About us

What is the CoolClimate Calculator?

The CoolClimate Calculator has been designed to help US households evaluate their complete climate footprints, including all direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation, household energy, food, goods and services. Users of the tool can compare their results to typical households in their city or region, and to households with similar size and income, the US average and the global average. The save and load feature allows users to track their results over time, and to see how changes in their lifestyle can lead to reductions in their total climate footprints.

In Fall 2008, in collaboration with CoolCalifornia, we will release an improved version of the tool that provides local default climate footprint estimates, and an advanced recommendations engine that allows users to see which actions they can take to save both money and greenhouse gases. We are also developing customized tools for businesses, schools and community groups. For more information please contact us.

Download the full CoolClimate Research Program Overview, January 2009

Who developed the CoolClimate Calculator?

The CoolClimate Calculator was developed by researchers at the Berkeley Institute of the Environment (BIE) at the University of California, Berkeley. BIE is co-directed by professors Daniel M. Kammen and Inez Fung. Christopher M. Jones (lead researcher) and graduate student Sally Maki developed the existing tool. Christopher M. Jones developed previous versions of the calculator, dating back to the first version in 2003 (see working paper).

The calculator has received financial support from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (Urban Sustainability Initiative: PI, Daniel Kammen), the World Wildlife Fund (PI, Daniel Kammen), the Berkeley Institute of the Environment and the Center for Information Technology in the Interest of Society.

The California Air Resources Board provided source data (utilities, air travel and public transportation) and technical support for the California version of the tool, CoolCalifornia.org, which is a joint project of the California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission, the Berkeley Institute of the Environment, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Next Ten.