Quick Look at Some Data Each of the following releases one ton (2,000 pounds) of CO2:
90 lb of red meat (cows' methane & growing grain)
300 lb of chicken, fish or eggs
700 lb of cereal or carbohydrate
1,200 lb of fruit or vegetables
1,000 lb of paper or plastic
1 year of electricity at constant 100 watts
26 square feet of living & working space (building it)
100 square feet of solar collectors
20,000 gallons of hot water
700,000 disposable plastic bags, recycled
1,600 miles in a 28 mpg car
1,600 passenger miles in a plane
2,000 miles in a 40 mpg car
3.000 passenger miles in a local bus
3,000 miles walking (producing food; shoes, sidewalks)
5,000 passenger miles in a train
8,000 miles bicycling (pedal or electric)
12,000 passenger miles in a long distance bus
(These include making vehicle, road, rails, airports, etc.)
$1,500 spent on construction in USA
$2,000 spent on hotels or restaurants in USA
$3,000 spent on education, health, telephone, internet in USA
$7,000 spent on computers in USA
$1,600 spent in China, overall average
$1,700 spent in USA, overall average
$2,300 spent in India
Just a little meat, driving, flying, buying or construction creates a ton of CO2. Keep your eye on these; they are far more important than hot water, disposable plastic bags, or unplugging equipment.