A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air because of your own energy needs. It includes the emissions from your home, car, and the products you buy. For example, when you ride in a car, it burns gasoline and releases carbon dioxide. When you use electricity from coal power plants, that also adds to your carbon footprint. Even the food you eat and the clothes you wear have a carbon footprint from their production and transportation. Understanding your carbon footprint can help you make choices to reduce it.
1. What does a carbon footprint measure?
2. Which of these adds to your carbon footprint?
3. How does using electricity often add to your carbon footprint?
4. Why is understanding your carbon footprint important?