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- Consumers Can
Calculate How Individual Energy Use Contributes to Greenhouse Gas
Emissions, Air Pollution on EPA website
With just a few clicks
of the mouse and a ZIP code, consumers can see how their individual energy
use is affecting the Earth. EPA's Power Profiler calculates how much air
pollution results from individual electricity use, the fuels used to
produce that electricity and how to reduce the impact.
"EPA's Power Profiler makes it easy to research the air emissions that
come from using electricity at home," said Bob Meyers, acting assistant
administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "All you need is a
ZIP code and you're on your way to understanding your environmental
impact. "
EPA has updated the Web-based Power Profiler with recently released data
on emissions and fuels. In addition to learning the emissions from their
individual electricity use, users can see how they compare with national
averages.
The air pollutants used in the calculator are carbon dioxide (CO2),
sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). CO2
contributes to global warming or climate change, while NOx and
SO2 contribute to unhealthy air quality and acid rain in many
parts of the country.
Power Profiler displays the fuel mix in percent coal, oil, gas, nuclear,
hydro-electric (water), and other renewable sources including biomass,
wind, solar, geothermal, and landfill gas.
With information from the calculator on their monthly electricity use,
consumers can assess their annual emissions. The site also guides users to
other Web-based information showing how to reduce emissions from one's
home or business through greater energy efficiency and use of renewable
energy.
Power Profiler uses information from EPA's Emissions & Generation Resource
Integrated Database (eGRID), a comprehensive source of data on the
environmental characteristics of nearly all electric power generated in
the United States.
More about the Power Profiler:
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/powerprofiler
More about eGRID:
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/egrid
June 28, 2007
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