NCSU Brick

The Carbon Calculator

STEP 4: Automobiles STEP 4: Automobiles
START: Carbon Calculation Step 1: Trees Step 2: Turfgrass STEP 3: Automobiles

STEP 2: Add Turfgrass

First, measure the length of your stride.
Walk five steps and measure the distance that you have walked
Enter the distance of your five steps (in feet):
Next, choose up to 3 of the largest expanses of grass in your yard. Walk the length and width of each one, counting your steps. When you enter these measurements, the calculator will convert the length and width from number of steps to feet.
Zone# Length
(# of steps)
Width
(# of steps)
Length
(feet)
Width
(feet)
Area
(sq. feet)
Carbon Stored
(lbs/year)**
1
2
3

Carbon emissions by turf maintenance activities

Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels are used to produce fertilizers, thus releasing carbon into the atmosphere.
What area (in square feet) of your lawn is fertilized:
never?  
moderately (once or twice per year)?  
heavily (more than twice per year)?  

 

 

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is essential for plant growth, but some of the nitrogen in fertilizers can be released into the atmosphere as nitrous oxide, which is a greenhouse gas. Based on the amount of fertilizer applied to your lawn, about

 

 

Lawn Mowers

Lawn mowers can also use fossil fuels that release carbon into the atmosphere.
The average lawn is mowed about 26 times per year.
How many times per year is your lawn mowed with:
a gasoline-powered lawn tractor (riding mower)?  
a gasoline-powered walk-behind (push) mower?  
a battery-powered mower?  
an electric mower with a cord?  
a nonpowered push mower?


 

The Carbon Calculator


is an educational tool available thanks to the efforts of the following organizations:
NCSU Turfgrass Management Program NCSU Turfgrass Program The Center for Turfgrass Environmental Research & Education NCSU Turfgrass CENTERE Bayer Crop Science Bayer Crop Science

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