• Carbon footprints contribute to the release of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere.footprint image by Svetlana Gurdina from Fotolia.com
  
  Carbon footprint projects are an excellent way to research and present important environmental topics and bring environmental awareness to your school or community. A carbon footprint is the measure of emitted carbon caused by the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by an individual, household or business. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that builds in our atmosphere, trapping heat around our planet. Carbon dioxide is released through combustion of fossil fuels, such as the exhaust of an engine, burning of coal in a power plant, or burning other organic materials. Other less common gases that contribute to an increased carbon footprint are nitrous oxide and methane.
  
  

Calculate Carbon Footprint

• Calculate your carbon footprint and compare it to the carbon footprint of people in other countries. Complete the Carbon Footprint Calculator at nature.org. This calculator will ask short multiple-choice questions to calculate your or your household's carbon footprint, and compare it to other footprints around the world. Use this tool to calculate your classroom's or school's total carbon footprint. Present your data on a backboard display or PowerPoint presentation, detailing the definition of a carbon footprint, your school's carbon footprint, another country's carbon footprint, and how to reduce a carbon footprint.
  
  

Calculate Carbon Dioxide Emissions

• Carbon dioxide is commonly released into our atmosphere through vehicle exhaust.exhaust fulmes image by bilderbox from Fotolia.com
  
  Carbon dioxide is released into our atmosphere by burning fossil fuels from automobiles, airplanes, boats and other vehicles. These types of emissions are called production emissions. Calculate total emissions used by you, your school or your classroom per day by using the Carbon Dioxide Emissions Calculator at carbonify.com. Present your results with a PowerPoint presentation, public service announcement or backboard display.
  
  

Carbon Footprint Education Project

• Recycling and reducing the use of manufactured goods reduces our carbon footprint. The manufacturing of items releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere because factories emit greenhouse gases through the processes of manufacturing, shipping and selling goods. Reducing the purchase of items reduces the need for companies to manufacture them, therefore reducing the carbon footprint over time. Execute a survey asking others which items they use most often. You may choose to give people a variety of items, such as a checklist, to choose from. Compile your survey data and research what the carbon footprints of the most popular items are. Present your findings, and educate others about the importance of reducing and reusing items to reduce their carbon footprint.