Documentation

Everything you need to know about tracking and reducing your carbon footprint with CarbonCoach

🚀 Quick Start

1️⃣

Sign Up

Create your free account with email or Google OAuth. Takes less than 30 seconds.

2️⃣

Complete Onboarding

Answer 3 quick questions about your diet, transport, and preferences to get personalized insights.

3️⃣

Start Logging

Log your daily activities and get instant coaching on how to reduce emissions.

📖 Features Guide

📝 Activity Logging

What it does: Track daily activities across 4 categories: Transport, Food, Energy, and Shopping.

How to use:

  • Go to "Today" page
  • Click "Log Activity" button
  • Select category and subcategory
  • Enter details (distance, quantity, duration)
  • Submit to get instant coaching feedback

Pro tip: Use Quick Log buttons for common activities like "Morning Commute" or "Lunch" to save time.

💡 Coaching System

What it does: Provides personalized suggestions after each activity to help you make better choices.

Types of coaching:

  • Transport: Suggests public transport, cycling, or carpooling alternatives
  • Food: Shows CO₂ differences between meat and plant-based options
  • Energy: Tips for reducing electricity and gas usage
  • Shopping: Recommends sustainable alternatives

Example: Log a 10km car trip → Get coaching showing bus would save 1.5kg CO₂ (72% reduction)

🏆 Gamification & Achievements

What it does: Earn XP, level up, unlock badges, and maintain streaks to stay motivated.

Earning XP:

  • Log any activity: +10 XP
  • Log low-emission activity: +15-20 XP
  • Complete challenges: +50-200 XP
  • Maintain streaks: +5-25 XP per day
  • Unlock badges: +10-50 XP

Badge Categories: First Steps, Transport, Food, Energy, Shopping, Streaks, Milestones, Challenges

42 Total Badges to collect including "Early Adopter", "Green Commuter", "Plant Warrior", and "Century Club"

🎯 Challenges

What it does: Set weekly goals to reduce emissions in specific categories.

How to use:

  • Browse challenge templates (Easy, Medium, Hard difficulties)
  • Click "Accept Challenge" to start
  • Log activities as usual - progress tracks automatically
  • Complete challenge to earn badge + bonus XP

Challenge Templates:

  • Easy: "Car-Free Week" - Use public transport 5 times
  • Medium: "Plant Power" - Eat 10 vegetarian meals
  • Hard: "Energy Saver" - Reduce energy usage by 20%

📊 Insights & Analytics

What it does: Visual analytics showing your emissions patterns and trends.

Available charts:

  • Daily Emissions: Line chart of daily totals (last 7 days)
  • Weekly Trends: Bar chart comparing weekly averages
  • Category Breakdown: Pie chart showing emissions by category
  • Emissions Comparison: Compare your footprint to national averages

Key metrics: Total emissions, daily average, weekly trend, category leaders

🗂️ Activity Categories

🚗 Transport

Log trips by car, bus, train, metro, taxi, bicycle, walking, flights, etc.

Required: Distance in km
Emission factors: Car (0.21 kg/km), Bus (0.06 kg/km), Train (0.04 kg/km)

🍽️ Food

Track meals including beef, chicken, fish, vegetarian, vegan, and processed foods.

Required: Number of servings
Emission factors: Beef (10 kg/serving), Chicken (1.5 kg), Vegetarian (0.5 kg)

⚡ Energy

Log electricity, natural gas, heating oil, and renewable energy usage.

Required: Usage in kWh or therms
Emission factors: Electricity (0.5 kg/kWh), Natural Gas (5.3 kg/therm)

🛍️ Shopping

Track purchases of clothing, electronics, furniture, and other goods.

Required: Item type and approximate cost
Emission factors: Varies by product category

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate are the emission calculations?

Our emission factors are based on IPCC data, EPA guidelines, and peer-reviewed research. While estimates may vary ±10-20% from actual emissions, they provide reliable relative comparisons to guide behavior change.

Can I edit or delete logged activities?

Yes! Go to the "Today" page, find the activity in your history, and click the edit or delete icon. Your XP and streaks will be recalculated automatically.

What happens if I miss a day?

Your streak will reset to 0, but your total XP and level are permanent. Start a new streak the next day you log an activity. Grace period badges may still be earned.

Can I export my data?

Yes! Go to Profile → Settings → "Export My Data" to download all your activities, insights, and achievements as a CSV file.

Is there a mobile app?

CarbonCoach is a Progressive Web App (PWA). Install it on your phone by visiting the site in your mobile browser and selecting "Add to Home Screen". It works offline and feels like a native app!

Need More Help?

Can't find what you're looking for? Our support team is here to help.

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