Life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions of energy sources
Life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions of energy sources is all about the pollution created when we use different types of energy. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere which can make our planet hotter, and some energy sources release more of these gases than others.
Think of it like a circle: from the beginning of making the energy to the end when we use it, there's a lot of pollution being created. To understand this, it helps to break it down into the following steps:
1. Making the energy (mining, building turbines, etc)
2. Transporting and storing it (moving it around, putting it in tanks/power lines, etc)
3. Using it (burning coal to produce electricity, burning gasoline to power vehicles, etc)
4. Managing the waste (getting rid of any leftover materials, dealing with air or water pollution, etc).
The total amount of greenhouse gases released in the process is called life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions. For example, burning coal to produce electricity releases more greenhouse gases than using solar or wind energy. So when you're looking for energy sources, you should try to choose the ones that create less pollution.
Think of it like a circle: from the beginning of making the energy to the end when we use it, there's a lot of pollution being created. To understand this, it helps to break it down into the following steps:
1. Making the energy (mining, building turbines, etc)
2. Transporting and storing it (moving it around, putting it in tanks/power lines, etc)
3. Using it (burning coal to produce electricity, burning gasoline to power vehicles, etc)
4. Managing the waste (getting rid of any leftover materials, dealing with air or water pollution, etc).
The total amount of greenhouse gases released in the process is called life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions. For example, burning coal to produce electricity releases more greenhouse gases than using solar or wind energy. So when you're looking for energy sources, you should try to choose the ones that create less pollution.
Related topics others have asked about: