Carbon Footprint Calculator
Fourteen quick questions about your home, travel, diet and waste give you an indicative estimate of your UK household's annual emissions in tonnes CO₂e — plus a clear idea of where the biggest savings sit.
Carbon Footprint Questionnaire
Estimate your household's annual emissions in a few taps
Your answers stay in your browser until you choose to share your results with The Verde Project.
What is a carbon footprint?
Your carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions your household causes in a year, measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e). Heating, electricity, cars, flights, food and waste all contribute, and each is converted into a common unit so they can be compared side by side.
The benchmark marker on the results gauge sits at 13 tonnes CO₂e — a typical UK household total. Most homes find that two or three categories, usually gas heating, car mileage and flying, account for the majority of their footprint.
Carbon footprint questions, answered
- What is a carbon footprint?
- A carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by a person, household, product or organisation over a year, expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e). CO₂e converts other gases, such as methane, into the amount of CO₂ that would cause the same warming.
- How is a carbon footprint calculated?
- Each activity is multiplied by an emissions factor — for example kilowatt-hours of gas, miles driven, or flights taken — and the results are added together. Our calculator uses UK-oriented factors across home energy, travel, diet and waste to give an indicative household total.
- What is the average UK carbon footprint?
- Household footprints in the UK commonly land around 13 tonnes CO₂e per year, which is the benchmark shown on our results gauge. Your own number depends heavily on home heating, car mileage and flying.
- How accurate is this carbon footprint calculator?
- It is an indicative estimate, not an audited figure. It is designed to show the scale of your emissions and which areas dominate them. For a reportable figure, a full assessment using your actual meter readings, mileage and supplier data is needed.
- Do you store my answers?
- Your answers stay in your browser while you complete the questionnaire. Nothing is sent to us unless you choose to email your results for follow-up advice.
- Can businesses use this calculator?
- This tool is built for households. Businesses need a GHG Protocol-aligned assessment covering Scope 1, 2 and relevant Scope 3 emissions — that is what our Business Services provide.
Run a business?
We deliver GHG Protocol-aligned carbon assessments and costed reduction roadmaps for SMEs.
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