Emission factors used
- Petrol: about 2.31 kg CO₂ per litre burned
- Diesel: about 2.68 kg CO₂ per litre burned
- Grid electricity in India: about 0.71 kg CO₂ per kWh, close to the Central Electricity Authority's national average
Fuel factors come from the carbon content of the fuel itself and are almost the same worldwide. The electricity factor depends on how much of the grid's power comes from coal, so it is falling slowly as solar and wind grow.
Example
A scooter using 40 litres of petrol a month and a home using 250 units of electricity produce about 270 kg of CO₂ a month, or roughly 3.2 tonnes a year.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my electricity use?
Your bill shows units consumed. One unit is one kWh.
Does this include emissions from producing the fuel?
No, only burning it. Refining and transport add roughly another 15–20% for petrol and diesel.
What about CNG and LPG?
You can use the petrol row with a custom factor: about 2.75 kg CO₂ per kg of CNG and 2.98 kg per kg of LPG.
Sources
- IPCC Emission Factor Database ↗ – petrol and diesel factors
- Central Electricity Authority ↗ – India's grid CO₂ factor