Carolyn Stoughton

3/21/19
EGEE 101H, Homework 3

1. Calculate your personal or your family’s greenhouse gas emissions using the on-line
Carbon Footprint Calculator at https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/

Summarize the results from the following sections using the calculator.

Section 1: Estimate your current total household emissions. 1 pt

Current Total Household Emissions: 64,031 lbs. of CO2
Section 2: Explore actions you can take to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, energy use,
and waste disposal costs. 1 pt

My family can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and energy use by driving less miles
and replacing our cars. However, while driving less miles is plausible, it is not very likely
that we will replace our cars due to how expensive cars are. Therefore, in the report, I only
decided to change the number of miles we drive. We can also use ENERGY STAR ® lights
and an ENERGY STAR ® refrigerator, which we already do. We could also hang dry all of
our clothes instead of just 50% of them. Additionally, we can turn up our thermostat in the
summer and turn it down in the winter. To reduce our waste disposal costs, we can start
recycling aluminum and steel cans.

Section 3: See how much you can save (in dollars and emissions) by taking the actions you
chose in Section 2. 1 pt

By doing the actions we are already doing, we are saving $609 and 4,239 lbs. of CO2. By
taking all of the new actions we selected, we will be saving $494 and 3,570 lbs. of CO2.

2. Using the power profiler a https://www.epa.gov/energy/power-profiler

• Compare the fuel mix and air emissions rates of the electricity in your hometown to the
national average. 1 pt

My hometown uses about the same amount of gas as the national average, but it
does use less coal (17.6% compared to 30.4%). Also, we use much more nuclear
energy than the national average: 39.7% compared to 19.8%. Additionally, while
renewable energies are low both nationally and in my hometown, 15% of electricity
is generated through renewable energies nationally, while only 4.2% is generated
with renewable energies in my hometown.
Carolyn Stoughton
3/21/19

• Determine the air emissions impacts of electricity use in your family home. 1 pt

My family uses about 13,260 kWh of electricity each year, causing us to emit 10,505
lbs. of CO2, 8 lbs. of SO2, and 8 lbs. of NOx.

Note. These calculators modified in 2017 are not as friendly as before. Thankfully they still
exist on the web, but most of the data and the methods have not been updated since 2016.