May 21

Carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels rose in the United States by 1.6 percent in 2007, according to a report released May 20 by the Energy Information Agency, part of the federal government.

Emissions increased from 5.89 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2006 to 5.98 billion metric tons in 2007, according to preliminary estimates.

The 1.6 percent growth occurred at the same time the economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, rose by 2.2 percent, and energy demand rose by 1.7 percent. Carbon dioxide emissions intensity, as measured by emissions per unit of GDP, declined by 0.5 percent.

Carbon emissions in the residential sector rose by 4.4 percent, followed by a 4.3 percent increase in the commercial sector during 2007. Cooler temperatures increased demand for heat, contributing to the rise, according to the EIA. The commercial sector includes all nonresidential, nonindustrial buildings.

Industrial carbon dioxide emissions and transportation-related emissions each fell by about 0.1 percent in 2007. The transportation sector accounts for about one-third of all energy related carbon dioxide emissions, according to the EIA.

Total U.S. energy related carbon dioxide emissions have grown by 19.4 percent since 1990. Energy related carbon dioxide emissions account for more than 80 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

Contact Waste News reporter Bruce Geiselman at (330) 865-6172 or bgeiselman@crain.com

 

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