Electricity Carbon Footprint Calculator
Convert your household electricity use into CO₂ emissions using your grid’s carbon intensity.
How it works
CO₂ (kg/yr) = monthly kWh × grid factor (kg/kWh) × 12
Electricity itself is carbon-free at the socket — its footprint comes from how the grid was generated. A coal-dominated grid can exceed 0.9 kg CO₂ per kWh, natural gas is around 0.4, and a grid rich in hydro, nuclear or wind can fall below 0.1. Multiplying your kWh by the right local factor is the whole calculation; the number to change is the factor, which you can get from your utility.
Worked example
At 900 kWh a month and a grid factor of 0.4 kg/kWh, that is 900 × 0.4 = 360 kg a month, or about 4,320 kg — roughly 4.3 tonnes of CO₂ a year.
Sources: EPA — Emissions & Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID)
Frequently asked questions
What grid factor should I use?
Check your utility or national grid operator for "grid emission factor" or "carbon intensity". Rough defaults: US average ≈ 0.39 kg/kWh, UK ≈ 0.21, India ≈ 0.71, France ≈ 0.06. The default here (0.4) is a broad average.
Does solar at home change this?
Yes. Only the kWh you draw from the grid carry the grid factor. Self-consumed rooftop solar is close to zero, so enter just your net grid consumption.
Is this the same as my carbon bill?
It covers only electricity. Home heating with gas, oil or wood, plus transport, are separate footprints you would add on top.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.