Carbon Footprint Analysis with Simplified Emission Estimation Methodologies

Abstract

The global average temperature on July 4, 2023, reached an all-time high of 62.92 degrees Fahrenheit (17.18 degrees Celsius), making it the hottest day on Earth since at least 1979. [1]. This is a great reminder of why people should care about the environment. Being busy with day to today life, people don’t have time or motivation to consider their personal carbon footprint. Harder to keep track of daily work and overcomplicated carbon footprint calculators cause people to lose track of their carbon emissions. Lack of knowledge about carbon footprints and their impact on the earth’s future is another main reason why people don’t care about it. Many people believe that climate change is government propaganda, and some believe personal carbon footprint doesn’t have an impact on the world since it is very minimal compared to Earth’s scale. This research paper proposes a novel approach to calculating carbon footprints using a simple algorithm and interface that eliminates the need for users to remember numerical values. The study presents a methodology to determine personal carbon footprint using predefined values and using simple algorithms to analyze them. The research primarily concentrates on three main components, namely transportation, energy consumption, and food consumption. Each of these components is further subdivided into smaller components to simplify the algorithms. Transportation is categorized into four subcomponents: automobile, aquatic, railway, and aviation. Energy consumption is divided into electricity, gas, and water consumption. Dietary emissions are categorized into food and beverages. Various algorithms will be employed in different subsections, ensuring a loosely coupled structure that enhances accuracy.