DEQ Launches Oregon Carbon Calculator in Honor of Earth Day
Department of Environmental Quality
On the eve of Earth Day’s 40th anniversary, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has launched a new interactive tool on its website, allowing Oregon residents to measure their total carbon footprint and discover ways to improve it. The Oregon Carbon Calculator, which can be accessed by visiting www.oregon.gov/DEQ/ , calculates all direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from personal transportation, household energy use and consumption of food, goods and services.
The interactive tool allows users to compare their household’s carbon footprint to households of similar size and income. After asking for numbers from one’s transportation patterns, energy use and shopping habits, the application provides a carbon footprint summary and rating with a total estimated number of annual metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The Web application then provides specific “Take Action” ideas and strategies for making lifestyle changes to reduce one’s carbon footprint.
“Earth Day is certainly a good time to examine our impact on the earth and also to find out what we as Oregonians can do to make a positive difference,” says DEQ Director Dick Pedersen. “The carbon calculator is a great tool to get people thinking about all the little things we can start doing tomorrow.”
Read a special Earth Day message from DEQ’s Director at www.deq.state.or.us/programs/sustainability/EarthDay2010.htm
The Oregon Carbon Calculator is made possible through DEQ’s support of the CoolClimate Network, a program of the University of California, Berkeley, and through financial support by the California Air Resources Board and the CoolCalifornia.org partnership. Oregon DEQ selected this calculator for its approach and depth in calculating human impacts to climate change.
For other Earth Day tips on preventing pollution and conserving resources while saving money, see DEQ’s “Make Every Day Earth Day” Web page at:
www.deq.state.or.us/programs/sustainability/10ways.htm
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