WHAT impact is YOUR lifestyle having on our precious environment?

Now an online calculator has been launched to help people find out - and help them assess how they can help save the planet.

The website allows people to calculate their individual or household "carbon footprint" by answering a series of questions about their home energy, appliance and transport use.

The Act on CO2 calculator, which can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/ actonCO2, then offers users a personalised action plan,with advice on what steps to take to cut emissions and help tackle climate change. Nationally, the average household emits 10.2 tonnes of carbon per year.

Two Hampshire MPs asked to calculate their own household emissions, were each found to be producing significantly less than that.

Alan Whitehead, Labour MP for Southampton Test, said his carbon footprint shrank from 5.8 tonnes in 2004/5 to just 5.3 tonnes in 2005/6.

He has set himself a personal target of reducing his carbon use by 25 per cent over five years.

The MP said the reduction was principally a result of him using less gas and electricity over the year following the installation of cavity wall insulation and a condensing boiler in his home.

He also used trains for more medium and long-haul journeys.

Damage adds up Dr Whitehead said: "The calculator is an excellent idea. How we live in the future is going to be based on awareness at all levels of how much carbon we are spending.

"This shows how everyone can do their bit."

Chris Huhne, Liberal Democrat MP for Eastleigh, used the website to discover his constituency household produced 8.2 tonnes per year.

Mr Huhne's house has a wind turbine, no microwave, no tumble drier, two cars - one petrol and one hybrid - and he frequently makes long-distance journeys by public transport.

Launching the website at an eco-friendly Internet cafe in central London, Environment Secretary David Miliband said: "Around two-thirds of people are already taking action to try to limit climate change - but there is a lot of confusion about what people can do and how effective those changes actually are.

Impact of actions "We want to cut through that confusion. This carbon calculator will help people decide what they can do - and be sure it will make a difference.

"Using it, people can work out the impact of their actions and, with the tailored recommendations provided by the calculator, identify the best way to reduce their footprint."

Mr Miliband expressed hopes that the calculator would in time become the "gold standard" for calculating CO2 emissions from individuals and families.

Research commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has shown that 94 per cent of people in Britain believe the world's climate is changing and 57 per cent believe we are already feeling the impact of climate change.

Two-thirds of respondents said they were already trying to take personal action to try to limit climate change.