The Math
This climate+ package assumes a family of three, two parents and a baby,
living in an average sized home, with 2 cars, their vacations, Netflix and
an average diet. It assumes a baby’s diapers, books, toys, and food.
| Cars |
7.63 MT CO2 |
| Flights |
3.3097 MT CO2 |
| Hotels |
0.775 MT CO2 |
| Phones |
14 MT CO2 |
| Netflix |
3.504 MT CO2 |
| Food |
6.6 MT CO2 |
| Energy for housing |
7.5 MT CO2 |
| Baby Food |
3.285 MT CO2 |
| Diapers |
0.22 MT CO2 |
| Clothes |
7.36 MT CO2 |
| Stroller |
0.321 MT CO2 |
| Books |
0.054MT CO2 |
| Toys |
0.0108 MT CO2 |
| Total |
54.5695 MT CO2 |
Cars
The average car uses about 404 grams of CO2 per mile. To translate from
miles to kilometres, we divide miles by 1.609, and simultaneously divide
grams by 1.609. This means the average car uses about 251 grams of C02 per
kilometer.
(divide by 1.609) 1: 404grams (divide by 1.609)
0.6214: 251grams
The average Canadian drives 15,200km per year, so we can multiply the amount
of kilometres by the emission factor 251grams CO2 per kilometer. This gives
us a total of 3,815,200 grams of C02 per year.
251 grams of C02 / kilometer x 15,200 km = 3,815,200 grams of C02 per year
In order to change grams to metric tons, we multiply grams by 0.0000001
which gives us 3.185 metric tons of C02 per year.
3,815,200 grams C02 per year x 0.000001 = 3.815 metric tons of C02 per year
If this couple has two cars this would be a total of 7.63 MT CO2 per year
3.815 MT x 2 people = 7.63 MT CO2 per year
Flights
Planes emit 115g CO2 per kilometer. We use the conversion factor 0.000001 to
get from grams to metric tons and we get 0.000115 MT of CO2 per kilometer of
air travel.
115grams x 0.000001 = 0.000115 MT Carbon
Let’s assume that over the year this couple flies from Vancouver to Toronto
twice per year, which is 6,710km round trip and 13,420 for two trips. They
also fly to Europe once per year, this year they go to Denmark which is
7,680km one way, and 15,360km both ways. In total, this couple is flying
28,780km per year.
In order to get the total emissions, we multiply 0.000115 by 28,780 km and
get 3.3097MT CO2.
0.000115 MT x 28,780= 3.3097 MT CO2
Hotels
Hotels emit about 31kg of CO2 per room per night. Assuming this couple stays
at hotels 30 nights per year during their vacations, and each night emits
31kg CO2, they will emit a total of 930kg of CO2 from hotels.
30 x 31kg = 930kg CO2
In order to change this number from kilograms of CO2 to metric tons of CO2
we use the conversion factor 0.001.
930kg CO2 x 0.001= 0.93 MT CO2
Phones
If a person uses their phone for one hour per day over a year they would
emit 1.4 tonnes of CO2.
The average person spends 3-5 hours per day on their phone. Which means over
a year a couple would emit 14 tons of CO2 for phone usage.
1.4 tons CO2 x 5 hours x 2 people= 14 MT of CO2
Netflix
Every half hour of Netflix watched emits 1.6kg of CO2. Since the average
person watches 1.5 hours of Netflix per day, we multiply emissions per hour,
by hours per day to get total emissions per day.
1.5 hours per day is equal to 3,30 minute segments.
1.6kg CO2/ half hour x 3 half hours = 4.8kg CO2 per day
To find the annual total we multiply emissions per day by 365 days in the
year, this calculation gives us 1,752 kg CO2 over one year.
4.8kg of CO2 x 365 days = 1,752 kg CO2
In order to change kilograms into metric tons, we use the conversion factor
of 0.001 tons for every kilogram. When we multiply 1,752 g by the conversion
factor, we get 1.752 MT of CO2 emissions per year.
1,752kg CO2 x 0.001 = 1.752 MT CO2 per year
For two people, this would emit 3.504 MT CO2 per year.
1.752MT CO2 x 2 = 3.504 MT CO2
Food
A person with a diet including a lot of meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables
and cereals emits 3.3 MT CO2 per year. This means for two people, 6.6MT of
CO2 would be emitted.
3.3 MT CO2 x 2 people = 6.6 MT CO2
Energy for Housing
The average household emits 7.5 MT of CO2 per year
including laundry, showers, heating and cooling and appliances.
Baby Food
The average baby drinks 750ml of milk per day, in order to convert this
number into kilograms we use the conversion factor 0.001 and get 0.75kg
750ml of milk x 0.001 = 0.75 kg of milk
In order to calculate the total amount of milk over one year we multiple
0.75kg per day by 365 days.
0.75kg x 365days = 273.75 kg of milk per year
Each kg of milk generates 12 kilograms of CO2, so when we multiply 273.75
kilograms of milk by 12 kg we get the total CO2 emissions from milk.
273.75 kg of milk x 12 kg CO2 =3,285 kg CO2
In order to convert kg CO2 into metric tons CO2 we will use the conversion
factor 0.001 which gives us 3.285 MT CO2.
3,285 kg CO2 x 0.001 = 3.285 MT CO2
Diapers
Over 2.5 years diapers emit 550kg of carbon emissions. This means over a
year's time diapers would emit 220 kg CO2.
550 kg / 2.5 years =220 kg per year
In order to convert kilograms of CO2 into metric tons CO2 we will use the
conversion factor 0.001which gives us 0.22 MT CO2 over a year.
220kg CO2 x 0.001 = 0.22 MT CO2
Clothes
Let’s assume your manufacturer is 7,800 kilometers away and since your baby
is growing a lot, you get 8 shipments per year. Each kilometer of flying
emits 0.000115MT CO2. Clothing total emissions would equal 7.176 MT CO2
7800km x 0.000115grams x 8= 7.176 MT CO2
Stroller
The carbon emissions of a stroller is 321 kg CO2, in order to convert kg CO2
into metric tons CO2 we will use the conversion factor 0.001, and we get a
total of 0.321 MT CO2
321 kg CO2 x 0.001 = 0.321 MT CO2
Books
The carbon footprint of an individual book is 2.7kg CO2. Let's assume the
average baby has 20 books at home. If we multiple 20 books by 2.7kg CO2 per
book, we get 54kg CO2.
2.7kg x 20 books = 54 kg CO2
In order to convert kg CO2 into metric tons CO2 we will use the conversion
factor 0.001 which gives us 0.054 MT CO2
54kg CO2 x 0.001 = 0.054MT CO2
Toys
Regular stuffed animals emit 0.8kg CO2 each and stuffed animals with a
battery emit 1.4kg CO2 each.
Assuming a baby has 10 regular stuffed animals, and two stuffed animals with
batteries, we would get a total of 10.8kg CO2.
(0.8kg CO2 x 10) + (1.4kg CO2 x 2) = 10.8 kg of CO2
In order to convert kg CO2 into metric tons CO2 we will use the conversion
factor 0.001 which gives us 0.0108 MT CO2.
10.8kg CO2 x 0.001 = 0.0108 MT CO2
Total
In total a family of 3 would emit about 54.5405 MT CO2
7.63 MT + 3.3097 MT + 0.93 MT + 14 MT + 6.6 MT + 3.504 MT + 7.5 MT + 3.285 +
0.22 + 7.176 + 0.321 + 0.054 + 0.0108 = 54.5405 MT CO2
