Assignment Title: Figuring Out and

Comparing Carbon Footprints

Submitted by – Keshav Raw Jatav (IPM/2117/04)

1. The Start
The idea of a carbon footprint is frequently adopted by people nowadays to realize the effects
their activities have on the environment. A carbon footprint is the cumulative total of
greenhouse gas (GHG) emitted by a person, collective, or a product in tonnes of carbon
dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). Being aware of the carbon footprint is the initial step to solving
climate change as it can point out the points of everyday life that affect the environment most
of all. This report is a comparison of carbon emission of two people; me and a family member.
It is not simply aimed at calculating the emissions but also at investigating the prior habits,
preferences, and priorities that restrict them. It looks into major features of transportation,
domestic energy use and expenditure pattern to reveal how variations in lifestyle inform the
green results. Lastly, the report proposes effective measures in the mitigation of the emissions
and reassesses whether these measures could work based on recalculated estimates.
2. What to Do
The assignment told us to use the online Carbon Footprint Calculator
([Link] to find the footprints. For each person, data
were collected over a full year, using accurate estimates of how much energy they used, how far
they traveled, and how much they spent. The analysis focused on five main areas: travel, fuel,
energy, spending, and flights. Then, the results were compared to find parts of life that make a lot
of pollution and ways to fix them.

3. Results: What the Footprint Means

3.1 My Carbon Footprint

For the whole year, my carbon footprint was 13.23 tCO₂e.
Type Emissions (tCO₂e) Data
Vehicles 6.35 2,500 liters of petrol
Public Transport 2.76 22,000 km by train, 12,000 km by bus, 5,000 km by taxi
Fuel 4.60 400 liters of diesel, 300 liters of burning oil
Electricity 1.81 500 kWh of power
Spend 0.31 Food items like meat and milk
Natural Gas 0.21 1,000 kWh used
Type Emissions (tCO₂e) Data
Flights 0.19 One short flight (943.55 km)
Total 13.23
What It Means:

My print indicates that I do not move around. The activities involving mobility (cars, public
transport, fuel, and flights) constitute 11.90 tCO2e, or approximately 89.90% of my total. The
large consumption of petrol and diesel indicates that I have to commute over long distance,
perhaps to work or to study. My residential energy consumption and day-to-day expenditure
pollution is minimal and that is why travelling is the thing that the most in my lifestyle
influences the environment. The Carbon Footprint of a Family Member

My relative’s total yearly footprint was 11.14 tCO₂e, which is less than mine.
Type Emissions Data
(tCO₂e)
Cars 4.65 1,000 liters of diesel and 200 liters of petrol
Spend 3.25 Electronics, hotels, etc. (₹200,000)
Public Transport 1.02 10,000 km by bus, 6,000 km by train
Fuel 1.78 Burning oil, LPG, biofuels
Electricity 1.35 1,000 kWh of power
Natural Gas 0.19 900 kWh used
Flights 0.00 None
Total 11.14
What It Means:

The way of life of my relative differs greatly. Travel (7.35 tCO2e) is still less, but it is
substantially lesser. The largest portion of their footprint is purchasing and consumption of
products within their houses. A life that is spent at home with more energy consumption and
shopping (as opposed to movement) is indicated by high expenditure on electronics and high
consumption of electricity.

4. Looking at Things Side by Side

When both the carbon footprints are combined, it shows that there are two different trends of
impact on the environment. My total footprint of 13.23 tCO2e is about 18.7 more than that of my
relative which is 11.14 tCO2e. Transport is the major cause of this variation since my emissions
due to travel increase by 62 percent (11.90 vs. 7.35 tCO2e), mainly owing to the increased intake
of petrol and frequent air travel.

My emissions of spending, electricity, and natural gas in comparison to my relative are 3.79
tCO2e, which is 185% more than my total of 1.33 tCO2e in the same categories. These findings
outline two significant lifestyles habits, one of them being mobility-based and the other
consumption-based. Although my environmental footprint is primarily due to transportation and
fuel usage, the one of my relative is explained by domestic energy consumption and
expenditures on materials. Collectively, these facts depict that travel as well as consumption is a
major contributor of environmental pollution though in different channels.

5. Considering What It Means

To my surprise, the carbon footprint of my relative was lower than mine, although he/she spends
more money and consumes more household energy. I have believed that high rates of buying
electronics and increased consumption of electricity would contribute to a high level of
emissions but the outcome revealed otherwise. My petrol usage alone added 5.35 tCO2e, which
is higher than the combined footprint of my relative on domestic energy consumption and
expenditure. This discovery presents the importance of fuel burning on the environment.

It also made me think about my habits concerning traveling and understand that transportation
contributes to personal pollution to a significantly greater extent than most people would care to
admit. The daily use of personal petrol cars, however, convenient, causes a significant
environmental impact. The understanding of this fact has motivated me to think about more eco-
friendly travel areas and re-evaluate my daily mobility decisions in relation to the earth.

6. Other Ways to Lower Emissions

Based on the analysis, each person needs a different plan:

For Me (High Mobility):

1. Use Less Gas: Cut petrol use by half by carpooling, buying an electric or hybrid vehicle,
or walking and biking short distances.
2. Use Public Transport Wisely: Take trains for long trips instead of buses or taxis because
trains use less energy.
3. Combine Trips: Do more than one errand in one outing to cut down total travel.

For My Relative (High Consumption):

1. Save Power: Use LED lights, energy-efficient (5-star) appliances, and turn things off
when not in use.
2. Be a Smart Shopper: Buy used items, fix electronics, and avoid buying unnecessary
things.
3. Eat Better: Eat less meat and dairy; choose food that has less carbon impact.

7. Doing the Math Again

Recalculations show how these ideas would change the totals.

My New Situation: If I cut petrol use in half from 2,000 to 1,000 liters, I save 2.67 tCO₂e,
which drops my footprint from 13.23 to 10.56 tCO₂e—a 20% cut, even less than my relative’s.

My Relative’s New Situation: If they cut electricity by 30% (from 1,000 to 700 kWh), they save
0.405 tCO₂e, lowering their total from 11.14 to 10.735 tCO₂e. It’s a smaller change but still
shows that home energy saving makes a difference.
These new numbers show that travel-related changes have a much bigger effect than home
energy changes.

8. Final Thoughts
The comparison shows that personal lifestyle behaviors have a direct effect on the environment.
Two types of high-carbon lifestyles developed one due to excessive travel and the other due to
high consumption. The results highlight the fact that environmental protection needs specific
solutions because individuals have different significant sources of emissions. To cut the carbon
footprint as much as possible, the work should be done on these important areas and not the
small aspects.
The re-calculated outcomes show that it is possible to start improving the situation with some
small yet still meaningful steps, e.g., it is possible to start using less fuel or to conserve
electricity. In this project, it is demonstrated that the fight against climate change begins with
awareness and informed decisions. Having the actual effects of the people with data, they start to
be more responsible and willing to take action. In the end, a real solution to curbing climate
change and ensuring a more sustainable future of all people can be changing the way we move
and the food we eat.