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Carbon Footprint
What is it?
Your carbon footprint measures the impact human activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation etc.
The carbon footprint is a measurement of all greenhouse gases we individually produce and has units of tons (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The primary footprint measures our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels for energy use and transportation. We have direct control over these. The secondary footprint measures the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use - those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown. This means the more we buy, the higher the emissions.
How can I figure out what mine is?
There are many calculators available on the Internet that can help you figure out what your carbon footprint is and how to reduce it. KCP&L also has one that gives you suggestions and ideas to be more environmentally conscious.