Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Each consumer can have an important impact on indirect energy consumption
through product selection:
■
Try to buy only high-quality and durable products.
■
Give preference to regional products.
■
Select products that require less energy during the manufacturing process
and produce lower emissions.
■
Give preference to companies with environmentally friendly policies.
3.4 The Personal Carbon Dioxide Record
Even if users follow all the energy-saving tips provided, they will probably fi nd that
the carbon dioxide emissions they are responsible for are still quite high. This
section enables readers to do a self-assessment by explaining how to calculate the
carbon dioxide emissions an individual can personally cause.
3.4.1 Emissions Caused Directly by One's Own Activities
The easiest way to determine which emissions are the result of one's own activities
is to look at how much oil, natural gas, petrol and electricity one has used. It is rela-
tively simple to establish the amount of energy consumed per year by checking bills
and invoices.
■
Annual electricity bill
■
Heating bills
■
Number of kilometres driven and average petrol consumption
■
Kilometres travelled using public transport
■
Number of miles fl own
Based on this information, the following calculation method can be used to deter-
mine the emissions resulting from one's own activities.
Specifi c consumption values may have to be adapted to a person's own particular
circumstances. In electricity generation in Germany on average 0.616 kg of carbon
dioxide are produced per kilowatt hour (kg CO
2
/kWh) of electric power. The value
in the USA is roughly the same. Those who get green electricity from renewable
power plants can cut their emissions from electricity consumption to zero.
Emissions from heating can vary considerably. If heat is generated electrically, the
emissions are the same as for the electricity. With modern natural gas heating
0.2 kg CO
2
/kWh of heat is created; with modern oil heating it is 0.28 kg CO
2
/kWh.
With old, ineffi cient heating systems the emissions can rise from 0.25 to 0.35 kg CO
2
/
kWh. Heating with biomass at most generates indirect carbon dioxide emissions due
to processing and transport. With wooden pellets the value is around 0.06 kg CO
2
/kWh.
The carbon dioxide emissions specifi c to a person's own car can be calculated on
the basis of average fuel consumption (see Planning Help, above). With air travel
