Best Practices

 

Energy

Best Practices

The Energy Accord of the UN Environmental Accords includes Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Climate Change.

In the United States, human-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels in energy use. Fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas, when burned, produce carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. The amount of carbon dioxide produced depends on the carbon content of the fuel; for example, for each unit of energy produced, natural gas emits about half and petroleum fuels about three-quarters of the carbon dioxide produced by coal.

Fossil fuels supply 85 percent of the primary energy consumed in the United States and are responsible for 98 percent of emissions of carbon dioxide. Although the industrial sector is the largest energy consumer, the transportation sector emits more carbon dioxide because of its near complete dependence on petroleum fuels. The residential and commercial sectors have lower emission levels than the transportation and industrial sectors, with the majority of their emissions coming from the combustion of fossil energy to produce purchased electricity.

Local governments can take highly leveraged actions to reduce their contribution to climate changing greenhouse gas emissions by implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, and by developing and implementing a Climate Action Plan.

Last updated September 1, 2009

ENERGY BEST PRACTICES