Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Each German uses about 240 kg of paper each year, each Briton 200 kg or more,
and each US citizen around 300 kg. The production of 1 kg of new paper produces
about 1.06 kg of carbon dioxide. This means that almost 10% of personal consump-
tion is attributed to the use of paper. The energy consumption with the production
of recycled paper drops by around 60% and the carbon dioxide emissions by about
16%. Whereas recycled paper was very popular in the 1980s, many distributors no
longer carry it at all - even though its benefi ts to the environment have not changed.
The reason is weak demand on the part of the consumer because of unfounded
claims that recycled paper destroys printers and copiers and is even damaging to
one 's health.
The rule generally is that anyone who is a consumer is also contributing to high
emissions. On average around 4 to 5 kg of carbon dioxide are created for each euro
spent by consumers. Here too there are many ways to make reductions. High-quality
long-life products almost always produce low amounts of carbon dioxide. Although
they are usually more expensive initially, in the long run they actually protect the
wallet as well as the environment because of their long useful life. Increasing the
use of natural materials may not always be less expensive but it does usually reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. For example, building a new solid house is almost as
expensive as putting up a prefabricated house. However, if wood frame construction
is used for the prefabricated house, the additional use of wood as a building material
will save around 20 to 30% in carbon dioxide emissions. As a result, the savings
potential quickly runs into several tons.
In the following calculation method, the indirectly caused greenhouse gas emissions
can be inserted in the spaces shown.
B. Calculation of Annual Indirect Carbon Dioxide Emissions
3.4.3 Total Emissions
Once the personal direct and indirect emissions have been determined, they can be
added up to get a fi gure for all personal carbon dioxide emissions. Somewhat more
than 10 tons of carbon dioxide are generated on average per head in Germany each
