Guide Goals: Sections 1-3
What shared participation could change.
This base scenario looks only at the broadly accessible first three sections: everyday habits, home efficiency, and cleaner power. It compares the same cumulative path at 1 million, 10 million, and 100 million participating households.
Major milestone: 10 million households
40 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent per year.
If people in 10 million households completed and maintained the first three Guide sections, ACC's base model equals 40 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent avoided each year.
10,000,000 households
x
4.0 tCO2e per household per year
=
40 MMT CO2e per year
What 40 MMT means
Forty million metric tons of climate-warming gases expressed in one common CO2-equivalent unit.
What 0.63% compares
40 MMT divided by EPA's 2022 gross U.S. total of 6,343.2 MMT CO2e. Gross means before subtracting carbon removed by land and forests.
Why the vehicle comparison helps
EPA estimates a typical gasoline passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of CO2 in one year. This comparison shows scale; it does not mean every Guide action comes from driving.
Important: this is scenario math, not a prediction, measured result, or guarantee. Household results vary, and large participation would depend on access, adoption, and actions being maintained.
What is included
Three sections. One cumulative foundation.
The main model includes only Sections 1, 2, and 3. Each step keeps the work before it. Sections 4 and 5 are advanced extensions and are not counted in the 40 MMT or 0.63% milestone above.
1 Everyday habits
1 + 2 Add home efficiency
1 + 2 + 3 Add clean power
The simple version
The effect grows as the household path gets deeper.
These base estimates show the middle of the planning range. Every household will be different.
Everyday habits
Prevent food and material waste, reuse more, buy carefully, and build repeatable routines.
Add home efficiency
Keep the first step, then add weatherization, water-heating, and equipment improvements.
Add clean power
Keep the earlier work, then add solar or cleaner electricity after avoidable energy waste is reduced.
How it builds
Later steps include the earlier ones.
The 4.0-ton estimate is the combined path through Section 3. It is not a separate 4.0 tons added on top of the first two numbers.
Section 1
0.6
Sections 1 + 2
1.5
Sections 1 + 2 + 3
4.0
Keep the numbers in perspective: this is scenario math, not a
promise. Results depend on the home, climate, electricity mix,
starting behavior, access to upgrades, and how consistently the
changes are maintained.
When the path spreads
Participation turns the same household path into collective impact.
The cards below show the combined Sections 1 + 2 + 3 base scenario at three participation levels.
1 million households
4 MMT About 0.06% of the EPA reference and roughly 870,000 vehicle-years.10 million households
40 MMT About 0.63% of the EPA reference and roughly 8.7 million vehicle-years.100 million households
400 MMT About 6.3% of the EPA reference and roughly 87 million vehicle-years.View all three paths at each participation level The deeper comparison is here when you want it. Open tableClose table
| Participating households | Section 1 | Sections 1 + 2 | Sections 1 + 2 + 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 million | 0.60 MMT | 1.50 MMT | 4.00 MMT |
| 10 million | 6.00 MMT | 15.00 MMT | 40.00 MMT |
| 100 million | 60.00 MMT | 150.00 MMT | 400.00 MMT |
MMT means million metric tons. Participation levels are scale examples, not forecasts.
What the numbers mean
Enough detail to understand the model.
Why the model uses households
Sections 2 and 3 include shared home systems such as heating, insulation, appliances, and electricity. The model therefore counts a participating household, not each person in it.
tCO2e and MMT CO2e
tCO2e means one metric ton of greenhouse gases expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent. MMT CO2e means one million of those metric tons.
Gross U.S. annual emissions
EPA's gross national total counts greenhouse gases emitted in one year before subtracting carbon removed by forests, soils, and other land sinks.
Base scenario
ACC uses a central planning value to illustrate scale. It is not a promise about one household or a forecast that any participation milestone will be reached.
Sources and calculation notes Open the evidence behind the planning estimates. View sourcesHide sources
Values are rounded ACC scenarios assembled from government evidence. They are not quotations from one source.
EPA U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory2022 gross U.S. emissions reference: 6,343.2 MMT CO2e.
EPA passenger vehicle estimateAbout 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per typical vehicle per year.
EPA WARM: organic materialsFood prevention and compost factors.
EPA WARM: materialsSource reduction and recycling factors.
U.S. Department of EnergyWeatherization and efficiency findings.
U.S. Energy Information AdministrationAverage household electricity use.
EPA equivalencies calculationsElectricity and emissions comparison factors.
Make it practical
Start with the next useful action.
Use the Guide to understand each step, then use the Companion to work through it at your own pace.