What factors might cause my contribution of carbon dioxide emissions to deviate substantially from the US national average of approximately 20 tons? I used CO2 emissions from electricity, natural gas, my car, waste (& reducing by recycling), and taking a short airplane trip and came up with about 10 tons per year.

Question

What factors might cause my contribution of carbon dioxide emissions to deviate substantially from the US national average of approximately 20 tons?  I used CO2 emissions from electricity, natural gas, my car, waste (& reducing by recycling), and taking a short airplane trip and came up with about 10 tons per year.

Michael · Answer

You might not travel by vehicle or use as much energy, or if you owned a mansion, you might use a lot more electricity...

Ms. Sue · Answer

Several things could make a difference.

* the distance you travel in your car
* the temperature you keep your home (cooler in winter, warmer in summer)
* using a clothes dryer, heat cycle on the dishwasher
* living in a 900-square-foot home as opposed to a 2,000-square-foot home
* having energy-efficient car and home appliances
* recycling rather than throwing away