Greenhouse Gas

Greenhouse Gas Is In The Air We Breathe

What is Greenhouse Gas?

It is a gas that soaks up and releases radiant power within the thermal infrared range, causing the greenhouse effect.

The problem with greenhouse gas is that it contributes to the greenhouse effect. Basically it heats up the earth, pollutes the air and water, and will lead to food shortages. It will also cause diseases such as cancer.

But who contributes to greenhouse gas?

Factory Smoke Stack Pollution
Empty Groceiry Shelf

Who are the Largest Contributors of Greenhouse Gas?

We all contribute to greenhouse gases. The primary contributors are:
  • Industry
  • Agriculture
  • Transportation
  • Electricity production
  • Commercial and residential
  • Land use and forestry

Top Five Contributors​

The top five contributors are:
  • Transportation at 27%
  • Electric Power at 25%
  • Industry at 24%
  • Commercial and residential at 13%
  • Agricultural at 11%

Transportation includes moving of both people and goods by cars, trucks, trains, ships, airplanes, and other vehicles. The majority of emissions from transportation are CO2 from internal combustion engines powered by gas and diesel fuel. The remaining emissions come from other modes of transportation, including commercial aircraft, ships, boats, and trains.

Electricity production emissions come from the making, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The large majority is CO2. Coal burning makes more emissions than natural gas or petroleum.

Industry the emissions from the production of goods and raw materials are broken into two types. Direct and indirect are the types. Direct are emissions that are made at the plant. Indirect occurs off site of the plant but are related with the plants use of electricity.

Commercial and residential is from direct and indirect emissions. The direct is from fossil fuels combustion for heat and cooking, managing waste and waste water, and leaks of refrigerant in homes and buildings.

Agricultural industry can add to greenhouse gases in a variety of ways through growing crops and livestock. Crops can lead to increased nitrogen that gives off emissions. Livestock makes methane it is part of their digestion. Manure from livestock can also cause emissions depending on how it is handled.

Five Key Greenhouse Gases

The five key greenhouse gases include:
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Methane
  • Water vapor
  • Nitrous oxide
  • Surface ozone

These are the gases that are heaviest in our atmosphere and do a lot of damage.

Dry Cracked Earth

Solutions to Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Today

What the solutions that can help reduce greenhouse gas in your business today?

Here is a list to begin reducing your emissions:

  • Switch your company fleet over to electric vehicles and purchase EV chargers.
  • Recycle as much as you can starting with papers, glass, and metal
  • Source your materials to make products closer to home so delivery distance is shorter
  • Use sustainable materials
  • Reduce on-peak electric use
  • Use thermal storage to create energy for the next day and help reduce the on-peak load
  • Switch agriculture vehicles to electric and add a digester to make energy from the livestock waste and crop left overs. This helps provide the farms with energy to run things like refrigeration, AC, heat, and more.
  • Set thermostats up or down a few degrees depending on the time of year, if it is summer try to set it for 76 and winter set it for 68 this will reduce the energy load
  • Try to carpool or use public transportation as much as possible
  • Plant trees to help with deforestation. Trees and plants clean the air outside and create oxygen
  • For livestock adjust feeding practices and improve pastures and breeding practices to reduce methane
  • Purchase carbon credits to help reduce your carbon footprint while you begin reducing in other areas.

If we all do our part we can save our planet for generations to come while still being efficient.

Climate Protestors