose an Energy Star Dish Washer pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
If you need to cool a room of your home, use a fan rather than an air conditioner. However, if you absolutely need an air conditioner, select an ENERGY STAR model pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
If you need a new television, select an ENERGY STAR television pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
If you need a new VCR, select an ENERGY STAR VCR pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No

Water Heating    
If you need a new hot water heater, buy an efficient hot water heater pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No

Space Heating    
If you need new windows, install ENERGY STAR Low-e Argon windows pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
If you need a new heating system, Install ENERGY STAR furnace or boiler pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No



Household Waste
       
Suggested action: Pounds of CO2 you could avoid Will you take this action?
Above, you reported a recycling rate of %

Could you increase the amount of waste you recycle?

If so, by how much?

percent.

pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Could you reduce the amount of waste your household generates?

If so, by how much?

percent more.
For example, you could increase or start backyard composting, buy food in bulk, reuse garbage bags and glass jars, etc.

pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No

Renewable Energy    
Install a solar electric system or buy "green power" from your electric company to replace percent of your annual electricity needs pounds/yr % of your total Yes
No
Comments / Testimonials



Congratulations on signing up and participating in the Ten Percent Challenge
       
Based on the actions you selected, you will reduce your emissions by pounds/yr % of your total
Your new total annual CO2 emissions will be pounds/yr