Calculating our Carbon Footprint
Convert kWh electricity to kg CO2
In order to convert electricity consumed in kWh to kg of
carbon dioxide, the energy use should be multiplied by a
conversion factor. This factor changes from year to year, as
the fuel mix consumed in UK power stations changes.
The conversion factors for energy sources are:
Energy Source (kWh)
Electricity
Natural gas
Burning oil (for heating)
Conversion factor (kg CO2 / kWh)
0.523
0.185
0.245
(Taken from DECC’s “Tool for calculation of CO2 emissions from
organisations” available at
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/indicators/ni185/ni1
85.aspx)
E.g. If 1000 KWh units of electricity was consumed,
then 1000 kWh x 0.523 = 523 kg CO2 was produced.
Log on to the following web link and click on Annex 3 for more detailed
information on Electricity conversion factors and Annex 1 for Natural gas and
Oil conversion factors:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/business/reporting/pdf/20090928guidelines-ghg-conversion-factors.xls
How to make your CO2 savings more meaningful
1000g = 1 kg
1000 kg = 1 tonne
1000,000 g = 1 tonne
Most people can’t imagine what a gramme or kilogramme or tonne of CO2
looks like. So make it more meaningful by explaining it in other ways:
•
•
•
•
•
10 grammes of CO2 = 1 party balloon
1 kg of CO2 = 100 party balloons
1 tonne of CO2 = 100,000 party balloons
1 tonne of CO2 is equivalent to 1 hot air balloon measuring 10 m wide
1 tonne of CO2 is equivalent to 6 double decker buses
For more facts and information on the campaign, CO2 and climate change,
please visit the Big Switch Off website and follow links to your local council’s
websites from:
http://www.leics.gov.uk/bigswitchoff