Calculate Business Carbon Footprint

This calculator is designed to measure the approximate greenhouse gas emissions of relatively simple businesses and organizations, including emissions associated with your non-electricity based energy use and business-related travel. If you need to measure the greenhouse gas emissions of a more complex business (including those with overseas operations, multiple facilities and/or a complex product lifecycle), please complete our consultation request form to obtain customized support.

what you will need to complete the calculator:

Download and print your checklist (PDF)—If you have this information available, this calculator should take about 5 minutes to complete.

why does my calculator show data that is already entered?

If your browser's cookies are enabled, the site will keep track of any data you've entered in a single session. To reset your calculation at any time, simply click the "RESET CALCULATOR" button in the banner above and all session data will be removed. If you don't see the "RESET CALCULATOR" button above, this means that no previously-entered data has been recorded.

measure first, then balance your emissions

At the end of the calculator, you will be presented with your estimated greenhouse gas emissions and a recommendation to balance all or a portion of these emissions with a corresponding volume of verified Carbon Offsets from BEF. Each Carbon Offset represents the reduction of 1 metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) from the atmosphere through a wide range of verified carbon reduction projects.

Carbon Dioxide Equivalent—Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (or CO2e) is a measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential (GWP). Carbon dioxide equivalents are commonly expressed as "million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MMTCO2Eq)." The carbon dioxide equivalent for a gas is derived by multiplying the tons of the gas by the associated GWP. MMTCO2Eq = (million metric tons of a gas) * (GWP of the gas) Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

want to calculate more? no problem...

Simply click the buttons in the right column to proceed to another calculator at any time.

natural gas

Select one of the following options:

Skip, our buildings do not use natural gas

Calculate according to exact natural gas consumption of each business facility?

This is the best option for businesses that know their exact natural gas use. Because this option uses actual natural gas usage figures, it allows us to calculate the exact emissions associated with your usage. Your natural gas provider (utility) should be able to provide your total annual natural gas use either in cubic feet or in therms. This information can also be found on your monthly natural gas bill.

Therms to cubic feet converter: 1 therm is approximately equal to 100 cubic feet (CCF)
1 CCF = 100 cubic feet = 100 * 1031 BTU = 103,100 BTU
1 CCF = 103,100 BTU = 1.031 therm

If you do not know your exact natural gas usage, use one of the other options below.

Building #1:

Building #0:

+ Add another building

Calculate according to building type of each business facility?

This option provides a building-type specific estimation of your natural gas use (and associated emissions). It is based on the national average natural gas use per square foot for each building type listed. While not an exact measurement, this is a great option for businesses that do not know their exact natural gas usage and whose building type is listed in our drop-down menu. If you do not see your exact building type listed, you can either select the closest possible building type, or use the "calculate by square footage" option below—just be aware that this calculation is an estimate only.

Unfortunately, national average natural gas figures for all commercial building types are not yet available as they are for electricity usage.

SOURCE: CBECS 2006,
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cbecs/cbecs2003/detailed_tables_2003/2003set9/2003html/c3.html

Building #1:

sq ft

Building #0:

sq ft

+ Add another building

Calculate by square footage of each business facility

Building #1:

sq ft

Building #0:

sq ft

+ Add another building

fuel oil

Select one of the following options:

Skip, our buildings do not use fuel oil

Calculate according to exact fuel oil consumption of each business facility?

This is the best option for businesses that know their exact annual fuel oil use. Because this option uses actual fuel oil consumption figures, it allows us to calculate the exact emissions associated with your usage. Your fuel oil provider (utility) should be able to provide your total annual fuel oil use in gallons. This information can also be found on your monthly fuel oil bill.

If you do not know your exact usage, use one of the other options below.

Building #1:

gallons

Building #0:

gallons

+ Add another building

Calculate according to the building type of each business facility?

This option provides a building-type specific estimation of your fuel oil use (and associated emissions). It is based on the national average fuel oil use per square foot for each building type listed. While not an exact measurement, this is a great option for businesses that do not know their exact consumption and whose building type is listed in our drop-down menu. Because it is based on detailed research of a wide range of building types, it is more accurate than our last option, below. If you do not see your exact building type listed, you can select the closest possible building type—just be aware that this calculation is an estimate only. Or, use the "calculate by square footage" option below.

SOURCE: CBECS 2006 http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cbecs/cbecs2003/detailed_tables_2003/2003set9/2003html/c3.html

Building #1:

sq ft

Building #0:

sq ft

+ Add another building

Calculate according to square footage of each business facility?

This option provides a non-building type specific estimation of your fuel oil use (and associated emissions). It is based on national average fuel oil use per square foot of commercial buildings in general. While this is a less accurate estimation than selecting your specific building type above, it is a good option to choose if you do not know your exact fuel oil consumption and your business' building type is not listed in our drop-down menu.

SOURCE: CBECS 2006 http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cbecs/cbecs2003/detailed_tables_2003/2003set9/2003html/c3.html

Building #1:

sq ft

Building #0:

sq ft

+ Add another building

fleet vehicles

Does your organization own or lease any vehicles?

Yes

Select one of the options below to calculate the emissions associated with your fleet vehicles:

Calculate according to the exact fuel economy of each vehicle?

This is the best option for businesses that track the fuel economy (miles per gallon) of their fleet vehicles. Because this option uses actual fuel economy for each vehicle in your fleet, it allows us to calculate the exact emissions associated with your fleet vehicles. If you do not track your fleet vehicle fuel economy, you can use the option to "calculate by national average fuel economy" below.

Vehicle #1:

mpg miles

Vehicle #0:

mpg miles

+ Add another vehicle

Calculate according to national average fuel economy of each vehicle?

This option provides a vehicle-type specific estimation of annual CO2e emissions. It is based on the national average fuel economy (miles per gallon) and associated CO2e emissions for each vehicle make and model listed. While not an exact measurement, this is a great option for businesses whose vehicles makes and models are listed in our drop-down menu. If you do not see your exact vehicle make and model listed, you can select the closest possible vehicle—just be aware that the emissions are an estimate only.

SOURCE: http://fueleconomy.gov

Vehicle #1:

miles

Vehicle #0:

miles

+ Add another vehicle

No, skip this section

rented vehicles and staff commuting

Were any staff required to travel using rented vehicles? Or, would you like to calculate emissions from staff commuting travel (optional)? ?

If you wish to calculate auto emissions only from business travel, use only this figure. If you wish to calculate emissions only from staff commuting travel, use only this figure. If you wish to calculate auto travel emissions from both business travel and staff commuting, combine these figures offline and enter the combined total in the space provided.

Yes

To calculate rented vehicle travel and/or commuting emissions, select from the following options:

Calculate according to the exact fuel economy of each vehicle?

This is the best option for businesses that track the fuel economy (miles per gallon) of their fleet vehicles. Because this option uses actual fuel economy for each vehicle in your fleet, it allows us to calculate the exact emissions associated with your fleet vehicles. If you do not track your fleet vehicle fuel economy, you can use the option to "calculate by national average fuel economy" below.

Vehicle #1:

mpg miles

Vehicle #0:

mpg miles

+ Add another vehicle

Calculate according to national average fuel economy of each vehicle?

This option provides a vehicle-type specific estimation of annual CO2e emissions. It is based on the national average fuel economy (miles per gallon) and associated CO2e emissions for each vehicle make and model listed. While not an exact measurement, this is a great option for businesses whose vehicles makes and models are listed in our drop-down menu. If you do not see your exact vehicle make and model listed, you can select the closest possible vehicle—just be aware that the emissions are an estimate only.

SOURCE: http://fueleconomy.gov

Vehicle #1:

miles

Vehicle #0:

miles

+ Add another vehicle

No, skip this section

air travel

Were any staff required to travel by air to conduct business?

Yes

Each time a plane takes off or lands, a certain volume of greenhouse gases are emitted. That's why we ask you to enter both the the total air miles traveled AND the number of flight segments these air miles represent.

Please enter the total annual air miles traveled ?

For assistance in calculating your total annual air miles, use the online air mileage calculator at: www.webflyer.com/travel/mileage_calculator/. This calculator accounts specifically for miles traveled by commercial airplanes. SOURCE: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, UK, www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13773-ghg-conversion-factors-2012.pdf

miles

Please enter the total number of flight segments (i.e. one-way flights) your staff took this year?

What is a flight "segment"?—To determine your total number of flight segments, count each nonstop one-way trip as a single segment.

flights

Do you want to account for radiative forcing in association with your air travel emissions??

What is Radiative Forcing?—Flying has other detrimental effects, in addition to carbon emissions. Radiative forcing is a multiplier that is added to the carbon emissions factor, that quantifies these additional effects; including the fact that emitting GHGs in the upper atmosphere has a greater heat-trapping effect than emitting GHGs at ground level. To learn more about radiative forcing, visit the IPCC's report.

No (default), do not adjust my emissions subtotal

Yes, add this figure (emissions subtotal below will be adjusted)

No, skip this section

The quantities and percentages below are rounded to the nearest whole number. Individual figures may not add up precisely to the totals listed.

greenhouse gas emissions calculation	emissions in pounds of CO2e	emissions in metric tons of CO2e	% of total emissions
Natural gas emissions	0 lbs	0 mt	0%
Fuel oil emissions	0 lbs	0 mt	0%
Fleet vehicles emissions	0 lbs	0 mt	0%
Rented vehicles & staff commuting emissions	0 lbs	0 mt	0%
Air travel emissions	0 lbs	0 mt	0%
total estimated CO2e emissions	0 lbs	0 mt	0%

now, balance your emissions—recommended products

Carbon Offsets—U.S.

U.S. Carbon Offsets represent projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the United States. These projects capture, destroy or reduce harmful greenhouse gases emitted from sources such as animal waste, landfills, fossil fuel use or refrigerants. By choosing our U.S. Carbon Offset option you directly support a wide range of innovative carbon reduction projects throughout the United States at our most affordable price.

View product details and project portfolio ::

select % of emissions to balance	unit price	quantity	cost
	$10.00 per metric ton (2,205 pounds)		$0.00

add to cart

Buy international REDD+ Carbon Offsets from BEF

Carbon Offsets—International REDD+

Twenty percent of the world's annual greenhouse gas emissions come from the destruction of tropical forests. By purchasing International REDD+ Carbon Offsets your business helps to prevent the destruction of these forests by providing sustainable economic alternatives to those rural communities. Balance the footprint you can’t avoid while supporting lasting social and environmental benefits.

View product details and project portfolio ::

select % of emissions to balance	unit price	quantity	cost
	$12.00 per metric ton (2,205 pounds)		$0.00

add to cart

Carbon Offsets—Improved Forest Management

By purchasing Improved Forest Management Carbon Offsets you can balance your business’ unavoidable carbon footprint while supporting sustainable forest management practices that improve water quality and habitat for wildlife. These projects help permanently protect forests from fragmentation, development and conversion to non-forest uses.

View product details and project portfolio ::

select % of emissions to balance	unit price	quantity	cost
	$12.00 per metric ton (2,205 pounds)		$0.00

add to cart

calculate your business' carbon emissions

introduction

what you will need to complete the calculator:

why does my calculator show data that is already entered?