Climate Change
Individual Emissions
Many of our daily activities cause emissions of greenhouse gases. For example, we produce greenhouse gas emissions from burning gasoline when we drive, burning oil or gas for home heating, or using electricity generated from coal, natural gas, and oil. Greenhouse gas emissions vary among individuals depending on a person's location, habits, and personal choices. For example:
- The quantity of greenhouse gas emissions from your home electricity use depends on the types of fuel your power plant uses to generate the electricity and the amount you use.
- The quantity of greenhouse gases emitted from your furnace and boiler depends on the efficiency of these items, the size and insulation of your house, and the amount and type of fuel used.
- The quantity of emissions from your car or truck depends on how much you drive, what your vehicle's fuel efficiency is, and how you drive (e.g., the amount of time spent idling in traffic).
- In addition, the more recycling you do will reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, as well as the greenhouse gas emissions that result from processing of raw materials.
Do you know what your carbon footprint is? Try EPA's personal GHG emissions calculator to estimate your household's annual greenhouse gas emissions.
- Learn more about sources and trends in residential emissions in the United States, in the Commercial and Residential section of the Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions page.
- Learn more about sources and trends in transportation emissions in the United States, in the Transportation section of the Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions page.
- Learn about What You Can Do At Home to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.
- Learn about What You Can Do On the Road to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.
- Learn more about Climate Change and Waste.