Carbon Footprint

If you want to take action but are not sure where to start, our footprint calculator measures your current impact and informs a Climate Action Plan for reducing emissions and provides an opportunity to offset your emissions locally through the Community Climate Fund.

Download and complete our Carbon Footprint Worksheet to expedite using the calculator.

Download Worksheet

Offset Emissions

Ready to become carbon neutral? You can offset your household emissions today by contributing to our Community Climate Fund. For $75 per metric ton, we’ll help you support carbon-cutting projects in Lancaster County, including home energy retrofits, solar panels, and regenerative farming.

Note: Monthly and annual amounts are recurring. To modify recurring amounts, go to Donor Box Login

Climate Action Plan

We can help you chart a path to eliminating your individual greenhouse gas emissions. With our carbon footprint calculator, you will see your emissions from Home Energy, Transportation, Groceries, Materials, Services. In addition to these five measurable categories, Climate Action Planning includes three important categories that influence emissions but are not measurable with existing scientific metrics: Land & Water, Finances, and Advocacy.

For emissions you can’t address today, you can also reach net zero by supporting local carbon offset projects through our Community Climate Fund.

COMING SOON: Submit a CCF project proposal

Climate Action Plan – Download Google Doc

RegenAll’s Climate Action Plan organizes your thinking about climate actions into categories.

Home Energy

Living spaces, how they are constructed and how energy is used to heat and cool those spaces contributes to GHG emissions.  Redesigning your space, collaborating with neighbors, and evaluating your electricity source are all opportunities to take advantage of new technologies and reduce your emissions.
FACTS:
  • 20% of US energy-related GHG emission are attributed to heating, cooling, and powering households
  • The energy used to heat and cool homes that escapes through windows accounts for up to 25% of the average bill
  • Over half (51% in 2015) of the average household’s energy consumption is used for space heating and A/C alone
  • A heat pump can reduce your electricity use for heating by 30%-40% compared to electric resistance heating such as furnaces and baseboard heaters
  • From 2010-2019 the cost of solar photovoltaics fell 82%
  • Consumers can save 5-30% on their energy bills by making upgrades typically identified in a home energy assessment
SOLUTIONS:
  • Envelope your home in energy-saving insulation
  • Replace old windows with energy efficient windows
  • Learn about clean energy rebates available to homeowners
  • Explore the many opportunities for rebates in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
  • Collaborate with neighbors to inspire the neighborhood to use less energy and form an ecovillage
  • Convert all electricity usage to 100% renewable energy through your utility
  • Explore switching to geothermal for home heating
  • Save electricity with a heat pump water heater
  • Heat your home with an electric air-source heat pump (w/green electricity)
  • Service your electrical needs by generating green power with solar panels
  • Store green power on-site with batteries, or contribute it back to the grid for a credit
  • Conduct a home energy audit
  • Identify and manage the sources of ghost energy consumption
  • Cook at home with an induction stove
Take Action

Transportation

Reduce your green house gas emissions by replacing fossil fuel burning vehicles with hybrids or all electric options and do not overlook climate friendly alternative methods of transportation that are additionally good for your health.

FACTS:

  • Transportation is the largest and fastest growing (from 1990-2020) source of GHG emissions in the US
  • Transportation accounted for over 20% of Lancaster County’s emissions in 2018
  • Driving 10% less (about 1,350 fewer miles/year/US citizen) could reduce annual US CO2 emissions by 110 million metric tons, about the equivalent of 28 coal-fired power plants
SOLUTIONS:
  • Purchase a hybrid, or better yet, buy an all electric vehicle
  • Choose alternatives to flying or offset flights with carbon credits
  • Drive less, walk and bike more
  • Use public transportation
Take Action

Groceries

What we eat impacts our climate!  Fossil fuel burning equipment,  packing materials, refrigeration, transportation, fertilizers,  and the use of nearly half of all agricultural land to support our appetite for meat accounts for 18-20 percent of GHG emissions annually. What we eat and how we handle food waste are top contributors to climate change.  An average of 6-25 kg of CO2 eq. are associated with 3.5 oz. of animal protein compared to 0.36-1.6 kg of CO2 eq. to produce 3.5 oz. of plant protein.  Buying food produced locally saves transportation and refrigeration emissions.  Better yet, support local farmers practicing regenerative agriculture that rebuilds soil health, captures carbon and yields nutritionally dense foods.
FACTS:
  • Overconsumption of animal protein is ranked as #4 in contributing to the climate crisis
  • 50 grams of beef has 17.7 kilograms GHG impact compared to 50 grams of beans with a 0.4 GHG impact
  • Food waste is considered to the #3 contributor to carbon emissions
  • Emissions from global food miles account for about half of the direct emissions from road vehicles
SOLUTIONS:
  • Eat a plant rich diet
  • Source meat from farms practicing regenerative agriculture
  • Plant a vegetable garden
  • Replace high impact animal protein with low impact plant protein
  • Cook creatively, use leftovers, and compost
  • Buy food from local farmers or join a CSA
  • Buy bulk foods, avoiding disposable and non-recyclable packaging
Take Action

Materials

Every material in our life has a carbon footprint, a life cycle and an end of life; building materials, clothing and all the packaging associated with consumables.  Options for reducing consumption and engaging in responsible use of materials are abundant and recycling only has meaning if we also purchase items made from recycled materials.  Thanks to science, innovative technology, and bold entrepreneurs, we can choose climate materials.
FACTS:
  • Preventing emissions during the life cycle and disposal of refrigerants found in air conditioners and refrigerators is the #1 solution for reducing climate warming gases.
  • In 1960 the US produced almost 100 million tons of waste; in 2018 it was nearly 300 million tons
  • The global footprint of new buildings per week is the size of Paris and is responsible for 10% of energy green house gas emissions

 

SOLUTIONS:

  • Replace old appliances with Energy Star rated appliances
  • Buy from grocers using natural refrigerants
  • Replace single use plastics
  • Learn where to recycle materials that are not picked up by your trash service
  • Expand in-home recycling systems
  • Discover and buy products made from recycled materials
  • Lithium-ion battery recycling
  • Evaluate clothing purchases. Buy secondhand or from brands that prioritize sustainability
  • Design and build new construction and renovations in harmony with nature
  • Replace traditional concrete with green alternatives
  • Identify and work with local architects and builders committed to the environment
Take Action

Services

A surprising amount of carbon is embedded in services.  From where we dine out, to our smart phone service and the pharmaceuticals we use, more sustainable solutions are emerging.
FACTS:
  • In an average US household, eliminating food transport for one year could save the GHG equivalent of driving 1,000 miles
  • Production of smartphones accounts for over 80% of their climate impact
  • The US health care system is responsible for about a quarter of all global health care GHG emissions
SOLUTIONS:
  • Eat at Farm to Table restaurants
  • Decline offers for phone upgrades and buy a refurbished phone
  • Explore purchasing meds from sustainable pharmaceutical companies
  • Consider homeopathic treatment if appropriate
  • Use hemp products for personal care and medicinal purposes
Take Action

Land & Water Use

Land and water use, along with conservation, have the power to reduce emissions, preserve biodiversity and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Regenerative agriculture builds soil health, produces nutritionally dense food and supports more humane treatment of animals.  Land populated with native plants and pollinators maintains a healthy and sustainable interaction between microorganisms and plants necessary for food stability.  Water may well be the “new gold”; a finite resource, without which we can not survive.
FACTS:
  • Many of the around 1 million species currently threatened with extinction could disappear within decades
  • Restoring degraded soil can remove up to 63 billion tons of carbon from the atmosphere
  • Only 2.5% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and only around 1% of that amount is accessible to humans
SOLUTIONS:
  • Support the conservation of wild spaces
  • Promote biodiversity by planting native plants and pollinators
  • Implement regenerative farming practices to build soil health
  • Reduce the carbon footprint of raising livestock
  • Engage in activities that keep waterways clean
  • Institute practices and systems that reduce water consumption
Take Action

Finances

Although there is not a carbon emission metric associated with how we invest and spend our financial resources, our actions are either promoting a healthy planet or contributing to climate change.  Do your mutual funds include fossil fuels?  Where are your credit card company and bank investing?  When you plan your spending can you allocate a percentage of your budget to save for a significant climate responsible purchase?  Are you offsetting your carbon footprint through RegenAll’s Community Climate Fund?
FACTS:
  • Nearly 60% of oil and fossil methane gas and 90% of coal must remain unextracted to keep within just a 50% chance of limiting warming to 1.5 °C
  • In the 5 years since the Paris Agreement, the world’s 60 biggest banks have financed fossil fuels with $3.8 trillion
  • In 2019, 14.4 metric tons of CO2 were emitted for each US citizen by fuel combustion alone

SOLUTIONS:

  • Divest from planet damaging industries (ex. fossil fuels) and invest in companies working in harmony with nature
  • Shift banking and credit card accounts to institutions committed to reducing their carbon footprint
  • Review your budget and identify opportunities to shift resources to climate friendly alternatives
  • Compensate for your carbon emissions by investing in RegenAll’s Community Climate Fund
Take Action

Advocacy

In addition to the actions of climate responsible individuals, addressing climate change requires policy changes, government funded programs and a chorus of voices advocating for Mother Earth.  It is believed the necessary cultural change that drives values and behavior will not happen without activism. This moment in time is an opportunity to find your voice in service to your family’s future and the future of our planet. Now is the time to engage: run for office, write letters, campaign, take to the streets. We have choices!
FACTS:
  • “To be an activist is to speak. To be an advocate is to listen” Society can’t move forward without both.” – Eva Marie Lewis
  • Individual action is not enough to prevent catastrophic climate change
  • 25% of the population can change the views of the remaining 75%
SOLUTIONS:
  • Strategize using your skills and interest to advocate for planet earth
  • Be curious, learn the climate facts, narrative and how to effectively communicate
  • Engage with local/nation/international environmental organizations aligned with your interests
  • Build power by joining like-minded climate activists to amplify the importance of earth care
Take Action

FAQs

What are Greenhouses Gases and what is Carbon?

Terminology can be confusing. While the following terms are often used interchangeably, it is important to understand how they differ:

  1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG)
  2. Carbon and
  3. Carbon Dioxide Equivalents.

There are many different elements in the air and in the atmosphere, some more harmful than others. GHG’s refer to all of the various elements that are known to cause warming of the environment: Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Fluorinated Gases. Carbon is often used as a shorthand for Carbon Dioxide, one of the most prevalent elements causing our environment to warm. Carbon Dioxide Equivalents (CO2e) is a unit of measurement that allows us to combine all GHGs into a single unit so they can be more easily compared.

For simplicity, you can think about carbon equivalents as a common denominator for climate change. It is a unit of measurement that allows you to assess the impact on the environment of seemingly different things, such as waste generation and energy use, as a single common measurement.

What is a "Carbon" Footprint?

A Carbon Footprint is an analysis of the total amount of emissions attributable to a specific entity. Carbon Footprints are used by businesses, governments, and academia – and they are also useful to individuals and households.

A Carbon Footprint is meant to provide a snapshot of the quantity (in tons) and sources of the GHGs created, so that choices can be made that reduce the footprint. Ultimately the tool is useful because before it is possible to understand what changes to prioritize, it is first necessary to understand the magnitude of the impact on the environment.

A carbon footprint is just one tool in the toolkit to help reverse climate change. It is meant to be a guiding resource to help make sense of all of the confusing messaging around climate change. By understanding the carbon footprint of an entity,  it is possible to make decisions that are right for the health and well being of our planet.

How is a Carbon footprint calculated?

A Carbon Footprint includes two main parts: your inputs and conversion factors. Your inputs are what the Carbon Footprint tool asks you to enter.

Each of these inputs translates to GHG emissions through a conversion factor. Conversion factors translate your inputs into Carbon Equivalents. Conversion factors are developed by government agencies, such as the EPA, non-government think tanks, or academia.

A conversion factor for flights, for example, translates the input (number of flights per year) to GHG emissions. The total GHG emissions for an average flight may take into account a wide number of factors. For example, burning jet fuel, food and packaging waste generated by passengers, and the energy usage of the airport all produce carbon emissions. Each of these components emits a specific amount of carbon to the atmosphere through various biological or chemical processes. The aggregate of these is the total carbon footprint of the flight and your individual carbon footprint is the part of that total that is attributable to you as a passenger.

Your total footprint is the aggregate of all of these different contributions for each of your inputs.

A Carbon Footprint has two important limitations: 1) it is a snapshot at a given point in time 2) it is built on averages.

  1. When you calculate your carbon footprint you are doing so based on the information you have available at the time of the calculation. Most of our lives are dynamic, ever changing, and thus our total emissions, or carbon footprint, is likely to change as our lifestyles change. A Carbon Footprint therefore is not meant to be absolute. It is instead meant to help you understand how your lifestyle decisions impact the world around you and trends that might be insightful to help you reduce your footprint over the long term.
  1. A carbon footprint is built on averages. There is an inherent tradeoff between granularity and complexity. A Carbon Footprint tool like the one RegenAll provides, attempts to strike a meaningful balance for this tradeoff in order to help you understand your key contributors and opportunities without bogging you down with significant data collection or entry.

What is a Carbon offset?

Reaching zero carbon emissions is very difficult for most people. Our modern world is built around activities, services and products that all produce carbon emissions. A carbon offset allows you to counteract your current impact by investing in projects that are directly reducing future emissions.

The cost of a carbon offset is set based on the average cost of sequestering or reducing 1 ton of CO2-equ. When you offset your carbon footprint through RegenAll you currently pay a rate of $75/ton CO2-equ. This rate is subject to change based on the actual realized cost of local projects.

The idea behind an offset is to provide a temporary mechanism to bridge the gap between a household’s current emissions and a future goal of zero emissions. In this interim state, it is very likely that you will continue to have some carbon emissions that you cannot immediately eliminate. An offset allows you to make a one-for-one trade: you continue to take that cross country flight to see your loved ones for the holidays (which produces carbon emissions) so you pay a set amount to a fund that is then used to implement projects to reduce future emissions by the same amount of carbon from your flight.

An offset is not a perfect mechanism and by no means is it a substitute for continuing to find ways to reduce your footprint through lifestyle changes. Given that without immediate action at all levels of society, we are on track for a >3ºC change in global temperatures, the time lag of an offset makes it an imperfect and insufficient mechanism.

However, similar to the saying “all models are flawed, but some are useful”, the offset mechanism is flawed but still useful. A carbon offset helps create a important new funding source to invest in local climate projects that have a direct benefit to your local community.

Why should I offset my emissions?

The choice to offset your emissions is often unique to the individual. For some, offsetting emissions is a way to reduce the climate guilt they feel. For others, offsetting their emissions is a method of remaining aware of the gap that exists between their current state and the desired future state.

While the motivation differs for everyone, by offsetting your emissions you are helping to fund projects that will build a more resilient and healthy community right here in Lancaster County.

What is my offset contribution used for?

Your offset contributions go directly to the Community Climate Fund (CCF). This fund identifies and invests in projects that meet the following criteria:

  1. Have a direct reduction on carbon emissions in Lancaster County
  2. Build a more equitable society by helping to reduce the burden of climate change on the most vulnerable in our community
  3. Are verifiable and traceable

What is the Community Climate Fund (CCF)?

The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is a new approach to funding local climate projects. The vision of the fund is to provide a meaningful way for people to offset their emissions while directly investing in improving the environment in Lancaster County.

When you offset your current carbon footprint through the CCF you are doing your part to help build a more resilient and regenerative community.

The CCF is run by RegenAll and overseen by an elected board of local community members. The Fund is responsible for sourcing, implementation and verification of climate projects.

What is a climate action plan?

A climate action plan is a step by step process to allow you to understand your carbon footprint and set meaningful goals to reduce your footprint over time. It is meant to be a tool to help your understand how to prioritize decisions in your life and tie them back to your impact on the world around you.