Making Your Home Carbon Neutral

How Do I Make My Home "Carbon Neutral"?

It’s easier than you think. Here are the steps to get you on your way:

Step #1 - Find out how much carbon dioxide you emit annually in your day-to-day life by using a quick and easy carbon emissions calculator.

Step #2 - Achieve net zero emissions by donating money to programs and projects that reduce CO2 in the environment.

What you will need to do:

  1. Look at your electricity and gas bills to determine the annual quantity of kilowatt hours, therms, oil, and propane you use to heat and cool and operate your home.
  2. Estimate or track exactly how many miles you drive (combining the use of all vehicles you own) annually and how many miles per gallon your car or cars achieve.
  3. Review the past year’s air travel for your family, using a quick Air Mileage Calculator, and determine your annual household air travel mileage.
  4. Add any additional carbon emissions (rental car usage, second home, etc.) to your figures.
  5. Click on Carbon Emissions Calculator and calculate your total annual carbon emissions.
  6. Review Carbon Offset Options, and purchase offsets equivalent to the amount of carbon emissions your family generates at home.

Tip: If you don’t want to bother with all of the calculations, some calculators and organizations selling carbon offsets have figured out the average consumption for an individual or family, and you can use these figures to determine what it will take for you to become carbon neutral.