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ElectricityIn the U.S., about 2,700 pounds of carbon per person per year (18% of total emissions) come from operating our homes, and most of that is from the energy used to power electrical appliances.
When coal and other fossil fuels are used to create electricity, carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere. For example, the energy used to power your refrigerator emits about 270 pounds of carbon equivalent each year. Here's a breakdown of how different items in your home contribute to these emissions:
Notice that operating a typical heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system leads to the release of most of the emissions from operating your home. The energy used to power an HVAC system is dependent on the system's age, the efficiency of your insulation and windows, and other factors. You can reduce emissions from operating HVAC systems by purchasing energy-efficient systems and having your system tuned up regularly.
Other sources of emissions include lights and appliances. You can reduce emissions from your lights by purchasing compact fluorescent light bulbs or energy-efficient fixtures. The appliance that uses the most energy is your refrigerator. You can purchase an energy-efficient model that costs less to operate every year.
WasteFor every person in the United States, about 550 pounds of carbon equivalent come from the garbage we throw out every year. The average person in the U.S. throws away about 1600 pounds of waste per year. Each pound of trash you throw away will emit approximately 0.026 pounds of carbon equivalent as it decays.
Most communities in the United States recycle about 27% of their municipal solid waste. If one household generated 5% less waste from recyclable materials (like newspapers, aluminum and steel cans, and plastic containers), then recycled the remaining recyclable materials, you would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 310 pounds per year.
More than 260 landfills in the U.S. recover the methane from their landfills and use it to produce electricity or heat. These systems provide income or electricity for the community as well as reducing methane emissions.
For more information on the relationship between climate change and waste, visit EPA's Climate Change and Waste website.
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