INTERACTIVE WEB-BASED CARBON FOOTPRINT CALCULATOR FOR EDUCATIONAL AND AWARENESS PURPOSES

Authors : Ali Özhan Akyüz, Kazım Kumaş
Pages : 290-302
Doi:10.62301/usmtd.1822483
View : 71 | Download : 237
Publication Date : 2025-12-26
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :This study presents the development of an interactive web-based simulation designed to help individuals increase their environmental awareness by calculating their annual carbon footprint. The application is built entirely with client-side HTML, CSS, and JavaScript components, requiring no server connection or data sharing. The user can provide parameters such as electricity consumption, type and distance of transportation, heating fuel, flight frequency, diet profile, and waste recycling rate as inputs. The model calculates the total carbon footprint in tCO2e/year by multiplying the annual emissions derived from these inputs by typical emission factors. The calculated results are presented separately for six main categories (Electricity, Transportation, Heating, Flights, Diet, and Waste) and visualized using a dynamic bar chart with the HTML5 Canvas API. Furthermore, the user can observe the effect of changes in the energy mix on total emissions in real-time by switching between the TR Grid, EU Average, and Low Carbon scenarios. The application’s strengths include its browser-based architecture, which protects data privacy; real-time calculation; and a customizable modeling approach enabled by its parametric structure. However, emission factors based on national averages and simplified diet/waste models mean the results are approximate in nature. In conclusion, the developed simulation serves not only as a calculation tool but also as an educational instrument that contributes to developing behavioral awareness by visualizing users\\\' lifestyle-related emissions. It is assessed that such open-source digital tools can be effective supportive elements in achieving carbon neutrality goals at both the individual and institutional levels.
Keywords : Karbon Ayak İzi, Emisyon Faktörleri, Çevresel Farkındalık

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