CommitClimate Simulator

CO₂ (carbon dioxide) emissions are gases released into the atmosphere primarily from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. These emissions contribute to global warming and climate change. CO₂ traps heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to rising global temperatures, extreme weather, and environmental disruptions. Reducing emissions helps slow climate change.

In a typical household CO₂ emissions come from everyday activities like:

• Energy use – Heating, cooling, and using electricity at home, especially if powered by fossil fuels.
• Transportation – Driving a car, flying, or using other fuel-based transport.
• Food choices – Eating high-carbon foods like meat and dairy, or wasting food.
• Shopping habits – Buying new clothes, electronics, and other goods that require energy to produce and transport.
• Waste generation – Throwing away items instead of recycling or repairing them.

• Use public transport, cycle, or walk instead of driving.
• Switch to renewable energy sources where possible.
• Eat more local and plant-based foods and reduce food waste.
• Buy second-hand or repair items instead of purchasing new ones.
• Reduce, reuse, and recycle to minimize waste.

The simulator is a free online tool that helps household residents estimate their carbon footprint and explore ways to reduce it. It was developed by the CommitClimate project team co-funded by the EU Interreg Baltic Sea Region program.

The simulator uses input data such as energy consumption, transportation habits, and diet choices and multiplies it with their respective emission factors to estimate CO₂ emissions. After calculating your footprint, the tool lets you test different actions to lower your carbon impact.

While the tool provides a close estimate, actual carbon footprints may vary based on specific factors not included in the model. Nevertheless, the results are accurate enough to be used as a starting point regarding the implementation of emissions reduction measures.

Yes, your results can be exported as a .csv file using the “Export” button at the end of the simulator. It can be opened in Microsoft Excel by following these steps:

1. Open Excel and go to File > Open > Browse.
2. Select **”Text Files (*.prn; .txt; .csv)” and choose your .csv file.
3. If prompted, use the Import Wizard (choose Delimited, select Comma, then Finish).
4. Save as Excel Workbook (.xlsx) if needed.

No, the simulator runs online and does not require any installation. You can use the simulator on any desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone with an internet connection.

For support or questions, you can reach out to the CommitClimate project team via the Contact page on this website.

The simulator estimates your household’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based on the information you provide about your lifestyle. It looks at key areas like:

• Energy use at home (e.g., heating, electricity, fuel type)

• Transportation habits (e.g., car use, public transport, flights)

• Diet and food consumption (e.g., meat, dairy, plant-based foods)

• Spending and consumption (e.g., shopping, waste)

Each activity is linked to standard emission factors—scientifically estimated amounts of CO₂ and other GHGs produced per unit (like per kilowatt-hour or per kilometer). The tool adds up these values to give you a total footprint and shows which parts of your lifestyle contribute most to your emissions. This helps you see where small changes can make a big impact.