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Starts At Home
A surprising
fact: The average home produces twice as
much greenhouse gas pollution as the
average car! Due to emissions produced by
power plants that generate the
electricity used to run modern homes -
plus home emissions from such things as
oil or gas-fired furnaces - an average
house releases 22,000 pounds of carbon
dioxide (CO2) annually compared to a
typical car's 10,000 pounds of CO2,
estimates the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
The
United States currently emits 45,000
pounds of CO2 annually per person. Most
scientists believe CO2 is contributing to
global climate change. in 1995,
households used one-fifth of the energy
consumed in the United States. About
three-fifths of the energy Americans use
at home is from electricity. The
remainder comes from natural gas and oil.
What's Energy
Energy used to
heat your home and power your TV is not
too different from the energy your body
gets when you eat a bean burrito. Your
body is like a powerhouse, turning food
(fuel) into useable energy - the ability
to do work - and eliminating waste by
products.
A
power plant does the same thing: Coal,
oil, or natural gas (nonrenewable fossil
fuels) go in and get burned up to power a
big generator that sends energy to your
house, with carbon dioxide, some noxious
gases, and / or sludge as byproducts.
The problem: Fossil fuels (from
fossils, or remains, of dead animals and
plants) take millions of years to make.
The volume of byproducts created when we
burn fossil fuels is not easily
reprocessed in our environment and cause
pollution and related health problems.
Energy production and use account for
nearly 80 percent of air pollution, more
than 88 percent of greenhouse gas
emissions, and more environmental damage
than any other human activity.
Energy Efficiency
vs. Energy Conservation
Energy
efficiency is a far cry from old energy
conservation images. it's not turning
down the thermostat and sacrificing
comfort. Energy efficiency means getting
the most from every energy unit by using
state of the art technologies to provide
daily needs - comfortable homes,
profitable businesses, convenient
transportation. It is the single most
immediate, cost effective way to reduce
energy use and pollution.
If
your house were energy efficient, you
could lower your thermostat and be
comfortable day and night, without
drafts, cold spots, or guilt while doing
your share for your family, your finances
and your environment.
Source: "Easy Tips To Save Money And
The Planet", Alliance To Save Energy
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