How does using electricity contribute to global warming?

Answer 1

Electricity is generated by power plants, most of which burn fossil fuel (coal, oil, gas) to drive the generators. The fossil fuels combust into CO2 and water vapor -- greenhouse gasses.

Answer 2

Most electricity comes from coal-burning power plants. The burning of the coal is what puts greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which is what contributes to global warming. Other sources of electricity, however, like hydroelectric plants, solar panels and wind turbines, have little or no greenhouse output.

Answer 3

"using' electricity contributes to global warming only if what you're using it for produces greenhouse gasses.

producing electricity by burning almost any fuel such as oil, coal or natural gas or wood or really any other organic material (carbon-based, contributes to global warming because the burning releases the carbon in the fuel into the atmosphere as CO2.

Answer 4

Assuming you believe that anthropogenic CO2 emissions play a role in global warming, most electrical generation in the world is through the combustion of some type of fossil fuel, natural gas, fuel oil, coal, lignite. All of these to a greater or lesser extent result in CO2 emissions.

Answer 5

the common ways of creating electricity contribute to global warming not the consumption itself

Answer 6

This is a loaded question. You're teacher has made the assumption that we are causing global warming and assuming you believe it or else. What does your teacher say about the fact that the sun's energy output has increased .15% in the last 30 years and mars and pluto are warming up also.. Read about it here.

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/sun_output_030320.html

Answer 7

a great proportion of electric production in international locations such because of fact the U. S., China, Australia, and India comes from burning coal. for each capability unit of electricity produced, 3 instruments of coal are burned - no longer extraordinarily efficient. and because coal is only approximately organic carbon, the effect of burning the coal - i.e. combining it with oxygen - produces carbon dioxide, or CO2, the main person-friendly greenhouse gas (except you count style water vapor, that's much extra person-friendly and does have a substantial effect on climate substitute). different answerers to this submit who think of that climate substitute isn't happening do no longer look ok counseled. that's puzzling to have faith that a panel of almost 2,000 of the international's maximum respected scientific minds in physics, chemistry, biology, meteorology, and different fields could continuously, each 5 years for the final fifteen, sound the alarm a pair of probably catastrophic climate disaster brought about by our extra intake of fossil fuels, except they have been heavily confident this replaced into happening. The naysayers will argue that those scientists are only doing this to get extra examine funds. what proportion scientists do you be attentive to who thoroughly distort the reality just so as that they are able to make a dollar? That sounds extra like the habit of the final administration, whose supporters, by the way, are between the biggest (and maximum ill-counseled) climate substitute deniers. you could choose, in some factors, to no longer contribute to climate substitute by your electricity use, by identifying to purchase your electricity from a eco-friendly electricity provider. I try this in Toronto; my skill, produced by Bullfrog skill, is sourced in ordinary terms from wind and small-scale hydro projects. you additionally can decrease your electricity use heavily utilising some ordinary length efforts (to understand the place you're dropping the main) and then slicing wisely. you would be assisting shrink the hazards of international warming growing to be to be a complete disaster, and in spite of if the naysayers tutor miraculously to be stunning against all logic, you will nevertheless have performed some reliable, as no longer in ordinary terms does burning coal produce CO2, it spews loads of poisonous mercury and tens of millions of loads of nitrous oxide and particulate into the air, which motives smog better to lung maximum cancers, bronchial asthma, and different respiratory illnesses.

Answer 8

using electricity makes power plants work for your consumption. power plants are sometimes powered by fossil fuels. while others are powered by water, e.g. dams, they release warm water which is a form of thermal pollution. thermal pollution is pollution by heating up water and releasing it into a body of water in this case.