My Carbon Footprint
A continuously updated approximation of the greenhouse-gas emissions I have caused since I was born. It combines measured personal data with documented estimates where exact records do not exist.
Estimated lifetime total
590,145.134
kg CO₂e
Currently increasing by approximately 28.5 kg CO₂e per day.
This is an approximation, not an audit. The central estimate currently ranges from 548 to 641 tonnes CO₂e depending on the emission factors used. Open any area to see what is included.
Air Travel
221.2 t
Flights I chose to take, including the passengers whose travel decision I was responsible for.
37.5% of my lifetime total
· estimated range 221 t–221 t
270 recorded flights · 724 passenger journeys
221.2 t
CO₂e is calculated per passenger and multiplied by the passenger count recorded for each flight.
Other Consumption
92.5 t
Clothing, electronics, household goods and other purchases not counted elsewhere.
15.7% of my lifetime total
· currently +7.6 kg/day · estimated range 80 t–111 t
Other consumption, slightly above average
2008–today · estimated
51.6 t
My consumption has been estimated as slightly above average since 2008. Earlier periods are estimated separately.
Other consumption while living at home as a child
1984–2002 · estimated
27.2 t
Average child consumption is intentionally assigned to me, including clothing and goods; food remains in the separate food category.
Average other consumption as young adult and student
2002–2007 · estimated
13.7 t
Average other consumption until the slightly above-average estimate begins in 2008.
Cars & Fuel
81.1 t
Petrol and diesel burned by my three cars, including the fuel supply chain.
13.7% of my lifetime total
· currently +9.4 kg/day · estimated range 76 t–86 t
Mercedes Viano diesel use
2014–today · estimated
41.8 t
Approximately 12,000 km/year at 9 l/100 km. All fuel emissions are assigned to me.
New VW Polo petrol use
2005–2014 · memory
38.2 t
Approximately 160,000 km at 9 l/100 km. Purchase and end dates are approximate.
Old VW Polo petrol use
2004–2005 · memory
1.1 t
Approximately 5,000 km at 8 l/100 km.
Food
62.0 t
A mixed German diet until 2015 and a vegetarian diet since then.
10.5% of my lifetime total
· currently +3.3 kg/day · estimated range 54 t–71 t
Mixed German diet
1984–2014 · estimated
48.1 t
Birth through 2014. Childhood consumption is represented by the same simple annual factor in this approximation.
Vegetarian diet
2015–today · estimated
13.9 t
Includes approximately six undated vegan months; no separate correction is made in this approximation.
Homes & Heating
59.1 t
Natural gas used in my childhood home, student apartments and current home.
10.0% of my lifetime total
· currently +3.6 kg/day · estimated range 52 t–67 t
Childhood home natural gas estimate
1984–2006 · estimated
29.7 t
120 m² gas-heated house; approximately 180 kWh/m²/year and 10 kWh/m³, divided among four residents.
Current home natural gas use
2012–today · measured & estimated
21.7 t
Combined meter readings since 2012, including an estimated meter-change gap and the current projection. The shared building meter is allocated to our part of the house using the heating and hot-water submeter readings, then divided among household members and dependants.
Hamburg 55 m² apartment natural gas estimate
2009–2012 · estimated
3.9 t
55 m² gas-heated apartment shared by two adults; dependant share approximates only the final period with my partner and the first daughter.
Small student apartments natural gas estimate
2006–2009 · estimated
3.8 t
Approximately 45 m², gas heating, half the time alone and half shared; average personal share 75 percent.
Public Infrastructure
47.5 t
My per-capita share of public administration and infrastructure in Germany.
8.0% of my lifetime total
· currently +3.1 kg/day · estimated range 42 t–53 t
Public infrastructure and administration
1984–today · estimated
47.5 t
Equal per-capita baseline from birth to the calculation date.
Electricity
20.1 t
Historic grid electricity, certified green electricity and the lifecycle impact of solar power.
3.4% of my lifetime total
· currently +0.1 kg/day · estimated range 17 t–23 t
Childhood home electricity estimate
1984–2006 · estimated
14.4 t
Approximate annual electricity for a four-person household, divided equally.
Hamburg 55 m² apartment electricity estimate
2009–2012 · estimated
2.6 t
Approximate electricity for a two-adult apartment; dependant share only covers the final family period.
Small student apartments electricity estimate
2006–2009 · estimated
2.5 t
Personal electricity estimate averaging periods alone and in a two-person flat.
Certified green grid electricity
2012–today · measured & estimated
359 kg
Combined upstream emissions from certified green electricity purchased from the grid since 2012, including the current projection.
Rooftop solar generation
2015–today · measured & estimated
310 kg
Combined lifecycle emissions from the rooftop solar electricity generated since the system was installed in 2015, including the current projection.
Vehicle Production
5.7 t
Manufacturing and end-of-life allocations for the cars I bought.
1.0% of my lifetime total
· estimated range 4 t–7 t
Manufacturing of new VW Polo IV
2005–2005 · estimated
5.5 t
Full manufacturing footprint assigned because the vehicle was bought new and driven to end of life.
Old VW Polo residual manufacturing and disposal
2004–2004 · estimated
200 kg
Only a small residual share is assigned because the vehicle was bought very old and soon scrapped.
Rail Travel
581 kg
My estimated annual train travel in Germany.
0.1% of my lifetime total
· currently +0.1 kg/day · estimated range 432 kg–730 kg
Rail travel
2010–today · estimated
581 kg
Approximate annual passenger distance; local versus long-distance mix unknown.
Dog
484 kg
The estimated footprint of feeding our dog since mid-2025.
0.1% of my lifetime total
· currently +1.2 kg/day · estimated range 303 kg–807 kg
Dog food, medium dog
2025–today · estimated
484 kg
15 kg dog; estimated 500 g food/day, 50/50 dry and wet by mass, currently mainly chicken.
Calculated live from my personal database · 10 areas · updated August 8, 2026
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This was one of the best articles I've read so far in telling about a race. I couldn't put it down. Your details were so awesome. You made New York just come alive.
Betty J.
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Great review, enjoyed reading it and recognize lots off related subjects and hurtles. I’m amazed by all your running and races well done.
Andre S.
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Great article! I've read so many long blogs only to get bored in the middle as I suffer terribly from ADD and move on to other things. Yours has been one of few that held my attention all the way to the end.
Chae B.
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Your good humor and ease in telling stories make this blog a really cool space. Nice review.
Renato
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Amazing effort Tim, well done! Thank you for taking the time to write down your thoughts, feelings and memories from the event. There’s always something to learn from your posts and this one was no exception!! Another cracking read.
Tom K.
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What a ride! Surely the race, but also reading about it. Thanks for taking the time to write up such a detailed report, almost feel like I was there.
Till F.
