Calculation Methodology & Emission Factors
Carbotrack uses standardized linear models based on IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) guidelines and national grid baselines.
The Core Calculation Formula
Each category estimates annual volume multiplied by peer-reviewed factors. For instance, private commuting calculates annual kilometres multiplied by a fuel-burn factor, adjusted for vehicle occupancy and carpooling frequency. Household electricity is divided by the number of occupants before applying the grid factor.
Academic Model Scope
This tool is built for educational demonstration in CHE110 Environmental Studies. Calculations reflect generalized regional constants rather than audited industrial ISO 14064 standards. The goal is personal awareness and proportional priority identification — not regulatory reporting.
Interpretation guide: treat outputs as directional estimates accurate to roughly ±20%, and compare your own categories against each other rather than chasing an exact number.
Documented Emission Factors Benchmark
| Activity Category | Factor Applied | Unit | Scientific Reference Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol Car Commute | 0.170 | kg CO₂e / km | DEFRA / EPA Standard Vehicle Profile |
| Diesel Car Commute | 0.185 | kg CO₂e / km | UK Government GHG Conversion Factors |
| CNG Car | 0.125 | kg CO₂e / km | Natural gas combustion lifecycle |
| Electric Vehicle (Grid-charged) | 0.053 | kg CO₂e / km | Average subcontinental grid efficiency (~0.18 kWh/km) |
| Motorcycle / Scooter (Petrol) | 0.075 | kg CO₂e / km | Two-wheeler segment emission profile |
| Electric Two-Wheeler | 0.022 | kg CO₂e / km | Battery + grid charging lifecycle |
| Public Metro / Transit | 0.045 | kg CO₂e / passenger-km | Mass Transit Lifecycle Carbon Metrics |
| Electricity Grid Consumption | 0.820 | kg CO₂e / kWh | Central Electricity Authority (CEA) Baseline Database |
| Domestic Round-Trip Flight | 250 | kg CO₂e / flight | ICAO Carbon Emissions Calculator (~700 km hop) |
| International Long-Haul Flight | 1,100 | kg CO₂e / flight | ICAO long-haul economy class estimate |
| Water Supply & Heating | 0.00035 | kg CO₂e / litre | Municipal pumping + thermal heating energy |
| Municipal Landfill Waste | 0.45 | kg CO₂e / kg | Anaerobic decomposition methane potential |
| New Apparel Item | 8.5 | kg CO₂e / item | Textile manufacturing + logistics lifecycle |
| E-commerce Delivery | 2.2 | kg CO₂e / order | Packaging + last-mile logistics |
| Vegan Diet Baseline | 1,400 | kg CO₂e / year | Poore & Nemecek (Science, 2018 Life Cycle Food Study) |
| Vegetarian Diet Baseline | 1,750 | kg CO₂e / year | Dairy-inclusive lacto-vegetarian profile |
| Pescatarian Diet Baseline | 2,100 | kg CO₂e / year | Fish & seafood lifecycle addition |
| Mixed (Low Meat) Diet Baseline | 2,500 | kg CO₂e / year | 1–2 meat servings per week |
| Heavy Meat Diet Baseline | 3,300 | kg CO₂e / year | High-methane ruminant beef/mutton + poultry lifecycle |
Sustainability Benchmarks
The calculator classifies results against four reference points:
- 🟢 ≤ 2.2 t — Paris-Aligned / Target Compliant
- 🟡 2.2 – 4.5 t — Moderate Impact
- 🟠 4.5 – 7.5 t — High Impact
- 🔴 > 7.5 t — Very High Impact
Known Limitations
Regional grid intensity varies by state and season. Aviation radiative forcing (non-CO₂ effects at altitude) is not fully captured. Embodied carbon in durable goods (electronics, furniture) is approximated rather than itemised. Food waste modelling is frequency-based, not mass-based.