ZeroCarbon API - 5 Minute Quickstart

Get your first carbon footprint calculation in under 5 minutes. No signup required for testing.

🚀 One-Line Demos

Option 1: Node.js (Fastest)

npx zerocarbon-quickstart

Option 2: Python

pip install zerocarbon && python -m zerocarbon.quickstart

Option 3: cURL (Zero Installation)

curl -X POST https://api.zerocarbon.codes/v1/emissions/calculate \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"source":"electricity","value":1000,"unit":"kWh","country":"US"}'

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🎮 Interactive Demos

Try on Replit

Try on CodeSandbox

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📖 5-Minute Tutorial

Step 1: Calculate Emissions (No Auth Needed)

Node.js

constaxios=require('axios');constresponse=awaitaxios.post('https://api.zerocarbon.codes/v1/emissions/calculate',{source: 'electricity',value: 1000,unit: 'kWh',country: 'US'});console.log(`Your emissions: ${response.data.emissions_kg_co2e} kg CO2e`);// Output: Your emissions: 386.5 kg CO2e

Python

importrequestsresponse=requests.post('https://api.zerocarbon.codes/v1/emissions/calculate', json={
'source': 'electricity',
'value': 1000,
'unit': 'kWh',
'country': 'US'
}
)
print(f"Your emissions: {response.json()['emissions_kg_co2e']} kg CO2e")
# Output: Your emissions: 386.5 kg CO2e

Step 2: Calculate Real-World Scenarios

Flight Emissions

curl -X POST https://api.zerocarbon.codes/v1/calculate/flight \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{ "from": "SFO", "to": "JFK", "passengers": 1, "class": "economy" }'

Vehicle Emissions

constemissions=awaitfetch('https://api.zerocarbon.codes/v1/calculate/fuel',{method: 'POST',headers: {'Content-Type': 'application/json'},body: JSON.stringify({fuel_type: 'gasoline',distance: 100,unit: 'miles'})});

Step 3: Get Free API Key (30 seconds)

For persistent tracking and dashboard access:

# Sign up via API (no email verification needed)
curl -X POST https://api.zerocarbon.codes/v1/demo-request \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{ "name": "Your Name", "email": "you@company.com", "company": "Your Company" }'# Instant API key in response:# { "api_key": "zc_xxxxx", "dashboard_url": "https://app.zerocarbon.codes" }

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🏗️ Complete Example Apps

Express.js Server (3 minutes)

git clone https://github.com/zerocarbon/examples
cd examples/nodejs-express
npm install && npm start

Flask API (3 minutes)

git clone https://github.com/zerocarbon/examples
cd examples/python-flask
pip install -r requirements.txt && python app.py

Next.js Dashboard (5 minutes)

git clone https://github.com/zerocarbon/examples
cd examples/nextjs-dashboard
npm install && npm run dev

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🎯 Common Use Cases

Scenario 1: E-commerce Carbon Labels

// Add carbon footprint to product pagesconstgetShippingEmissions=async(weight,distance)=>{constres=awaitfetch('https://api.zerocarbon.codes/v1/calculate/shipping',{method: 'POST',body: JSON.stringify({weight_kg: weight,distance_km: distance})});returnres.json();};// Display: "This shipment produces 2.3 kg CO2e"

Scenario 2: SaaS Carbon Dashboard

// Track your infrastructure emissionsconsttrackCloudEmissions=async()=>{constemissions=awaitzerocarbon.calculate({source: 'aws_compute',instance_hours: 730,region: 'us-east-1'});awaitzerocarbon.emissions.save({category: 'cloud_infrastructure',value: emissions.kg_co2e});};

Scenario 3: Travel Booking Carbon Offset

// Offer carbon offsets at checkoutconstflight=awaitzerocarbon.calculate.flight({from: 'LAX',to: 'LHR',passengers: 2});constoffsetCost=flight.emissions_kg_co2e*0.015;// $15 per tonne// Show: "Add carbon offset for $22.50?"

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📊 What You Get

• Instant calculations - No rate limits for testing
• 200+ emission factors - Electricity, fuel, flights, shipping, etc.
• Global coverage - Country-specific emission factors
• GHG Protocol compliant - Scope 1, 2, 3 classifications
• Auto-generated reports - BRSR, SEC, TCFD, CDP formats

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💡 Why Developers Love It

✅ No authentication for quick testing
✅ RESTful API with predictable endpoints
✅ JSON in, JSON out - No XML, no SOAP
✅ Native SDKs for Node.js, Python, Go, Ruby
✅ Webhook support for async calculations
✅ OpenAPI spec for auto-generating clients

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🔗 Next Steps

• Full API Documentation
• Interactive API Explorer
• Example Applications
• Get Production API Key

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💬 Questions?

• Discord: discord.gg/zerocarbon
• Email: developers@zerocarbon.codes
• Docs: docs.zerocarbon.codes

Try it now:npx zerocarbon-quickstart