Key Industries Cut Emissions Intensity by 9.4%
in Four Years
EERE Network News - 2/20/08
Energy-intensive industries that represent about 45% of U.S. greenhouse gas
emissions cut their greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 9.4% from 2002 to
2006, according to a new DOE report. Greenhouse gas intensity is defined as
the quantity of greenhouse gas emitted per unit of production, and decreases
in emissions intensity generally reflect more energy-efficient production,
but can also be due to decreased emissions of powerful greenhouse gases such
as perfluorocarbon, sulfur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons, and nitrogen
trifluoride. The Climate VISION Progress Report 2007, released on February
11, examines the greenhouse gas emissions of the electric power industry and
energy-intensive industries, including oil and gas; coal and mineral
production and mining; forestry products; and the manufacturing of aluminum,
automobiles, cement, chemicals, magnesium, semiconductors, and iron and
steel.
Through their business associations and trade groups, all of these
industries are participating in Climate VISION—Voluntary Innovative Sector
Initiatives: Opportunities Now—a public-private partnership initiative
launched five years ago to contribute to President Bush's goal of reducing
greenhouse gas intensity by 18% from 2002 to 2012. As one example, the
energy intensity per ton of steel shipped improved by about 15% from 2002 to
2006.
The emissions intensity reductions reported by the power and industrial
sectors is also reflected in greenhouse gas intensity data for the U.S.
economy as a whole. A recent report from DOE's Energy Information
Administration estimated that from 2002 to 2006, U.S. greenhouse gas
intensity fell by an average of 2.5% per year, for a total of nearly 10%.
The report concludes that the drop in emissions intensity is due mainly to
using less energy per unit of production rather than using lower-carbon
fuels. |