Carbon Calculator



people with cars and buses

How much greenhouse gas emissions can I save by switching from driving alone to taking existing public transportation?

By switching from driving alone to taking existing public transportation, you can completely eliminate the emissions you would have produced while driving.

Use the carbon calculator below to estimate your greenhouse gas emissions savings.

Distance Driven
(in Miles)
Average Miles per Gallon (MPG) of Vehicle
(21.6 is the average for a personal vehicle in 2010)


Pounds of CO2 your vehicle would produce, based on distance and miles per gallon you entered.

 

 

 

 

 

How significant is my savings?
The average American produces 20 tons of CO2 per year, or 121 pounds per day. So, by taking existing transit rather than driving alone, for a daily commute of 10 miles each way, a person would save 4,600 pounds of CO2 per year (based on 240 working days per year). That is 2.1 metric tons, or about a 10% reduction in carbon footprint. By comparison, weatherizing their home and adjusting their thermostat would save a person about 2,800 pounds of CO2 per year.

 

 

How is the result calculated?

The calculator carries out the following calculation:
Pounds CO2= trip distance in miles x 19.564 pounds CO2 per gallon / miles per gallon for average personal vehicle

 

 

 

 

 

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