Homes pollute more than cars

It's official! People produce less pollution while using their car than they do by watching TV, washing the dishes and keeping warm.

Auto Express Car Reviews

Website lets you calculate your carbon footprint through an easy to use calculator

03rd July 2007

That's according to a new Government website, which allows users to work out their annual carbon footprint. The Internet-based calculator at www.direct.gov.uk/actonCO2 takes into account the property you live in, the appliances you have and transport you use.

Auto Express wanted to see exactly how much a car contributes to someone's total carbon output, so we entered figures for one of our team, who lives on his own in a two-bedroom flat in London.

The website found he created 4.06 tonnes of carbon a year heating and lighting his home and powering appliances such as TVs, a fridge and a dishwasher. The transport section of the calculator works out the combined total for public transport use, flights and cars.

Our writer does 10,000 miles a year in a 42mpg Ford Focus 1.6, giving a transport carbon footprint of 2.89 tonnes - that's 42 per cent of the total. Meanwhile, new Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders figures show buyers are switching to less polluting cars. In 2000, 43 per cent of all vehicles sold emitted less than 165g/km. Now, it's 61 per cent.