National Context
The United States is seen as a massive consumer, we tend to use 18,961.10 thousand of barrels per day. The eia identifies the consumption as “the purchase of oil based products and direct combustion of crude oil.” The combustion of crude oil leads to the release of greenhouse gases (GHG) such as H20 and CO2. According to the EPA the abundance of GHG will trigger an effect that they call the “Greenhouse effect” in which the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases has increased from the normal amount that more heat is trapped by the gases. The EPA describes that the “increase in carbon concentration has amplified the natural greenhouse effect by trapping more heat and increasing the earth’s surface temperature.” The United States tries to handle its waste by creating landfills in its cities and or rural areas in the US alone there are 3,536 active Municipal landfills. Texas having the most amount of landfills in the United States and state of Illinois with only 61 active landfills. The EPA has initiated regulations for the modern municipal solid waste landfills in the United States. Regulations such as “location restrictions, composite liner requirements, a flexible geomembrane overlaying two feet of compacted clay soil lining the bottom and sides of the landfill, protect groundwater and the underlying soil from leachate releases,” These regulations help prevent groundwater contamination but the other problem still remains the release of methane gas from the landfills. 18.2 percent of all methane in the United State came from human related emissions. Methane being a greenhouse gas also contributes to the “Greenhouse effect”, the EPA plans to use the gases released from the landfills to produce energy with their “Landfill Methane Outreach Program”. Its purpose is to have “ new landfills collect potentially harmful landfill gas emissions and convert the gas into energy.” along with “on-site environmental monitoring systems,which monitor for any sign of groundwater contamination and for landfill gas, provide additional safeguard” to create a sense of safety in an area that holds the Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (MSWLF).
Moreover, another common greenhouse gas, CO2 since its the product of the creation of energy. In the United States coal generates 39% of energy natural gas is only 27% both release carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. This only accounts for energy generated for households/commercial use. Carbon dioxide ,as most should know, is generated by burning fossil fuels.Our most common use is the fuel for our vehicles.The burning of gasoline releases energy that allows our vehicles to run.
Therefore there are organizations in the united states that promote reducing ones own carbon footprint. Organizations such as “carbonfund.org” and “gogreenplus.org” try to raise awareness of the carbon footprnt that everyone has. The gogreenplus.org website even provides guests with a reliable tool to measure annual amount of carbon emissions. Its not only for individuals but the gogreenplus.org website tries to help businesses to reduce their carbon footprrint since it is possible for large and small businesses to reduce their foot print. Timberland , an athletic shoe company, reduce its carbon emissions by “ ‘ revamping energy efficiency measures in its facilities, incorporating LEED-certified building techniques, implementing new transportation management, and investing in renewable energy.’ ” Timberland is committed in reducing its carbon emissions, they are even keeping people informed by releasing statistics in their website.
U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis. (2013, May 30). Retrieved April 13, 2015, from http://www.eia.gov/countries/country-data.cfm?fips=US&trk=m Causes of Climate Change. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/causes.html
MUNICIPAL LANDFILLS IN THE UNITED STATES AND PROTECTORATES. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/landfill/tab_1.pdf
MUNICIPAL LANDFILLS IN THE UNITED STATES AND PROTECTORATES. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/landfill/tab_1.pdf
Landfills, Municipal Solid Waste. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/solidwaste/nonhaz/municipal/landfill.htm
Landfills, Municipal Solid Waste. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/solidwaste/nonhaz/municipal/landfill.htm
EIA - What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source? (n.d.). Retrieved April 28, 2015, from http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=427&t=3
Carbon Footprint - Green Plus. (2012, January 25). Retrieved May 1, 2015, from http://gogreenplus.org/nuts-and-bolts-guide/carbon-footprint/
Carbon Footprint - Green Plus. (2012, January 25). Retrieved May 1, 2015, from http://gogreenplus.org/nuts-and-bolts-guide/carbon-footprint/
MUNICIPAL LANDFILLS IN THE UNITED STATES AND PROTECTORATES. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/landfill/tab_1.pdf
MUNICIPAL LANDFILLS IN THE UNITED STATES AND PROTECTORATES. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/landfill/tab_1.pdf
Landfills, Municipal Solid Waste. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/solidwaste/nonhaz/municipal/landfill.htm
Landfills, Municipal Solid Waste. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/solidwaste/nonhaz/municipal/landfill.htm
EIA - What is U.S. electricity generation by energy source? (n.d.). Retrieved April 28, 2015, from http://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=427&t=3
Carbon Footprint - Green Plus. (2012, January 25). Retrieved May 1, 2015, from http://gogreenplus.org/nuts-and-bolts-guide/carbon-footprint/
Carbon Footprint - Green Plus. (2012, January 25). Retrieved May 1, 2015, from http://gogreenplus.org/nuts-and-bolts-guide/carbon-footprint/