Carbon Footprint

Wide-spread utilization of renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind, hydro, etc.) helps to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil, gas, etc.) in order to support our growing energy needs. Significant benefits are realized with the use of renewable energy, in particular, reduction of the greenhouse gasses in the earth's atmosphere, which is causing increases in global temperatures to occur more rapidly.

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the burning of fossil fuels has substantially increased the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other gasses in the atmosphere. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, (IPCC), and others have clearly identified the alarming trends of the growing carbon footprint, as well as the corresponding global climatic changes that will result, if we continue to follow our present consumption trends of fossil fuels.

The following diagram from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) identifies the CO₂ growth rate corresponding to the annual emissions of fossil fuels.

As CO₂ is released into the atmosphere, much of it becomes trapped in the upper atmosphere, adding to the depletion of the earth's ozone layer. This process in turn, increases the global temperatures we experience here on earth. The rise in the earth's temperature will also impact sea levels due to thermal expansion of the oceans. With increased ocean temperatures, the polar ice caps will melt and cause sea levels to rise along with coastal flooding.

The increasing carbon footprint, associated primarily with the burning of fossil fuels, must be reduced on a world-wide basis, so that life on earth does not become an environmental hazard. The use of renewable energy to help offset our energy dependence on fossil fuels can play a significant factor in this regard.

Return to the Renewable Energy webpage.