The Design Challenge
“How might we empower our school community to measure, understand, and reduce its carbon footprint using accessible digital tools?”
Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time, but in schools like ours, carbon is often invisible. We consume electricity, we fly for trips, and we eat daily meals, but we rarely see the environmental cost.
My challenge began with a desire to create impact. Initially, I explored a sign language calculator, but I realized the tools I had couldn’t yet support that vision. I asked myself, “What can I build now that still carries impact?” That is how I found carbon.
My goal was to create a Carbon Footprint Calculator that was:
- Accurate: Based on real emission factors for Kenya (e.g., grid intensity, local food sources).
- Accessible: Usable by students on iPads and administrators on laptops.
- Actionable: Providing concrete solutions, not just data.
Summary of Research
1. The Audit (Making the Invisible, Visible)
Before building the app, I had to understand the data. I gathered raw inputs from across the school:
- Receipts & Bills: Electricity (kWh) and LPG (liters) logs.
- Menus: Canteen data to analyze the impact of beef/lamb vs. vegetables.
- Transport Logs: Distances for field trips and flight routes.
I used this data to define the “Scope” of the calculator and researched the specific carbon formulas needed to translate this data into CO₂ equivalents.
2. The Build (From Spreadsheet to Software)
A static spreadsheet is useful, but it doesn’t engage a community. I transitioned to software development, building a single-page application (SPA) using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Key Features:
- Data Persistence: I solved the issue of accidental data loss by implementing
localStorage, ensuring the browser auto-saves every entry. - Dynamic Visuals: I integrated
Chart.jsto provide immediate visual feedback through the use of pie charts and graphs. - Two Interfaces for Two Audiences:
- The “EcoChela” Version: A gamified, student-friendly interface featuring our Axolotl mascot and a “Regrow, Renew, Restore” theme.
EcoChela Carbon Calculator
Regrow, Renew, Restore
Welcome!
This tool is designed to help International Schools in Africa estimate their carbon footprint across a range of activities. To begin, select a category from the menu above. Once you’ve entered the relevant data and generated individual category reports, you can create a full-year carbon report by clicking on the Final Report tab. The final report automatically compiles data from the category reports. You don’t need to complete every category to generate a final report.
This web app was originally developed for the International School of Kenya (ISK), but any school is welcome to use it under a Creative Commons license. While it is most accurate for schools in East Africa, it can serve as a valuable reference tool for schools in other regions as well.
The app was created by Hope Langat as part of her Design Impact Project course at ISK. To learn more about the research and methodologies behind the calculations, please visit the Documentation section below.
Your data is automatically saved in this browser. You can also manually download your data to a file or upload a previously saved file.
Manage Your Data
School Lunch Carbon Footprint Calculator
Calculate the environmental impact of your school’s menu.
Step 1: Enter Two Weeks of Menus
Step 2: Enter School Information
Field Trips Carbon Footprint Calculator
Add each school trip, including all transport legs, to calculate the total carbon footprint from travel.
Enter Annual School Trips
Electrical Consumption Calculator
Enter your school’s monthly electricity usage to calculate its annual carbon footprint.
Step 1: Enter Monthly Consumption (kWh)
Fossil Fuel Consumption Calculator
Enter your school’s monthly diesel and petrol usage to calculate its annual carbon footprint.
Step 1: Enter Monthly Consumption (Liters)
LPG Consumption Calculator
Enter your school’s monthly LPG usage to calculate its annual carbon footprint.
Step 1: Enter Monthly Consumption (kg)
Final Annual Report
An overview of your school’s total estimated carbon footprint for the year.
- The Formal Dashboard: A professional interface designed for School Board presentations.
International School Carbon Footprint Calculator
A Tool for Environmental Assessment & Action
About This Tool
This Carbon Footprint Calculator is specifically designed for international schools to estimate greenhouse gas emissions associated with key operational activities. It provides a standardized method for tracking and reporting environmental impact.
Originally developed for the International School of Kenya (ISK) as part of a Design Impact Project, this tool is now available under a Creative Commons license for educational institutions worldwide. While emission factors are optimized for the East African context, it serves as a valuable educational and assessment tool globally.
To begin, navigate through the tabs to enter data for each category. The tool automatically saves your progress locally. You may also export your data for record-keeping or import previously saved datasets below.
Data Management
Food Services Emissions
Calculate the carbon footprint based on a representative two-week menu cycle.
1. Representative Menu Data
2. Operational Parameters
Transport & Field Trips Emissions
Enter details for all school-sponsored trips to calculate travel-related emissions.
Electrical Consumption Emissions
Record monthly electricity usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh) from utility bills.
Stationary & Mobile Fuel Emissions
Record monthly consumption of Diesel (generators, vehicles) and Petrol (vehicles, equipment).
LPG (Cooking Gas) Emissions
Record monthly consumption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas in kilograms (kg).
Executive Summary Report
Comprehensive overview of the estimated annual carbon footprint based on provided data.
Total Estimated Annual Footprint
0 kg CO₂e
Emissions Breakdown by Category
Link to Process Journal & Final Reflection Video
To view the detailed coding journey, formulas used, and day-to-day challenges of building this app, please visit my full Process Journal or watch the reflection video below.