Version information

Version 4

The current version of the calculator (Version 4) dates from January 2019 with changes to incorporate the latest emission factors and other information.

The main changes from Version 3 to Version 4 were as follows.

1. Electricity:

The CO2 emission factor was changed to 0.309 kge / kWh from 0.527 kg / kWh.
CO2 emissions have fallen because of the switch from coal to gas in UK electricity generation. (Jan 2019)

An option for accommodation in a student hall of residence was added, with a value of 2000kWh electricity use per person per year (Feb 2020).

2. Gas:

An option for accommodation in a student hall of residence was added, with a value of 5000kWh gas use per person per year (Feb 2020).

3. Typical car fuel use figures

Figures were updated from the DEFRA car emissions factors used in Version 3,

from

SizeEngine size (litres)mpggCO2 per mile*
small car< 1.5 37 390
medium car1.5 - 2.0 33 430
large car> 2.0 24 600
*calculated from mpg and CO2 emissions of 14.3 kg per gallon

to

measured values taken from the Which magazine:
SizeAverage mpggCO2 per mile*
Small, medium, large, city and estate cars52280
MPVs and small & medium SUVs46310
Sports cars and large SUVs35410
*calculated from mpg and CO2 emissions of 14.3 kg per gallon
(Jan 2020)

Version 3

Version 3 of the calculator was published in March 2008. It is still available at https://www.carbonindependent.org/index_v3.html to enable a like-for-like comparison with previous carbon footprint estimates made using Version 3.

The main changes in Version 3 from Version 2 were:

The factors unchanged were:

Updates were made in December 2013 to include coal, wood, bottled gas, and newer "green" electricity tariffs.

Cosmetic changes were made in February 2015, together with a change from .htm to .html filetype, but there were no changes to the underlying calculations.

Version 2

Version 2 was first published in August 2007 - and was superseded in March 2008.

Version 1

Version 1 was first published in February 2007 - and was superseded in August 2007.



First published: 2008
Last updated: 18 Sep 2023