Carbon footprint How to Calculate

How I Learned to Calculate My Carbon Footprint (And Why You Should Too)

A few years ago, I barely thought about my carbon footprint. I recycled occasionally and brought my own bags to NTUC, but I didn’t truly understand how much carbon my daily habits were releasing into the environment. That changed when I tried to calculate my own carbon emissions and what I found shocked me.

If you've ever asked yourself “how to calculate your carbon footprint”, I’m here to walk you through it, step by step.

🌱 What Is a Carbon Footprint and Why It Matters

My carbon footprint is basically the total amount of greenhouse gases (mainly carbon dioxide) I’m responsible for generating directly and indirectly.

Every time I:

• Drive a car 🚗

• Take a flight ✈️

• Eat beef 🍔

• Turn on the air-con ❄️

…I’m contributing to global emissions.

Tracking my carbon footprint helped me:

• Make smarter lifestyle choices

• Reduce unnecessary waste

• Understand my real environmental impact

🌫️ Understanding Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) come in different forms, and each affects the climate differently.

💨 Common GHGs I Learned About:

• CO₂ (Carbon dioxide) – From fuel, electricity, transportation

• CH₄ (Methane) – Often from livestock and food waste

• N₂O (Nitrous oxide) – Fertilisers, industry

🏠 Common Emission Sources:

• Transport – Cars, flights, Grab rides

• Energy – Electricity usage at home or in offices

• Food – Meat, dairy, imported produce

• Waste – Plastics, e-waste, overconsumption

Once I recognised these sources, it became easier to track and reduce them.

📐 Methods to Calculate a Carbon Footprint

There are two key types of emissions:

1. Direct Emissions – Things I control directly, like fuel use

2. Indirect Emissions – Emissions from the products/services I consume

Most carbon footprint calculators rely on this basic formula:

🌍 Carbon Emissions = Activity Level × Emission Factor

For example:

• Driving 10km in a petrol car × emission factor (e.g. 0.192 kg CO₂/km) = ~1.92 kg CO₂

I found that the easiest way to apply this is through a good online calculator.

🧮 My Go-To Carbon Footprint Calculators

Here are three tools I found incredibly helpful:

1. WWF Singapore’s Carbon Footprint Calculator

   https://footprint.wwf.sg/ – Localised and easy to use!

2. CarbonFootprint.com

   Ideal if you want to track flights, electricity, and car travel in detail.

3. CoolClimate Calculator (by UC Berkeley)

   More advanced, useful for comparing lifestyle categories.

Each tool walks you through questions like:

• How often do I travel?

• How much electricity does my household use?

• What kind of food do I eat regularly?

🧍 How I Calculated My Personal Carbon Footprint

Here’s a simple breakdown of how I did it:

🏡 Household Energy

• My 4-room HDB flat used ~370 kWh/month

• That equated to about 200 kg CO₂/month

✈️ Travel

• 2 regional flights/year = ~1.5 tonnes CO₂

• Occasional Grab rides added up quickly too

🍽️ Food

• Meat-heavy diets = more emissions

• I started tracking how often I ate red meat and processed food

🛍️ Lifestyle

• Online shopping habits, clothing consumption, and waste output also added up

In total, my annual emissions were just over 8 tonnes of CO₂. It was eye-opening.

🏢 How Businesses Calculate Carbon Footprints

I also got curious about how companies measure carbon footprints, especially since I work in a mid-sized firm in Singapore.

Companies use GHG Protocol standards, and break emissions into:

1. Scope 1 – Direct emissions from operations

2. Scope 2 – Emissions from purchased electricity

3. Scope 3 – Indirect emissions (supply chain, business travel, etc.)

Larger companies in Singapore report these under sustainability reports, and some even aim for carbon neutrality.

🧘 How I Started Reducing My Carbon Footprint

Calculating my footprint made me want to do better. Here’s what helped:

• 🌿 Switching to LED lights and reducing air-con use

• 🥦 Eating more plant-based meals (less beef, more tofu!)

• 🚌 Taking MRT more often instead of Grab or driving

• 🌍 Offsetting my flights via credible carbon offset programs

I also started buying second-hand, recycling better, and saying no to fast fashion.

🚛 Industry-Wide Carbon Footprints

Some industries have a much higher carbon footprint. These stood out:

• Transport & Logistics – High fuel consumption

• Agriculture – Methane from livestock, fertiliser use

• Manufacturing – Especially in textiles and electronics

Singapore is already pushing greener initiatives, like EV adoption, urban farming, and carbon tax policies to reduce these footprints.

📜 Government & Global Actions on Carbon Emissions

I really respect how Singapore is tackling climate change head-on. Some key policies include:

• Carbon tax on large emitters

• Green Plan 2030 – Encouraging low-carbon lifestyles

• Electric vehicle grants & public transport improvements

Globally, efforts like the Paris Agreement and COP summits are shaping how countries reduce emissions.

🔮 Future of Carbon Tracking and Climate Tech

Tech is evolving fast! I’m excited about:

• AI-powered energy tracking

• Smart appliances that reduce home energy use

• Blockchain for carbon credit transparency

In the next decade, we’ll probably see personalised carbon trackers and more affordable renewable options.

✅ Final Thoughts: Why Calculating My Carbon Footprint Was a Wake-Up Call

Taking the time to calculate my carbon footprint made me rethink so many parts of my daily life. It’s not about guilt it’s about awareness and small changes that add up.

If you’re like me and want to live more consciously, start by measuring your footprint.

📌 My Actionable Tips:

• Use WWF Singapore’s calculator to get a baseline

• Set a personal goal (e.g. reduce by 10% next year)

• Try one eco-friendly switch at a time small steps count!

Additional Explanation Through YouTube Video Reference

The following video will help you understand the deeper concept:

The video above provide additional perspective to complement the article discussion

Yo, got somethin’ on your mind? Drop a comment below and let’s vibe together don’t be shy!