Pollution Equivalents

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Pollution Equivalents

smokestacks.jpg (5929 bytes) Using kilowatt-hours of electricity causes the following pollutants to be released during the generation of the electricity:

pounds of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which would occupy the volume of about . Carbon dioxide is the main gas responsible for climate change.

pounds of sulphur dioxide (SO₂), which would occupy the volume of about . Sulphur dioxide is the main cause of acid rain and visibility problems.

pounds of oxides of nitrogen (NO_X), occupying the volume of about . Oxides of nitrogen cause acid rain.

Also, the process of generating the electricity with fossil fuels would have required approximately gallons of water to cool the power plant.

ALTERNATIVELY, using kilowatt-hours of electricity derived from non-polluting sources like solar or wind energy would have prevented the pollutants listed above from being released.

Continue on to:

Chemical Energy (batteries, foods, and fuels)
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Thermal Energy (heat, cold, and melting ice)
Worldwide Energy Use (homes, huts, igloos, and yurts)
Exercise (running, walking, swimming, and biking)

NOTE: You can change the number of kilowatt-hours at the top of each page and see how the energy equivalents change in response (press [Tab] after you've made your change to recalculate the other values on the page). You can also change the number in any of the output boxes and press [Tab] to recalculate all the other values on the page, including the kilowatt-hours. Or go back to the main calculator page to start again.

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