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Sample Climate Change Audit

Learning Objectives

• To have students quantify their own carbon footprints.
• To quantify the school's carbon footprint.
• To identify ways that students can reduce both their own footprint and their school's.

Curriculum Links

• Social Studies, Science, Math, Government, Economics

Eco-Schools USA Pathways

• Climate Change, Energy, Transportation, Consumption and Waste

Calculating Your Carbon Footprint

"Carbon footprint" is an expression that describes how much carbon dioxide a person (or entity such as a school) releases over time. Assessing your school's carbon footprint is a way to measure the impact your school's activities and behaviors have on the environment. The more energy, paper, and other supplies your school uses, the bigger your school's footprint or impact.

There are many different calculator tools available to help you measure your carbon footprint. These calculators can be very simple or very complex. Here is one way you could approach it.

1) Personal Footprints. To begin the process, have students use the calculator at Meet the Greens to determine their personal carbon footprint. When students have their results, review their footprint scores as a class and discuss which activities emit the most and least carbon. Have students think about specific actions they could take to reduce their own footprints. 

NOTE: The personal footprint audit is not required, but an optional step to help prepare students for completing the school footprint audit.

2) School Footprint. Follow with a carbon audit of your school using:

• Cool School Challenge's Classroom Carbon Calculator. This calculator, part of a school-based carbon reduction program developed by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency in Washington state, helps schools estimate CO₂ emissions from electricity, heating, waste and transportation. It provides step-by-step instructions to guide you through the audit process. Click on the link above to find out how you can not only utilize this calculator, but work to become an Eco-School AND a Cool School at the same time!

• EPA's Climate Change Emission Calculator Kit (Climate Check). This more detailed calculator helps students to learn about climate change, estimate their school's greenhouse gas emissions and conceptualize ways to mitigate their footprint. The EPA also provides schools across the nation an opportunity to compare energy use through their Portfolio Manager.

For additional carbon calculators, check out the Resources for this Pathway.

Also, check out NWF's Climate Classroom.org and the An Inconvenient Truth curriculum you'll find there. It includes lesson plans for exploring the science of the carbon cycle and investigating sources of carbon in students' daily lives.