Personal Energy Meter

Are You Energy-Wise or Are You An Energy Waster?

If you live in the United States, see how you measure up against others, and how choices you make at home and in the way you travel could help to protect the atmosphere. If you live outside the United States, take a look at our global carbon map.

Enter your zip code to begin calculating your energy use.

Or gauge your energy use against the average in these cities:

  • New York: 10027
  • Los Angeles: 90010
  • Dallas: 75201
  • Seattle: 98101
  • Atlanta: 30301
  • Chicago: 60621

Share Your Scores and Challenge Friends

 people have taken the Challenge. The average score is . Can you beat it?

See how you score against people in your region and around the world. If you have a great score, share it with the world on Facebook and Twitter.

See Personal Energy Meter sources »

Learn how the energy you use impacts your carbon footprint.

Click (    1    ) to continue.

See Personal Energy Meter sources »

Your Final Tally

You have completed all the questions.

 people have taken the Challenge. The average score is .

This meter measures your personal energy score based on the decisions you make in your home and in travel. It's different from some per-person calculations you may have seen, which factor in each nation's total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, including those from industrial and commercial activities. To see what those total per-capita emissions look like in the United States and around the world, see our global carbon map.

See Personal Energy Meter sources »

Click on any question again to change your values.

Your Individual Tallies
  • In the Home: 0

    Tip: A programmable thermostat can help you easily turn down energy use when you are away or asleep.

    For ideas on how to reduce your impact at home, visit the Great Energy Challenge Mini Calculators.

  • On the Road: 0

    Tip: Use mass transit, ride sharing or a bicycle at least a couple days a week to cut down energy while commuting.

    For a month-by-month plan to slim down your carbon emissions on the road, in the home, and for everyday living, visit our Energy Diet.

  • Renewable Energy: 0%

    Tip: See if your utility allows you to purchase solar or wind energy for a portion of your electricity use.

  • In the Air: 0

    Tip: Consider taking a train instead of a plane for shorter trips.

Energy Use (tons of CO2 per year)

  • Your Total Score

    0.0

  • Regional Average

    10.0

  • National Average

    10.0

Fast Facts: Energy use in homes accounts for 21 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

  • In the Home

inside

  • 1

  • You can test your home for air tightness—and energy efficiency—using a lit incense stick on a windy day. If the smoke moves horizontally near windows, doors, or electrical outlets, you have an air leak.

    Energy use in homes accounts for 21 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

  • When purchasing new appliances or electronics, always buy items with the Energy Star label.

    If every household in the United States switched to compact fluorescent bulbs in just one room, power plants could reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 1 trillion pounds a year—the equivalent of taking 87 million cars off the road.

  • Purchase a high-quality permanent furnace filter. These can cost up to $100, but will save hundreds of dollars in disposable filter costs over their lifespan.

    A dirty filter makes a furnace work harder. Cleaning or replacing yours can cut heating costs by as much as 5 percent.

  • Use a programmable thermostat to automatically turn down heating or cooling when you’re out. When home, keep the temperature set to no more than 68°F(20°C) in winter and no less than 78°F (26°C) in summer.

    As much as half of the energy used in your home goes to heating and cooling—making it by far the biggest chunk of your utility bill.

  • For every degree Fahrenheit you lower your thermostat in winter, you can save up to 6 percent in energy use.

    Air leaks around doors, windows, and outlets can increase your heating and cooling bills by 10 percent per year.

How many people live in your house or apartment?

people=input
0

What is your average monthly electric bill?

input/eprice*100*12*carbon/peoplenum/2204.6
0

Do you use natural gas?

What is your average monthly natural gas bill?

input/nprice*12*120.593/peoplenum/2204.6
0

Do you use heating oil?

What is your average monthly heating oil bill?

input/hprice*100*12*26.033/peoplenum/2204.6
0

Do you use propane?

What is your average monthly propane bill?

input/pprice*100*12*12.805/peoplenum/2204.6
0

You have answered all the questions. Click on the the sun icons above to change your answers. Click OK after you have made all the changes you want.

  • On the Road

car

  • 2

  • Keeping your tires properly inflated and aligned can improve your gasoline mileage by up to 3.3 percent.

    It used to be that replacing a clogged air filter could boost fuel efficiency, but that doesn’t work on cars sold after 1980.

How many cars do you personally drive?0

{step:1,min:0,max:5,appendsymbol:'',type:'car'}
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

You have answered all the question. Click on the the sun icons above to change your answers. Click OK after you have made all the changes you want.

  • Renewable Energy

renewable

  • 3

  • Buying green power from your utility allows you to use renewable energy without having to invest in equipment like solar panels.

    Renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, accounts for less than 4 percent of electricity generated in the United States.

Do you purchase any renewable energy, such as wind, solar, biofuel, or wood?

How much of your energy comes from these sources?0%

{step:1,min:0,max:100,appendsymbol:'%'}
  • 0
  • 10
  • 20
  • 30
  • 40
  • 50
  • 60
  • 70
  • 80
  • 90
  • 100%
1-(slider/100)
1

You have answered all the question. Click on the the sun icons above to change your answers. Click OK after you have made all the changes you want.

  • In the Air

plane

  • 4

  • Offset the carbon you use when flying by donating money to reputable carbon-reduction projects.

    A round-trip flight for a family of four from New York to Hawaii results in more CO2 emissions than the average U.S. car emits in a year--5.5 metric tons.

  • For short trips, consider taking a train instead of flying. Airplane emissions on short trips can be double that of trains.

    Short flights are less fuel-efficient than longer flights, because a greater portion of the trip is spent in take-off and landing, when engines are working hardest.

How many long round-trip flights (more than 300 miles) do you take each year?

input*2500*0.396564/2204.6
0

How many short round-trip flights (300 miles or less) do you take each year?

input*300*0.648923/2204.6
0

You have answered all the question. Click on the the sun icons above to change your answers. Click OK after you have made all the changes you want.

More Energy Features

  • Photo: Aerial view of a city at night

    What Is the Great Energy Challenge?

    The Great Energy Challenge is a National Geographic initiative to help you understand our current energy situation. Explore the GEC to figure out and trim your carbon footprint.

  • feature-diet.jpg

    The 360° Energy Diet

    Follow households around the world as they try to slim their carbon footprints.

  • An incandescent light bulb.

    Light Bulb Savings Calculator

    How much could you save yourself, and the world, by switching to more efficient bulbs? Use this tool to find out.

  • World Electricity Mix interactive map

    The Global Electricity Mix

    An interactive view of how regions and countries around the world generate their power.

Did You Know?

Between 2002 and 2007, the wind power industry in the United States grew by an average of 29 percent annually.

Energy Video

Shop National Geographic

Photo: Complete National Geographic software

SHOP NOW »

NG In the Field

Join Us in the Field »

Energy Tips From National Geographic's Green Guide

  • The Hallowich family Stephanie, Chris, Children--Alie and Nate

    A Dream Dashed by the Rush on Gas

    The shale gas industry maintains that it protects drinking water and land. But mistrust has been sown in rural communities.

  • Lee Zavislak learns to drive an 18-wheel truck at the Western Area Career and Technology Center in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.

    New Jobs Through Energy

    The industry promises jobs to a state badly in need of an economic boost, but the work so far isn't where you might expect it to be.

Read More in National Geographic's Green Guide »

More From National Geographic