Environmental impact calculator

Figures marked "modelled estimate" combine two or more cited sources together with an assumption Alia has made explicit in the numbered list below. Source data, methodologies, and emission/equivalency factors may be updated, superseded, or corrected over time without notice. If you require verified information about the environmental performance of a specific product, please contact Alia Global directly.

1. Bottle CO₂ avoided (82.8 g per 500 mL bottle): a conservative figure. The peer-reviewed life cycle assessment by Quantis for Nestlé Waters North America (2010) put a half-litre serving of bottled water at about 140–160 g CO₂e, so the calculator uses a lower value.
2. Plastic avoided (~12 g per bottle): Sidel (2007) put a typical 500 mL PET water bottle at 13–16 g; industry reports for the International Bottled Water Association show averages have since fallen to about 9–10 g. The calculator uses a mid-range 12 g.
3. Landfill volume avoided (~0.5 L per bottle): geometric estimate of an uncompacted 500 mL PET bottle's physical volume — treat it as indicative only.
4. Kettle energy use (0.114 kWh per litre boiled): UK Energy Saving Trust estimate of ~0.2 kWh to boil a full kettle (~1.75 L).
5. Boiling water tap saving vs. kettle (25%): modelled estimate. A UK maker's published test (Our Taap) measured about 24% less energy a year than a kettle for four mugs a day, including its system's standby energy. That test isn't independent and isn't of an Alia product, and the calculator doesn't measure the X51's own standby or manufacturing energy. Your saving depends on how you use your kettle.
6. Grid electricity emissions factor (0.66 kg CO₂e/kWh): Australian Government (DCCEEW) National Greenhouse Accounts Factors, national weighted average. State factors vary substantially (Tasmania ≈0.20, Victoria ≈0.78) — this calculator uses the national figure by default; choose your state under "Electricity grid" to use its factor where one is listed.
7. Sparkling water CO₂ retained (~20% of bottled-sparkling baseline): based on a Carbon Trust (UK) finding that home carbonation of tap water reduces the carbon footprint by roughly 80% relative to store-bought sparkling water in virgin PET bottles, with the remainder attributed to CO₂ canister production and refill logistics. Modelled estimate.
8. Car travel equivalent (0.251 kg CO₂ per km): US EPA, average passenger vehicle emits ~400 g CO₂ per mile.
9. Tree CO₂ absorption (60.6 kg CO₂ per tree over 10 years): US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator seedling methodology (1 metric ton CO₂ ≈ 16.5 tree seedlings grown for 10 years).
10. Flight time equivalent (90 kg CO₂ per passenger-hour): carbonindependent.org estimate for a long-haul flight (Boeing 747-400 class aircraft).
11. Older single-flush toilet baseline (12 L per flush): Australian Government energy.gov.au, describing a typical old single-flush toilet.
12. Alia Smart Toilet flush volume (3.2 L average): Alia's own published WELS (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards) certification, Water Rating Licence No. 2106, measured under standard WELS test conditions.
13. Flushes per day (4): Australian Government water-efficiency guidance default assumption (one full flush plus several half flushes per person per day).
14. Embodied carbon of mains water supply (~0.5 kg CO₂e per kL): indicative mid-point of the range typically reported by Australian water utilities for the energy used in sourcing, treating, and pumping potable water (commonly cited in the order of 0.2–1.0 kg CO₂e/kL). General indicative figure, not specific to any one water authority.
15. Household presets: a starting point you can change with − and +. The smart toilet presets use 4 flushes per person per day [13]; the tap presets use 1 uses per person per day.
16. Savings rates: illustrative rates set by Alia, not your own tariffs: electricity 28c per kWh; mains water $2.86 per kL; bottled water $0.35 per 500 mL bottle; filter and CO₂ cylinder costs aren't included. Your own bills, prices and habits will differ.