diff --git a/metrics_snapshot.py b/metrics_snapshot.py
index 6c2a9b1..133a168 100644
--- a/metrics_snapshot.py
+++ b/metrics_snapshot.py
@@ -342,7 +342,19 @@ def impact_for(models: dict[str, int]) -> tuple[float | None, float | None]:
                 break
         f = f or IMPACT_PROXY
         wh += toks / 1000.0 * f["wh_per_1k_out"]
-        co2 += toks / 1000.0 * f["wh_per_1k_out"] / 1e6 * f["gco2e_per_kwh"]
+        # Wh -> kWh is /1e3, then x gCO2e/kWh. This divided by 1e6 once, which
+        # understated carbon exactly 1000x: the energy column stayed plausible
+        # while carbon read ~0.2 g/day for a day using ~1 kWh.
+        co2 += toks / 1000.0 * f["wh_per_1k_out"] / 1e3 * f["gco2e_per_kwh"]
+    # Tripwire against unit errors: the blend of the factors above must imply a
+    # grid intensity inside a sane band (the factors themselves span 24-250).
+    if wh > 0:
+        implied = co2 / wh * 1000.0  # gCO2e per kWh
+        if not (5.0 <= implied <= 500.0):
+            print(
+                f"metrics: WARNING implied grid intensity {implied:.1f} gCO2e/kWh is outside "
+                f"the plausible band — suspect a unit error before trusting these numbers"
+            )
     return round(wh, 6), round(co2, 6)