Energy Consumption

Our demand for energy consumption is exceeding the Earth's capacity to counterbalance the emissions produced by that energy. As human activity continues to surge, the accumulation of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere intensifies, resulting in a hotter planet.

Fig.4 www.eia.gov/energyexplained

The graph to the left (Fig. 4) indicates the spike in electricity consumption of Americans ranging from 1950-2021

This increase in Electricity Consumption is a leading cause of CO2 emissions. According to the EIA, about “31% of total US energy-related CO2 emissions” were caused by the electrical power sector in 2022. This introduces more carbon and methane, gases that trap heat, to be emitted into the atmosphere.

If our habits of energy consumption aren't addressed and fixed, things will only get worse. As shown in the data visualization (Fig. 5), energy consumption will only increase in the years to come and as this continues, it will become harder and harder to reverse the effects.

Fig.5 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy

CO2 emissions by U.S. electric power sector by source, 2022

Fig.6 US Energy Information Administration

COAL:

83,909 MILLION metric tons

Fig.7 US Energy Information Administration

Much of the energy we use in our homes comes from the energy generated when coal is burned. Fig.6 shows in increase CO2 emissions by the fossil fuel coal and other harmful sources of electric power since the 1950s. Coal is seen as the single biggest generator of co2 to date making up for over 1/3 of all man-induced greenhouse gases and polluting our environment causing acid rain, air pollution, climate change, and more.

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