About Carbon Footprint

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.

Lifetime total 589.4 t CO₂e
Currently added 28.5 kg CO₂e per day

This is an approximation, not an audit. The central estimate currently ranges from 548 to 640 tonnes CO₂e depending on the emission factors used. Open any area to see what is included.

1 Air Travel 220.9 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

269 recorded flights · 722 passenger journeys
220.9 t

CO₂e is calculated per passenger and multiplied by the passenger count recorded for each flight.

2 Other Consumption 92.3 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
51.4 t

Income rose gradually from about EUR 30,000 net/year in 2008 to about EUR 70,000; household receives roughly 100-150 Amazon parcels/year. Pre-2008 consumption will be added separately.

Other consumption while living at home as a child 1984–2002 · estimated
27.2 t

Average child consumption is intentionally assigned personally, 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 income-linked slightly above-average factor begins in 2008.

3 Cars & Fuel 80.9 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
41.6 t

Approximately 12,000 km/year at 9 l/100 km. All fuel emissions are assigned to Tim.

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.

4 Food 61.9 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 intentionally represented by the same simple annual factor in v1.

Vegetarian diet 2015–today · estimated
13.9 t

Includes approximately six undated vegan months; no separate correction in v1.

5 Homes & Heating 59.0 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.

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 Sophie 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.

Gas meter use 2013-01-02 to 2014-02-28 2013–2014 · measured
2.7 t

Gesamtgaszähler für beide Haushälften. Anteil der hinteren Haushälfte aus Pollux OH/(OH+UV) für Heizung und WarmW UH/(UH+OV) für Warmwasser; mangels separater Gasanteile mit 85 % Heizung und 15 % Warmwasser gewichtet. Anschließend innerhalb der Familie auf Person und Dependants verteilt.

Gas meter use 2014-02-28 to 2015-02-24 2014–2015 · measured
2.2 t

Gesamtgaszähler für beide Haushälften. Anteil der hinteren Haushälfte aus Pollux OH/(OH+UV) für Heizung und WarmW UH/(UH+OV) für Warmwasser; mangels separater Gasanteile mit 85 % Heizung und 15 % Warmwasser gewichtet. Anschließend innerhalb der Familie auf Person und Dependants verteilt.

Gas meter use 2018-02-27 to 2020-01-06 2018–2020 · estimated
2.1 t

Gesamtgaszähler für beide Haushälften. Anteil der hinteren Haushälfte aus Pollux OH/(OH+UV) für Heizung und WarmW UH/(UH+OV) für Warmwasser; mangels separater Gasanteile mit 85 % Heizung und 15 % Warmwasser gewichtet. Anschließend innerhalb der Familie auf Person und Dependants verteilt.

Gas meter use 2016-02-16 to 2017-02-21 2016–2017 · measured
2.0 t

Gesamtgaszähler für beide Haushälften. Anteil der hinteren Haushälfte aus Pollux OH/(OH+UV) für Heizung und WarmW UH/(UH+OV) für Warmwasser; mangels separater Gasanteile mit 85 % Heizung und 15 % Warmwasser gewichtet. Anschließend innerhalb der Familie auf Person und Dependants verteilt.

Gas meter use 2015-02-24 to 2016-02-16 2015–2016 · measured
2.0 t

Gesamtgaszähler für beide Haushälften. Anteil der hinteren Haushälfte aus Pollux OH/(OH+UV) für Heizung und WarmW UH/(UH+OV) für Warmwasser; mangels separater Gasanteile mit 85 % Heizung und 15 % Warmwasser gewichtet. Anschließend innerhalb der Familie auf Person und Dependants verteilt.

Gas meter use 2017-02-21 to 2018-02-27 2017–2018 · measured
1.8 t

Gesamtgaszähler für beide Haushälften. Anteil der hinteren Haushälfte aus Pollux OH/(OH+UV) für Heizung und WarmW UH/(UH+OV) für Warmwasser; mangels separater Gasanteile mit 85 % Heizung und 15 % Warmwasser gewichtet. Anschließend innerhalb der Familie auf Person und Dependants verteilt.

Gas meter use 2022-10-04 to 2024-01-08 2022–2024 · measured
1.5 t

Gesamtgaszähler für beide Haushälften. Anteil der hinteren Haushälfte aus Pollux OH/(OH+UV) für Heizung und WarmW UH/(UH+OV) für Warmwasser; mangels separater Gasanteile mit 85 % Heizung und 15 % Warmwasser gewichtet. Anschließend innerhalb der Familie auf Person und Dependants verteilt.

Gas meter use 2020-12-31 to 2021-12-31 2020–2021 · measured
1.4 t

Gesamtgaszähler für beide Haushälften. Anteil der hinteren Haushälfte aus Pollux OH/(OH+UV) für Heizung und WarmW UH/(UH+OV) für Warmwasser; mangels separater Gasanteile mit 85 % Heizung und 15 % Warmwasser gewichtet. Anschließend innerhalb der Familie auf Person und Dependants verteilt.

Gas meter use 2025-01-05 to 2026-01-03 2025–2026 · measured
1.3 t

Gesamtgaszähler für beide Haushälften. Anteil der hinteren Haushälfte aus Pollux OH/(OH+UV) für Heizung und WarmW UH/(UH+OV) für Warmwasser; mangels separater Gasanteile mit 85 % Heizung und 15 % Warmwasser gewichtet. Anschließend innerhalb der Familie auf Person und Dependants verteilt.

Gas meter use 2020-01-06 to 2020-12-31 2020–2020 · estimated
1.2 t

Gesamtgaszähler für beide Haushälften. Anteil der hinteren Haushälfte aus Pollux OH/(OH+UV) für Heizung und WarmW UH/(UH+OV) für Warmwasser; mangels separater Gasanteile mit 85 % Heizung und 15 % Warmwasser gewichtet. Anschließend innerhalb der Familie auf Person und Dependants verteilt.

Estimated gas use during meter-change gap 2021–2022 · estimated
1.1 t

Whole-house gas use estimated from the surrounding annual consumption with a seasonal January-to-October share; rear-half allocation follows adjacent Pollux periods.

Current natural gas estimate after last reading 2026–today · estimated
729 kg

Running daily estimate based on the latest measured whole-house year and latest household-half allocation. End or replace when a new meter reading is available.

Gas meter use 2024-05-01 to 2025-01-05 2024–2025 · measured
670 kg

Gesamtgaszähler für beide Haushälften. Anteil der hinteren Haushälfte aus Pollux OH/(OH+UV) für Heizung und WarmW UH/(UH+OV) für Warmwasser; mangels separater Gasanteile mit 85 % Heizung und 15 % Warmwasser gewichtet. Anschließend innerhalb der Familie auf Person und Dependants verteilt.

Gas meter use 2012-07-03 to 2013-01-02 2012–2013 · measured
603 kg

Gesamtgaszähler für beide Haushälften. Anteil der hinteren Haushälfte aus Pollux OH/(OH+UV) für Heizung und WarmW UH/(UH+OV) für Warmwasser; mangels separater Gasanteile mit 85 % Heizung und 15 % Warmwasser gewichtet. Anschließend innerhalb der Familie auf Person und Dependants verteilt.

Gas meter use 2024-01-08 to 2024-05-01 2024–2024 · measured
521 kg

Gesamtgaszähler für beide Haushälften. Anteil der hinteren Haushälfte aus Pollux OH/(OH+UV) für Heizung und WarmW UH/(UH+OV) für Warmwasser; mangels separater Gasanteile mit 85 % Heizung und 15 % Warmwasser gewichtet. Anschließend innerhalb der Familie auf Person und Dependants verteilt.

6 Public Infrastructure 47.4 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–52 t

Public infrastructure and administration 1984–today · estimated
47.4 t

Equal per-capita baseline from birth to the calculation date.

7 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.

Green grid electricity 2013 2013–2013 · measured
58 kg

Household grid purchase. Household shares approximate births and the temporary Fischer household.

Green grid electricity 2014 2014–2014 · measured
45 kg

Household grid purchase. Household shares approximate births and the temporary Fischer household.

PV generation 2016 2016–2016 · measured
35 kg

Total PV generation, including self-consumption and export. Commissioned April 2015.

PV generation 2017 2017–2017 · measured
31 kg

Total PV generation, including self-consumption and export. Commissioned April 2015.

PV generation 2018 2018–2018 · measured
30 kg

Total PV generation, including self-consumption and export. Commissioned April 2015.

PV generation 2015 2015–2015 · measured
29 kg

Total PV generation, including self-consumption and export. Commissioned April 2015.

PV generation 2020 2020–2020 · measured
28 kg

Total PV generation, including self-consumption and export. Commissioned April 2015.

PV generation 2019 2019–2019 · measured
26 kg

Total PV generation, including self-consumption and export. Commissioned April 2015.

Green grid electricity 2018 2018–2018 · measured
25 kg

Household grid purchase. Household shares approximate births and the temporary Fischer household.

PV generation 2023 2023–2023 · measured
25 kg

Total PV generation, including self-consumption and export. Commissioned April 2015.

PV generation 2022 2022–2022 · measured
24 kg

Total PV generation, including self-consumption and export. Commissioned April 2015.

PV generation 2021 2021–2021 · measured
24 kg

Total PV generation, including self-consumption and export. Commissioned April 2015.

Green grid electricity 2019 2019–2019 · measured
23 kg

Household grid purchase. Household shares approximate births and the temporary Fischer household.

PV generation 2024 2024–2024 · measured
23 kg

Total PV generation, including self-consumption and export. Commissioned April 2015.

PV generation 2025 2025–2025 · measured
23 kg

Total PV generation, including self-consumption and export. Commissioned April 2015.

Green grid electricity 2025 2025–2025 · measured
22 kg

Household grid purchase. Household shares approximate births and the temporary Fischer household.

Green grid electricity 2021 2021–2021 · measured
21 kg

Household grid purchase. Household shares approximate births and the temporary Fischer household.

Green grid electricity 2012 2012–2012 · measured
20 kg

Household grid purchase. Household shares approximate births and the temporary Fischer household.

Green grid electricity 2020 2020–2020 · measured
20 kg

Household grid purchase. Household shares approximate births and the temporary Fischer household.

Green grid electricity 2024 2024–2024 · measured
20 kg

Household grid purchase. Household shares approximate births and the temporary Fischer household.

Green grid electricity 2015 2015–2015 · measured
19 kg

Household grid purchase. Household shares approximate births and the temporary Fischer household.

Green grid electricity 2016 2016–2016 · measured
19 kg

Household grid purchase. Household shares approximate births and the temporary Fischer household.

Green grid electricity 2022 2022–2022 · measured
18 kg

Household grid purchase. Household shares approximate births and the temporary Fischer household.

Green grid electricity 2023 2023–2023 · measured
18 kg

Household grid purchase. Household shares approximate births and the temporary Fischer household.

Green grid electricity 2017 2017–2017 · measured
16 kg

Household grid purchase. Household shares approximate births and the temporary Fischer household.

Current PV generation estimate 2026–today · estimated
13 kg

Running estimate from the latest measured PV year; end or replace after the 2026 reading is entered.

Current green grid electricity estimate 2026–today · estimated
12 kg

Running estimate from the latest measured year; end or replace after the 2026 reading is entered.

8 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.

9 Rail Travel 579 kg

My estimated annual train travel in Germany.

0.1% of my lifetime total · currently +0.1 kg/day · estimated range 430 kg–728 kg

Rail travel 2010–today · estimated
579 kg

Approximate annual passenger distance; local versus long-distance mix unknown.

10 Dog 464 kg

The estimated footprint of feeding our dog since mid-2025.

0.1% of my lifetime total · currently +1.2 kg/day · estimated range 290 kg–774 kg

Dog food, medium dog 2025–today · estimated
464 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 July 22, 2026

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