You Can Fight Global Warming at Home

Take the Carb Cap

The world's climate scientists are nearly unanimous in concluding that the planet is warming and that humans are responsible.

Yet the United States is sending more carbon pollution into the air with each passing year. Between 1980 and 2002 carbon dioxide pollution shot up by 21 percent in the United States. And there's no end in sight. Many of our political leaders are fiddling while Rome burns, but we're taking matters into our own hands.

Here's how you can help:

Answer the questions below in the EPA carbon calculator. Decide which easy steps you'll take to reduce the carbon pollution you're personally responsible for. Then see how you scored. Are you a Kyoto Crusader? A Climate Visionary?

After entering data use the TAB key to continue moving through the calculator.

Your Current Emissions
	Enter your data	Pounds of carbon dioxide/year
The Basics
How many people live in your home?
How do you heat your house?	Electric Heat Natural Gas Oil
Transportation
On average, how many miles do you put on your car(s)?	Per WeekPer Year 225 miles/week is about average in the United States per vehicle.
What is the average gas mileage for your car (miles per gallon)?	If you're unsure, assume your car gets 22 miles per gallon, which is about average.	13,500 pounds is about average per vehicle.
Home Energy
On average, how much do you pay for electricity each month?	$80 is about average in the United States for a household of two people. Our calculations assume that you pay 8 cents/kWh. We estimate your emissions based on the national average mix of fuels used to generate electricity. Your actual emissions may be higher or lower depending on your electricity provider's power mix.	20,000 pounds is about average for a household of two people.
On average, how much do you spend on natural gas each month?	$50 is about average in the United States for a household of two people. Our calculations assume that you pay $6.51/thousand cubic feet	11,000 pounds is about average for a household of two people.
On average, how much do you spend on fuel oil each month?	$50 is about average in the United States for a household of two people. Our calculations assume that you pay $0.92/gallon	14,500 pounds is about average for a household of two people.
Waste
What proportion of recyclables (paper, glass, metals, plastics) does your household currently recycle?	25% is about average in the United States.	4,800 pounds is about average for a household of two people.
Your Total Emissions
	The calculator provides a rough estimate of your household's total emissions.	60,000 pounds is about average in the United States for a household of two people.
Transportation
		Amount of CO2 you can avoid per year
Buy a vehicle that gets more miles/gallon than your current one.	more miles per gallon	pounds	percent of your total emissions
Reduce the number of miles you drive by this amount. Per Week Per Year	miles Walking, biking, carpooling, telecommuting, and using mass transit are good options.	pounds	percent of your total emissions
Home Energy
		Amount of CO2 you can avoid per year
Replace 60-watt incandescent light bulbs with 13-watt ENERGY STAR lights. (Enter the number of bulbs you will replace.)	You'll get the same amount of light for less energy and lower monthly bills.	pounds	percent of your total emissions
Replace your old refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR model. Will you take this action? Yes No	New refrigerators cost much less to operate than old ones.	pounds	percent of your total emissions
Turn up your air conditioner thermostat by degrees Fahrenheit in summer.	You'll save money as well as reduce your emissions.	pounds	percent of your total emissions
Turn down your heating thermostat by degrees Fahrenheit on winter nights.	Dropping the heat at night can make a difference.	pounds	percent of your total emissions
Replace single-glazed windows with ENERGY STAR windows. Will you take this action? Yes No	This step can save you a bundle in cold or hot climates.	pounds	percent of your total emissions
Replace old gas or oil furnace or boiler with an ENERGY STAR model. Will you take this action? Yes No	New models are much more efficient and cheaper to run.	pounds	percent of your total emissions
Waste
		Amount of CO2 you can avoid per year
Above, you reported a recycling rate of percent. Could you increase the fraction of paper, glass, metals, and plastics that you recycle? If so, by what percentage?	percent more For example, if you think you could increase recycling in your household from 25 percent to 35 percent, enter "10" in the cell above.	pounds	percent of your total emissions
Examples of source reduction activities include buying food in bulk and reusing garbage bags, glass bottles, plastic containers, etc. Could you reduce a portion of your household waste? If so, by how much?	percent For example, if you think you could reduce the waste you generate by 20 percent, enter "20" in the cell above.	pounds	percent of your total emissions
Your Totals
If you took all the actions listed above, you would reduce your emissions by	pounds per year	percent of your total emissions
Your new total annual CO2 emissions would be	pounds per year
How'd You Do? 0 to 9 percent cut: You're a Climinator! California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pledged to cut his state's carbon dioxide emissions and wants one million California homes to use solar power. 10 to19 percent cut: Pataki Prize. Gov. George Pataki of New York championed a joint agreement among northeastern states to freeze pollution levels and reduce them 10 percent by 2020. 20 to 29 percent cut: Kyoto Crusader. The international Kyoto treaty would mandate a 20 percent cut in carbon pollution below current levels from the U.S. - though the U.S. has refused to sign. 30 percent or more: Climate Visionary. Most climate experts say that cuts of 65-75 percent are necessary over the long run to stabilize the climate.

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Your Current Emissions