Shia Shoyoye January 2014 Policy Report Analysis In 2011 the EPA determined that of the sources of Greenhouse Gas emissions ranging from industry transportation agriculture and more 33 percent of emission was as a result of electricity use Electricity use accounts for the most of the United States greenhouse gas emissions The electricity sector is involved in the transmission and distribution of greenhouse gases because gases like CO 2 carbon dioxide and CH4 methane which account for the majority of greenhouse gas GHG emission into the environment through the burning of coal natural gas and other fossil fuels into the atmosphere Burning natural gas or petroleum for electricity contributes less to the creation of greenhouse gas than the combustion of coal Though CO2 represents only 42 percent of electricity generated using natural gas it still takes a heavy toll on the electricity sector s greenhouse gas emission levels Only 25 percent of electricity was generated using natural gas in 2011 though it continues to steadily rise every year and the remaining percentages come from petroleum less than 1 percent nuclear 19 percent and renewable sources approximately 13 percent Since electricity is consumed by other economic sectors like transportation 28 percent and residential and commercial 35 percent factors to reduce the use of electricity must be concerned in those areas as well For example in homes and commercial buildings green building techniques can allow for existing homes to use less energy subsequently preventing the release of copious amounts of greenhouse gas Home and commercial building can also implement better insulation ventilation and cooling and passive heating through the use of natural sunlight Manufacturers in the industry sector can find ways in which less energy to light factories and run equipment A sector is defined as a division of a country s population based upon the economic area in which that population is employed Many economists recognize the following five economic sectors the primary sector which includes agriculture mining and other natural resource industries the secondary sector covering manufacturing engineering and construction a tertiary sector for the service industries the quaternary sector for intellectual activities involving education and research and the quinary sector reserved for high level decision makers in government and industry With the hotter temperatures there seems to be an increased electricity demand and subsequent increase in burning of coal as greenhouse gas emission The implementation of increased energy efficient systems should be established Americans in 2010 saved the energy equivalent of 45 power plants by switching to ENERGY STAR products This means that 195 million metric tons of carbon dioxide was prevented from being emitted into the atmosphere and over 20 billion in energy bills was saved To further this evident progress individuals who use more electricity than most based on family size and need should be encouraged to turn to more ENERGY STAR compliant products A system in which people are rewarded for cutting down on electricity use in any sector could be implemented to promote the use of more energy efficient systems From 1993 to 2012 ENERGY STAR has reduced the emission of CO2 by 1 883 millions of metric tons If everyone in the U S adopted ENERGY STAR as the primary source of electronic systems progress to reduce CO2 emission as a result of electricity could greatly change the Shia Shoyoye January 2014 Policy Report Analysis rate in which the earth is absorbing radiation For example if everyone in United States with a home office purchased products that met ENERGY STAR requirements 1 4 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emission would be prevented which is the equivalent of 125 000 cars