This document provides information on calculating carbon footprints by converting units of electricity, natural gas, and heating oil consumed into kilograms of carbon dioxide produced. Conversion factors for different energy sources are given, for example 1000 kWh of electricity consumed equals 523 kg of CO2. Additional details and conversion factors can be found at web links provided. The document also explains how to make carbon dioxide savings more meaningful by relating amounts in grams, kilograms, and tonnes to everyday objects like balloons or buses.
This document provides information on calculating carbon footprints by converting units of electricity, natural gas, and heating oil consumed into kilograms of carbon dioxide produced. Conversion factors for different energy sources are given, for example 1000 kWh of electricity consumed equals 523 kg of CO2. Additional details and conversion factors can be found at web links provided. The document also explains how to make carbon dioxide savings more meaningful by relating amounts in grams, kilograms, and tonnes to everyday objects like balloons or buses.
This document provides information on calculating carbon footprints by converting units of electricity, natural gas, and heating oil consumed into kilograms of carbon dioxide produced. Conversion factors for different energy sources are given, for example 1000 kWh of electricity consumed equals 523 kg of CO2. Additional details and conversion factors can be found at web links provided. The document also explains how to make carbon dioxide savings more meaningful by relating amounts in grams, kilograms, and tonnes to everyday objects like balloons or buses.
This document provides information on calculating carbon footprints by converting units of electricity, natural gas, and heating oil consumed into kilograms of carbon dioxide produced. Conversion factors for different energy sources are given, for example 1000 kWh of electricity consumed equals 523 kg of CO2. Additional details and conversion factors can be found at web links provided. The document also explains how to make carbon dioxide savings more meaningful by relating amounts in grams, kilograms, and tonnes to everyday objects like balloons or buses.
In order to convert electricity consumed in kWh to kg of carbon dioxide, the energy use should be multiplied by a conversion factor. This factor changes from year to year, as the fuel mix consumed in UK power stations changes. The conversion factors for energy sources are: Energy Source (kWh) Electricity Natural gas Burning oil (for heating)
Conversion factor (kg CO2 / kWh)
0.523 0.185 0.245
(Taken from DECCs Tool for calculation of CO2 emissions from
organisations available at http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/indicators/ni185/ni1 85.aspx) E.g. If 1000 KWh units of electricity was consumed, then 1000 kWh x 0.523 = 523 kg CO2 was produced. Log on to the following web link and click on Annex 3 for more detailed information on Electricity conversion factors and Annex 1 for Natural gas and Oil conversion factors: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/reporting/pdf/20090928guidelines-ghg-conversion-factors.xls
How to make your CO2 savings more meaningful
1000g = 1 kg 1000 kg = 1 tonne 1000,000 g = 1 tonne Most people cant imagine what a gramme or kilogramme or tonne of CO2 looks like. So make it more meaningful by explaining it in other ways:
10 grammes of CO2 = 1 party balloon
1 kg of CO2 = 100 party balloons 1 tonne of CO2 = 100,000 party balloons 1 tonne of CO2 is equivalent to 1 hot air balloon measuring 10 m wide 1 tonne of CO2 is equivalent to 6 double decker buses
For more facts and information on the campaign, CO2 and climate change, please visit the Big Switch Off website and follow links to your local councils websites from: http://www.leics.gov.uk/bigswitchoff
