Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator
Provided by: EPA|Published on: July 9, 2024
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Data, Graphs, and Maps
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: EPA
Region: United States, Global
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- Using this calculator, students can enter emissions data or energy used or saved to see a variety of equivalent values and climate actions.
- Students can convert gallons of gas, gasoline-powered vehicles, kilowatt hours, MCF of natural gas, therms of natural gas, or emissions data for any greenhouse gas to see equivalent greenhouse gas emissions, and CO2 emissions, and how they compare to mitigation and sequestration efforts.
- The emissions data allow for the entry of various greenhouse gas quantities, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The calculator is easy to use for entering energy data and can easily be made more complex by choosing to enter emissions data.
- By providing a variety of emissions equivalents, students can easily find something to relate to that helps paint a picture of emissions and energy use.
Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with the greenhouse effect.
- Teachers may need to define the terms kilowatt hour, sequester, therms, MCF, and others before students use the calculator.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Students can measure the gallons of gas they or their families use in a week and then enter the data.
- Using the information, students can create infographics to inform others about the impact of their choices.
- Students can enter the emissions data for their country and others to see the comparison in a different way.
This resource from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides teachers with a useful calculator to find CO2 equivalent emissions. The website includes additional links that include information for teachers. The references and sourced material utilized for this lesson plan are from credible institutions and present up-to-date information. This site is a valuable resource for educators seeking to enhance climate-related learning experiences in the classroom.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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