Scientists estimate that an email adds about four grams (0.14 ounces) of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere.

 

That means that hitting 'send' on 65 mails is equal to driving an average-sized car a 0.6 miles (1km).

 

This is according to a McAfee study the 'Carbon Footprint of Spam', which also found each time you copy someone else, another six grams of CO2 is added.

 

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly¹ support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide.

 

The average person sends and receives 125 emails every day.

 

When sending emails, greenhouse gases are produced in running the computer, server and routers, and when when the equipment was manufactured.

 

Receiving a spam message, even if you do not open it, has an environmental impact of 0.3g CO2.

 

The global carbon footprint from spam annually² is equivalent to the greenhouse gases pumped out by 3.1 million passenger cars using two billion gallons of gasoline in a year.

 

Sending emails is just one activity on a long list of seemingly harmless everyday actions contribute to emissions³ of CO2.

 

For example, typing in a non-essential Google inquiry⁴ on an energy-efficient laptop leaves a footprint of 0.2g CO2. On an old desktop⁵ computer, it is 4.5g CO2.

 

Sending a text message isn't a less harmful method of communication either, as it comes at a cost of about 0.014g CO2.

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