How does the use of electricity contribute to global warming?

Question

I don't understand.

So hydroelectricity is fine?

Answer 1

Electrical power generators are powered from burning coal or natural gas, along with wind, and hydro.

over 50% of green house gases are emitted from power generation.


If we could develop nuclear power, then we could provide all power needs with out producing any green house gases, as these are not a waste product of nuclear power.

We need to realize that nuclear power is safe and very efficient, that nuclear waste has been shipped around the country and stored in several sites with out any problem for many years now.

Some just are scared of modern technology. They don't realize that nuclear technology is just boiling water with a hot rock.

Answer 2

A large percentage of electrical production in countries such as the US, China, Australia, and India comes from burning coal. For every energy unit of electricity produced, three units of coal are burned - not terribly efficient. And since coal is almost pure carbon, the effect of burning the coal - i.e. combining it with oxygen - produces carbon dioxide, or CO2, the most common greenhouse gas (unless you count water vapor, which is even more common and does have a major impact on climate change). Other answerers to this post who imagine that climate change isn't happening don't seem to be very well informed. It's hard to believe that a panel of nearly 2,000 of the world's most respected scientific minds in physics, chemistry, biology, meteorology, and other fields would consistently, every five years for the last fifteen, sound the alarm about a potentially catastrophic climate crisis caused by our excess consumption of fossil fuels, unless they were seriously convinced this was happening. The naysayers will argue that these scientists are just doing this to get more research money. How many scientists do you know who completely distort the truth just so that they can make a buck? That sounds more like the behavior of the last administration, whose supporters, by the way, are among the biggest (and most ill-informed) climate change deniers. You can elect, in some areas, to not contribute to climate change through your electricity use, by buying your electricity from a green electricity provider. I do this in Toronto; my power, produced by Bullfrog Power, is sourced only from wind and small-scale hydro projects. You can also cut your electricity use significantly using some simple measurement efforts (to understand where you're wasting the most) and then cutting appropriately. You'll be helping reduce the risks of global warming turning into a total disaster, and even if the naysayers prove miraculously to be right against all logic, you'll still have done some good, as not only does burning coal produce CO2, it spews tons of toxic mercury and millions of tons of nitrous oxide and particulate into the air, which causes smog leading to lung cancer, asthma, and other respiratory diseases.

Answer 3

One of the primary causes of global warming are the greenhouse gases. These gases form part of our atmosphere and act as an insulating layer by preventing heat escaping from Earth into space. Nature can handle a certain amount of these gases but right now the amount in the atmosphere is far beyond anything nature can handle.

The role that electricity plays is mainly due to the way in which it's generated. Most power stations burn either oil, coal or gas to produce steam which drives the turbines that generate electricity. Burning of these fossil fuels produces large amounts of greenhouse gases. Put simply, the more fossil fuels we burn the warmer the planet becomes.

Some forms of electricity produce very small amounts of greenhouse gases or none at all - nuclear, hydro, geothermal, wind, tidal, wave, solar etc.

Power generation is the biggest single contributor to global warming accounting for just over one fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions, it works out to be about one ton of greenhouse gas emissions for every person on the planet every year.

Answer 4

The majority of electricity comes from burning fossil fuels( i.e. coal) which adds pollutants into the atmosphere.

and yes, hydroelectricity is OK ;)

Answer 5

Because of Coal Power Plants

They burn Fossil Fuels to generate electricity causing pollution which contributes to global warming.

Answer 6

Electricity is produced by power plants. 52% (not 40%) of American power is produced by burning coal, which is one of the biggest contributors to global warming because of all the carbon dioxide released as a biproduct when coal is burned.

Renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydro do not contribute to global warming, but they only make up a small percentage of our electric grid.

Answer 7

40% of Americas electricity is generated by coal-fired power-stations. It is the number one cause of greenhouse gasses in America - and there's no viable solution right now - which is why the president doesn't want to admit that global warming is real. Otherwise he'd have to do something & there's not much he can do right now.

Answer 8

It doesn't. it contributes very little, tho it does spew out other pollutants that are not good for our health the power plants I mean.

RRRRRR

Answer 9

I can't say, but it does contribute to cancer. Electric blankets, heating blankets, electrical power stations, etc.

Answer 10

I turn on the stove, the stove gets hot, there you have it, I have made the world warmer.