How big is your carbon footprint?

Calculating your carbon footprint means putting a figure on the impact you’re having on the planet. It’s measured as the total amount of carbon dioxide (or CO₂) released into the atmosphere as a result of your actions and lifestyle.

Carbon footprints can be apportioned to individuals and households, businesses, communities and even whole countries, but knowing what determines the size of your carbon footprint is key to understanding the steps you can take to reduce it.

Various online tools, including one from the charity World Wildlife Fund, let you calculate your personal carbon footprint in a matter of minutes. Most focus on three lifestyle areas:

• Your home, including how you heat and power it
• Your travel habits
• What you consume, including your diet and your shopping habits

The standard unit for measuring a carbon footprint is carbon dioxide equivalent, or CO₂e. The figure usually covers a 12-month period.

Not all greenhouse gases produce the same warming effect on the atmosphere but using CO₂e means expressing them in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide that would result in the same level of warming.  

In 2015, world leaders pledged in Paris to aim to keep global warming to well below 2°C, and preferably limit the increase to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. Almost 200 signatories to the recent Glasgow Climate Pact resolved to pursue these efforts to keep the rise in global warming to 1.5°C and in the UK we’ve a target to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. If we all as individuals take steps to reduce our personal carbon footprints, we can contribute to efforts to limit the climate change which leads to global warming.

The good news is that there is much we can do to lower our carbon footprints, some things are quick and easy, others require more of a lifestyle change, but it all adds up to make a difference. 

We already provide all our customers’ homes with renewable electricity¹ and we’ve now fitted around four million smart meters for customers to help them better understand and cut their energy use.

Taking steps to improve your home’s energy efficiency is good for the environment and your wallet. Using less energy means lower emissions and a smaller carbon footprint. Insulation is key to keeping your heat inside, and there are a number of schemes offering free or subsidised insulation. An efficient boiler can improve the efficiency of your heating system, while an air source heat pump absorbs heat from the outside air and is a cleaner and more efficient alternative.       

If you’re in a position to install solar panels at your home, and you could even qualify for financial support with this, you could begin generating your own renewable electricity. 

In terms of transport and travel, there are major lifestyle changes to consider and much more minor ones. If you’re a frequent flier, consider whether you could cut back. Driving an electric vehicle is a real positive, but not yet possible for all. So if you do depend on a petrol or diesel car, think about driving it less, and always try to drive it better. This means keeping your tires correctly inflated and removing any excess weight, both of which improve fuel efficiency and result in lower exhaust emissions, helping to clear the air. Public transport may not always be practical so when you do need to use your car, ask yourself if you can combine errands, saving you time and the planet emissions.

A sensible principle to apply to every area of your life is only buying what you actually need. So just as improving your energy efficiency means only using the energy you really need, buying less food and other perishable goods, fewer clothes, toys, household items and generally stuff, means fewer emissions.   

Are there changes you could make to your wardrobe habits? Taking better care of clothing will make it last longer, so you can sell it on, give it away or swap it when it no longer suits you. And if you feel your wardrobe needs updating, consider buying second hand or renting. For a very specific requirement, you may be able to borrow something suitable from a friend.

When you do buy new clothes, look for those made from recycled materials or produced from a low impact process. And when it comes to laundry time, aim to only wash full loads and at low temperature, saving on water and energy use. If possible, hang clothes up to dry rather than use an energy-hungry dryer.     

Your diet also has a bearing on your carbon footprint. As a general rule, the more energy intensive the food you eat is to produce and transport, the greater the adverse environmental impact and the more it will add to your carbon footprint.

Across many areas of your life, little steps can help – quite literally in fact; taking the stairs instead of the lift whenever practical saves electricity which would otherwise power your ascent. Lowering your carbon footprint can mean adopting a healthier lifestyle, it can save you money and it can help in the fight against climate change. Isn’t it time you considered what action you could take?

^{1. Electricity backed by 100% renewable sources. Electricity sourced from E.ON's renewable assets, agreements with independent UK generators and the purchase of renewable electricity certificates. The electricity supplied to your home comes from the National Grid.}