Problem-
To clearly define the problem there is a level of understanding that is needed in order to fully comprehend the issue. Firstly, there is an atmosphere surrounding earth which is comprised of key gases including nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases (Freedman, Chapter 3, pp. 52-53). Some of these trace gases are greenhouse gases (GHG's) like methane, and nitrous oxide (EPA, n.d.3). When the sun sends solar electromagnetic radiation through space it penetrates our world's atmosphere and gets absorbed by the earth's surface where it is then re-radiated in the form of long-wave infrared radiation. If the atmosphere were non-existent, these waves of infrared radiation would scatter out into space and would drastically reduce the temperature of the earth. This is where our greenhouse gases come into play. GHG's are effective at absorbing this infrared radiation and get heated as a result. Some of this thermal energy is then re-radiated in all directions, including back towards the earth's surface. The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring, and needed system in order to maintain biological life (Freedman, Chapter 17, pp. 395-397).
However, over the last almost 275 years the rate of greenhouse gas emission has increased rapidly due to increases in anthropogenic activities. If greenhouse gases are known to influence the greenhouse effect, then it's easy to make the connection that an increase of these gases in the atmosphere will result in a more intense and expedited warming of the earth. This can then contribute to global warming (Freedman, Chapter 17, pp 397), which will cause innumerable issues in the environment and ultimately present challenges of survival to all biological life.
So the problem is this: what changes can I make in my life that will result in an overall decrease of both my direct and indirect anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions?
Investigation-
In order to figure out what changes I should make to reduce my greenhouse gas emissions I first did some preliminary research to figure out what exactly greenhouse gases were (EPA, n.d.4), and what anthropogenic activities, whether direct or indirect, contribute to their release into the atmosphere (EPA, n.d.3). Next, I tracked my habits over the course of four days in order to analyze what direct and indirect ways I added GHG to the atmosphere. Then, I began to research how to identify and quantify my carbon emissions (EPA, n.d.2). After gathering the information I needed to quantify my carbon emissions I began analyzing and interpreting my data, which lead me to the explanations and solutions below.
Data analysis and Interpretation-
I drive to my parents house 3 times a week, the grocery store twice, Austin once, and my friend's house three times, making my total commute to and from equal to about 477 miles per week (MPW).
477 MPW x 52 weeks a year =24,804 miles of travel annually.
I drive a 2003 Toyota Camry 6 cylinder, that uses regular gas and gets on average 21 MPG (EPA, n.d.1).
24,804 miles travelled annually/ 21 MPG = 1,181 gallons of gas used.
1 gallon of consumed gas = 19.6 lbs of carbon dioxide (CO2) (EPA, n.d.2).
1,181 gallons of gas consumed annually = 23,147.6 lbs of CO2.
1 metric ton = 2,204.62 lbs (Convert Pounds to Metric Ton).
23,147.6 lbs of CO2 = 10.5 metric tons of CO2 that I produced from driving.
I obtained access to my household's energy and natural gas usage records over the last year via the CPS energy website and was able to gather information to make the following calculations:
Electricity usage:
Annually I use about 25,299 kilowatt- hours (kWh) of electricity.
According to the EPA, one megawatt-hour (mWh) of electricity = 1,072.1 lbs of CO2 (EPA, n.d.2).
1 mWh = 1,000 kWh ("What Is a Megawatt and a Megawatt-Hour?").
25,299 kWh/1,000 = 25.299 mWh.
25.299 mWh x 1,072 lbs of CO2 = 27,120.528 lbs of CO2 produced.
1 metric ton = 2,204.62 lbs (Convert Pounds to Metric Ton).
So 27,120.528 lbs of CO2 = 12.30 metric tons of carbon dioxide that I emit annually from electricity use.
Natural gas usage:
I use about 13 ccf (volume of 100 cubic feet) of natural gas annually.
1 ccf = 100 cubic feet (cf) ("Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)").
13 ccf = 1300 cf.
1 cf = 0.0549 kg of CO2.
1300 cf x 0.0549 = 71.37 kg of CO2.
1 metric ton = 1000 kg (EPA, n.d.2).
71.37 kg of CO2 per cubic foot = 0.07137 metric tons of CO2 produced in my house annually via natural gas use.
Explanations and designing solutions-
From the data collected I can conclude that my overall CO2 emissions from the three activities listed equals about 22.9 metric tons annually. According to the American Red Cross association the typical American travels 13,500 miles a year, which is almost 12,000 miles under what I typically drive annually (Research, Car and Driver). A statement made by the EPA also states that the average household in America produces 5.906 metric tons of CO2 from just electricity alone (n.d.2), which is almost half of the total energy I produce. These are my biggest areas of GHG emissions, and some ways I plan to cut them down include:
- Visit my friends in Austin when I travel there for doctors appointments instead of making special trips. I can also visit my family once a week instead of three times. This will reduce my travel by 10,704 miles a year, meaning 509.7 gallons of gas will be saved, translating to about 4.5 metric tons of carbon not being released in the atmosphere.
- Unplug all of my appliances when not in use, turn the air conditioner to 76 during the day time, and turn off lights. If I can reduce my annual electricity consumption by 3,000 kWh then I can cut my carbon dioxide emissions by 1.5 metric tons.
Works cited:
Freedman, Bill. “Chapter 17: Atmospheric Gases and Climate Change .” Environmental Science: a Canadian Perspective, by Bill Freedman, W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2012, pp. 395–397.
Freedman, Bill. “Chapter 3: The Physical World.” Environmental Science: a Canadian Perspective, by Bill Freedman, W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2012, pp. 52–53.
“Convert Pounds to Metric Ton - Conversion of Measurement Units.” Convert Units, www.convertunits.com/from/pounds/to/metric ton.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (n.d.1). “Fuel Economy of 2003 Toyota Camry .”the Official Government Source for Fuel Economy Information, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=noform.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (n.d.2). “Greenhouse Gases Equivalencies Calculator - Calculations and References.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 27 May 2020, www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gases-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (n.d.3). “Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 11 Apr. 2020, www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (n.d.4). “Overview of Greenhouse Gases.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 28 May 2020, www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases.
“Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).” Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) , U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=45.
Research, Car and Driver. “What Is Average Mileage Per Year?” Car and Driver, American Red Cross , 8 Aug. 2020, www.caranddriver.com/research/a32880477/average-mileage-per-year/.
“What Is a Megawatt and a Megawatt-Hour?” Cleanenergyauthority.com, 2010, www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-resources/what-is-a-megawatt-and-a-megawatt-hour.
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