EGEE 101H, Homework #3

March 10, 2014

Due on Tuesday, March 25.
1. Calculate your personal or your familys greenhouse gas emissions using the on-line Carbon
Footprint Calculator at http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/ind-calculator.html
Summarize the results from the following sections using the calculator.

Section 1: Estimate your current total household emissions. ! pts
"ith # cars$ my household produces $%1& l's of C( per year. )y household produces #*$!*# l's of
C( annually through home energy use. )y household produces 1$++, l's of C( yearly with waste
disposal. -n total my household produces ,+$%*# l's of C(

annually. E.uivalent to +$&+# pounds of

C(

per year per household mem'er.

Section : E/plore actions you can ta0e to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions$ energy use$ and
waste disposal costs. ! pts
1o reduce emissions my family can start 'y using solely the cars that have the 'est gas mileage and
driving less in general. 2s 'oth of my parents wor0 in the same city$ it is possi'le that they could
carpool in to and out of the city daily$ halving the num'er of wee0ly miles driven. 1hough my mother
would never allow it$ to most efficiently reduce our home energy use we could turn down our
thermostats during harsh 34 winters. 2s it is a historic home$ it is very difficulty to regulate temperature$
so another effective means of energy reduction would come through revamping the heating/cooling
system$ which operates within our home. 2s a household we strive to reduce our footprint when it is
convenient$ this includes turning off lights$ using 5E6 lights$ setting all of our electronic devices and
most our lighting to regulate themselves 'ased on time. "e even update our appliances most every time
a new and more efficient model is released.
Section *: See how much you can save 7in dollars and emissions8 'y ta0ing the actions you chose in
Section . ! pts

1a0ing all of the previous actions my household could save 9*$:,+/year. 1his would not come close to
covering the cost of doing all of the a'ove actions.
. ;sing the power profiler at http://oaspu'.epa.gov/powpro/ept<pac0.charts
Compare the fuel mi/ and air emissions rates of the electricity in your hometown to the national
average. ! pts
1he fuel mi/ of my hometown compared to national average showcases a larger portion of nuclear
energy$ a smaller percent of non-hydro renewa'les and significantly less coal usage. 1he air emissions
rates of the electricity in my hometown compared to national average is less in all three categories: 3(/$
S($ and C(
6etermine the air emissions impacts of electricity use in your family home. ! pts
)y household personally produces 1! l's of 3(/$ + l's of S($ and 11$+# l's of C( annually.