Passenger Vehicle Emissions

Sixty percent (9,000 miles) of our driving each year is powered by our on-site wind and solar power – no gas. We haven’t needed to use public chargers.

The other 40% (5,000 miles) (gasoline powered) averaged 54 MPG.  So we burn 92 gallons of gas per year.  At 20 pounds of CO₂ per gallon, our passenger vehicle driving emits 1,850 pounds of CO₂ per year.

The average American passenger vehicle travels 11,500 miles at 22 MPG emitting 9,200 pounds of CO₂  

Farm Equipment

After tracking fuel filling, we use 25 gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel.  At 20 pounds of CO₂ per gallon our farm equipment emits 500 pounds of CO₂ per year.

Total gasoline and diesel fuel emissions = 2,300 lbs of CO₂

Airplane Travel

We have not traveled in an airplane for several years, however, if we traveled by air we would emit .09 pounds of CO₂ for each mile traveled. (No average American figures available)

Natural Gas or Propane Gas

We don’t use natural gas or propane gas, however, if we used natural gas we would emit 117 pounds of CO₂ for each BTU and if we used propane we would emit 12.5 pounds of CO₂ for each gallon.  And if we used coal we would emit 2 pounds of CO₂ for 1 pound of coal.  We are all electric.

The average American household emits 6,400 pounds of CO₂ each year for heating.

Electricity Consumed

• 14,000 kWh annually for Heating and Air Conditioning
• 6,800 kWh annually for home and farm appliances and passenger vehicles
• 750 kWh annually for farm livestock

Total consumed is 21,550 kWh. At 1 pounds of CO₂ per kWh of electricity, that is 21,550 pounds of CO₂

Electricity Produced

From on-farm Wind Power: 7,000 kWh annually

From on-farm Solar power: 15,000 kWh annually

Total produced is 22,000 kWh. At 1 pounds of CO₂ per kWh electricity produced, emissions are reduced by 22,000 pounds of CO₂

Net total electricity emissions = 0 pounds CO₂

The average American household emits 6,400 pounds of CO₂ from heating and 23,300 pounds from electricity for a total of 30,000 pounds annually 

Garbage

We eat at home 90% of the time.  Our average amount of garbage sent to the landfill is 2 ½ gallons weekly or 130 gallons annually.  Each gallon emits 1.92 lbs. of CO₂ for a total of 250 pounds of CO₂ annually.

Total Garbage emissions = 250 pounds CO₂

The average American household wastes 200 gallons of garbage annually at 1.92 lbs. CO₂ per pound for a total of 384 pounds of CO₂

There are other things we do to increase our carbon footprint that can’t be easily measured but here are the totals we can measure.

Carbon Footprint Totals

Gasoline and Diesel Emissions	2,300 pounds
Electricity Emissions	0 pounds
Natural Gas, Propane or Coal Emissions	0 pounds
Garbage Emissions	250 pounds
Total Emissions	2550 pounds of CO2