With the yearly global carbon dioxide emissions reaching 37.55 billion metric tons in 2023 we are in an era where every bit of energy consumption is under scrutiny, and understanding the tangible impact of carbon emission is crucial for any environmental conversation. Let's break it down by first examining what we talk about when we mention carbon emissions, then visualising what a ton of carbon looks like. Even though it is just a fraction of our yearly emissions, it will provide a basis for understanding what 37.55 billion metric tons looks like.

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Key terms in carbon emissions explained

The conversation surrounding carbon has been filled with a variety of terms such as, greenhouse gases, carbon, and carbon dioxide (CO2) – all used interchangeably despite meaning different things. This makes the impact and meaning of the terms hard to understand.

First, it is crucial to understand the different terms:

• Greenhouse gases (GHG) include a variety of gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, all of which trap heat in the atmosphere.
• Carbon dioxide (CO2), a specific type of greenhouse gas, is produced by burning fossil fuels and is a primary driver of global warming.
• Carbon often refers to carbon emissions, which include CO2 and other carbon-based greenhouse gases.

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We typically use CO2 when measuring human impact on global warming, the climate crisis, and health problems attributed to them. Because CO2 is the most common greenhouse gas, the impact of other greenhouse gases is often measured in terms of their "carbon dioxide equivalent" (CO2e), highlighting how their effects on global warming are compared to CO2.

Compared to other GHGs, carbon dioxide lingers in the Earth's atmosphere for a long time, breaking down very slowly. After 1000 years, around 15 to 40 per cent of it remains in the atmosphere. However, the entire decomposition process takes several hundred thousand years.

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The physical volume: visualising CO2

When thinking of what a ton of CO2 would look like it’s hard to picture just how much it is, and what it takes to create that amount of carbon emissions. One ton of CO2, when visualised, is equivalent to a 8.13 metres high cube (Carbon Visuals, n.d.). 

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Another visual example of what one ton of CO2 looks like is 500 CO2 fire extinguishers.

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The average Danish adult is responsible for emitting 11 of these cubes or 5,500 CO2 fire extinguishers a year (Denmark's Global Climate Impact, 2023). To further put this into perspective, at the 2015 Paris agreement governments agreed to limiting global heating to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and to stay within that frame every person would need to emit an average of 2.3 tons of CO2 a year. 

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Everyday actions and their impact on CO2

Everyday actions contribute significantly to CO2 levels. Driving a standard car for 2,500 miles (ca. 4,023 km), for instance, generates approximately one ton of CO2 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2023). To capture this CO2 again would require 50 trees to grow for one year. 

To further contextualise it within our everyday lives, one tonne of CO2 is equivalent to:

• A car on gasoline driving for half a year.
• A car on electricity driving for one year.
• 72 trips from Amsterdam to Paris with the Thalys.
• 2.6 economy flights from Amsterdam to Rome.
• Charging 121,643 smartphones.

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Isn’t it surprising how everyday activities can add up?

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Reducing carbon footprint through intelligent energy optimisation 

At Ento, we help with energy optimisation efforts by using data and artificial intelligence to gain insights into your buildings energy performance, helping our customers save 9.500 tons CO2e annually. We offer different product solutions that can aid in the reduction of energy usage and save on carbon emissions:‍

Ento Advisor: Provides a comprehensive overview of potential energy-saving opportunities within your buildings. These opportunities not only lead to financial savings but also contribute to significant carbon reductions, addressing current environmental challenges.

Ento Control: Uses AI to optimise and automatically control HVAC systems, simplifying the process of reducing both emissions and costs.

Ento Strategy: Helps in setting long-term energy optimisation goals, further reducing carbon and overall greenhouse gas emissions from sources such as fossil fuel combustion.

These solutions empower you to make informed decisions about energy use and contribute to a more sustainable future. How much CO2 do you think you can save by optimising your energy use? Find out by booking a demo. 

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Sources

_{Denmarks Global climate Impact. (2023). Danish energy agency. https://ens.dk/sites/ens.dk/files/EnergiKlimapolitik/final_denmarks_global_climate_impact_-_global_report_2023.pdf}

_{Resources — carbon visuals. (n.d.). Carbon Visuals. https://www.carbonvisuals.com/resources}

_{Statista. (2024, June 13). Annual global emissions of carbon dioxide 1940-2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/276629/global-co2-emissions/}

_{U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2023, August 28). Greenhouse gas emissions from a typical passenger vehicle. EPA. Retrieved April 16, 2024, from https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/greenhouse-gas-emissions-typical-passenger-vehicle}

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