It is EASY to take the Carbon Challenge

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

How do I get to the Carbon Challenge?

What information do I need to take the Challenge?

  1. Electricity usage for a year
  2. Heating usage (oil, gas, propane)
  3. Miles per gallon for your cars
  4. Miles driven in a year for your cars

What if I don't have that information?

You can take the Challenge anyway!
You can use the Challenge's average figures for these amounts.
It is OK to guess.

I don't have a computer, or I don't know how to use a computer

Come into the library.  We have computers and will be happy to help you take the Challenge.
 

I have the information, but can't figure out what to do with it.

Bring your data to the library and we'll be happy to help you take the Challenge.

I know how much money I spent on electricity and heating, but not how many KWH or gallons of oil, what now?

The Challenge has a conversion utility that will tell you what your usage was.

How do I figure out my Electricity usage for a year?

On your latest electric bill there is a bar graph that shows how many KWH you have used for the past 13 months.  Use this graph to figure out what you have used in the last 12 months - or bring your electric bill to the library and we'll figure it out for you.

How do I know how many gallons of oil, or how much propane or gas I've used for heating?

Just call your heating supplier and ask how much you have used in the last year.  They can tell you very easily.

I don't know how many miles per gallon my car gets.

  1. Fill your gas tank and write down the mileage that is on your odometer.
  2. Drive around as usual.
  3. The next time you fill your tank, record the number of gallons you added and your car's new mileage.
  4. Figure out how many miles you drove between fillups (new mileage - old mileage)
  5. Miles per gallon is miles driven divided by gallons added (miles driven/gallons added)
We can help you with the math, if you bring in the original mileage, new mileage and gallons used.
 
OR go to http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=browseList to look up your car's average miles per gallon.

I don't know how many  miles I drive in a year.

  1. If you subtract the original mileage when you purchased your car from its current mileage, you will know how many miles you have driven. 
  2. Divide that by the number of years you have owned your car.

I still need help

 
Just come into the library, or give us a call (329-6411) and we will be happy to help you.