Do you know your carbon footprint?

Start the decade off right by calculating your carbon footprint. By knowing what your impact is and where your largest carbon emissions are coming from, you can take the first step to reduce your contribution to the climate crisis. 

There are many different options out there that can be used to calculate your personal carbon footprint. The EPA's carbon footprint calculator is a great place to start. If you are a frequent flier, your carbon emissions will add up rather quickly. One easy way to track this is by using the air travel carbon calculator provided by myclimate.org. Some other calculators are listed below:

• WWF
• CoolClimate
• TerraPass
• United Nations​

In addition to calculating your carbon footprint, there are also apps that you can use to track it over time and monitor your improvements. One is the footprint app which was created by a local Houstonian. 

There are many other apps that help you track and reduce your carbon footprint by helping you change everything from how you wash your clothes to the way you commute to work each day. Check them out by clicking the links below:​

• ​Oroeco
• JouleBug

And remember, even small actions can lead to great change. So, forget losing weight this new year, shed some carbon instead! 

Author

Kirsten is an intern for Texas Coastal Exchange and a second year master's student at Rice University studying environmental analysis with a focus in environmental sustainability. Her family has lived in Houston for generations, and she grew up exploring the bayous and beaches of the Texas coast, which sparked a love of nature and birds that has never waned.