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Air Quality and Solid Waste Divisions, and
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Mecklenburg Utilities
Sponsored by the
Environmental Assistance Office (EAO) for
Small Business at UNC Charlotte, The Environmental Corner
is designed to serve as an environmental
management and pollution prevention resource
April 2007
Greenhouse Gases
Small Businesses And GHG (Green House Gases)
Small businesses should take a look at climate
change because political as well as scientific
consensus is beginning to form and unless this
consensus includes
them, small businesses will be ignored (at best )
and undermined (at worst) by programs to address
climate change. It is likely that mandatory programs
to reduce GHG emission will come to pass. This
prospect of future government regulation is one
reason small business owners pay attention.
Another
major reason is
that
small firms could be among the hardest hit victims
of climate change.
Extreme weather events can affect entire region's
small business and they can't readily bounce back
from disruptions caused by natural disaster. Some
industries that consist almost entirely of small
business are already feeling the heat. Proponents of
actions to curb GHG emissions should be pressed to
factor small business into their analyses on the
rationale that because they operate on close
margins, small business are likely to be
disproportionately hurt by rising prices for
electricity, natural gas and gasoline and thus many
oppose mandatory action as counter to their
interests. If scientists are right about a warming
world, all of us, big businesses, small businesses,
and consumers alike, are going to have to adjust.
The small business community would do well to take
up the challenge now, while there is time to
deliberate and to craft cost-effective responses it
can live with.
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What
are GHG?
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are often
called greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are components of the
atmosphere that contribute to the
Greenhouse effect. Some greenhouse gases occur
naturally in the atmosphere, while others result
from human activities. Naturally occurring
greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Certain
human activities add to the levels of most of these
naturally occurring gases.[Read
More]
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Effects of GHG
There
are two meanings of the term "greenhouse effect".
There is a "natural" greenhouse effect that keeps
the Earth's climate warm and habitable. There is
also the "man-made" greenhouse effect, which is the
enhancement of Earth's natural greenhouse effect by
the addition of greenhouse gases from the burning of
fossil fuels (mainly petroleum, coal, and natural
gas).Greenhouse gases trap some of the infrared
radiation that escapes from the Earth, making the
Earth warmer that it would otherwise be.Greenhouse
gases are sort of a "blanket" for infrared
radiation-- it keeps the lower layers of the
atmosphere warmer, and the upper layers colder, than
if the greenhouse gases were not there.
About 80-90% of the Earth's natural greenhouse
effect is due to water vapor, a strong greenhouse
gas. The remainder is due to carbon dioxide,
methane, and a few other minor gases. It is the
carbon dioxide concentration that is increasing, due
to the burning of fossil fuels (as well as from some
rainforest burning). This is the man-made portion of
the greenhouse effect, and it is believed by many
scientists to be responsible for the
global warming of the last 150 years. Also, the
concentration of methane, although small, has also
increased in recent decades. The reasons for this
increase, though, are uncertain.
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How do we make GHG?
Some greenhouse gases
such as carbon dioxide occur naturally and are
emitted to the atmosphere through natural processes
and human activities. Other greenhouse gases (e.g.,
fluorinated gases) are created and emitted solely
through human activities. The principal greenhouse
gases that enter the atmosphere because of human
activities are:
|
SOURCE |
DESCRIPTION |
|
Municipalities |
Municipalities
have direct control over their operations,
especially solid waste and wastewater. Solid
waste reduction has substantial health
co-benefits
|
|
Transportation |
Transportation is the largest source of GHG
emissions. |
|
Buildings (Residential and
Commercial/Institutional) |
Discrete windows of opportunity for energy
reduction occur at construction, renovation,
retrofit stages and appliance purchases;
continuous windows occur for operation and
maintenance. The technology choices for
energy reduction may address aspects like
envelope technology, lighting, office
equipment, Heating, Ventilating, Air
Conditioning (HVAC) or service water
heating. |
|
Electricity Industry |
Due to demand of electricity restructuring of
electricity industry is occurring and its
impact on emissions is unknown. The key to GHG reductions is changing the fuel mix.
|
|
Industry |
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Chemical Industry: the types of
emissions being generated through such
co-generation may be more harmful than
those produced by outside electricity
generation. To the extent the chemical
plants are located close to densely
populated areas, the health effects of
co-generation emissions may also be more
severe.
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Cement and Concrete: Some of these waste
products (flyash, blast furnace slag)
may be toxic
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Upstream oil and gas: leakage and
venting of gas in the drilling and
transmission processes
-
Aluminum: This industry is a very large
emitter of GHG, not just because it uses
electricity, but since the process of
refining bauxite and alumina into
aluminum involves steps where different
kinds of potent GHGs are emitted (perfluorocarbons).
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Agriculture and Agri-Food
:TNitric Oxide (N2O) , Methane (CH4) , Carbon Dioxide (CO2).
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Forestry and Forest Products
|
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Global Warming
The greenhouse effect keeps the
earth warm and habitable; without
it, the earth’s surface would be
about 60 oF colder
on average. Since the average
temperature of the earth is about 45oF, the natural
greenhouse effect is clearly a good
thing. But the enhanced greenhouse
effect means even more of the sun’s
heat is trapped, causing global
temperatures to rise. Scientists
refer to what has been happening in
the earth’s atmosphere over the past
century as the “enhanced greenhouse
effect.”
Global warming is the
observed increase in the
average temperature of the
Earth's near-surface air and
oceans in recent decades and its
projected continuation.
Global
warming poses an extraordinary challenge. A gradual
warming of our climate is underway and will
continue. This long-term warming trend poses serious
risks to our economy and our environment. It poses
even greater risks to many other nations,
particularly poorer countries that will be far less
able to cope with a changing climate and low-lying
countries where sea level rise will cause
significant damage.
Meeting the challenge of global warming will require
sustained effort over decades - on the part of
governments, who must establish the rules and modify
them as we learn more of the science, and as
technological solutions begin to manifest
themselves; on the part of industry, who must
innovate, manufacture, and operate under a new
paradigm where climate change will drive many
decisions; and on the part of the public, who must
also switch to a more climate-friendly path in their
purchases and lifestyles.
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Health Risk
-
There are two types of direct health effects of
climate change caused by GHG. The first are
those caused by projected higher temperatures.
Examples include increases in illness and death
from heat stroke and dehydration. The second are
injury, illness and death caused by projected
increases in extreme weather, such as tornadoes,
floods and winter storms.
-
Transmission of
infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue and
yellow fever.
-
Increased illness related to
air pollution.
-
Children, the elderly, and people suffering with
cardio-respiratory problems, are at highest risk
of experiencing adverse health effects due to
air pollution even at today's levels.
Projections of more frequent and severe heat
waves due to future climate change indicate that
this air pollution problem may worsen.
-
Increase in hot
weather, combined with an aging population, is
expected to result in an increase in
heat-related deaths in urban centers.
-
Projections of more frequent and severe heat
waves and humidity could lead to increases in
smog and air pollution advisories.
-
Increases in
pollens and mold spores would compound the
situation and affect those with cardiovascular
disease, respiratory disorders such as asthma,
emphysema and chronic bronchitis, and allergy
problems.
-
Trees and other vegetation that give rise to
allergenic pollens grow more profusely in a
warmer climate. When combined with smog and
other atmospheric pollutants, illness from
allergic respiratory disease, particularly
asthma, could increase.
-
Projections of frequent and extreme weather
events such as floods, droughts, hurricanes, and
tornadoes are of concern as these could increase
deaths, injuries, infectious diseases.
- Stress-related disorders associated with
social disruption and environmentally forced
migration.
-
The quality and the quantity of drinking water
could decrease as water sources in some areas
become threatened by drought. Health disorders
related to environmental and water contamination
by bacteria, viruses, protozoa and parasites
could also increase. Health problems due to predicted
changes in the amount and distribution of
wildlife, fish and vegetation.
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Actions
To start with, reducing energy
waste in U.S. homes, shops, offices, and other
buildings must, of necessity, rely on tens of
thousands of small concerns that design, make, sell,
install, and service energy-efficient appliances,
lighting products, heating, air-conditioning, and
other equipment.
Every
single small business in the nation can profit by
making its own workplace more energy-efficient.
According to the EPA's Energy Star Small Business
program, small firms can save between 20% and 30% on
their energy bills through off-the-shelf
cost-effective efficiency upgrades. The job consists
largely of installing the same few simple
devices—programmable thermostats, for example—over
and over again in millions of small business
workplaces.
The projected health-related effects of climate
change and the need for various adaptation
strategies, such as expanded vigilance and medical
services, health monitoring, environmental
management, disaster preparedness and improved water
and pollution control
Regulations / Laws
Discussion
in policy circles now increasingly
centers on how to reduce so-called
“greenhouse gas” emissions in an
economically feasible way. Current energy
policy provides for some increases in fuel
efficiency standards, but the administration
has favored a voluntary approach to
emissions reductions up to this point,
particularly where industry is concerned.
Some U.S. companies now are calling for
more stringent federal regulation on carbon
emissions.
Learn about U.S. Companies and
Greenhouse Gas Regulations
http://www.cfr.org/publication/11462/us_companies_and_greenhouse_gas_regulations.html#1
•Transportation
By combining a variety of policies, U.S.
transportation-related carbon emissions
could be cut by 20 to 25 percent by 2015 and
by 45 to 50 percent by 2030, in comparison
to a continuation of current trends in
energy efficiency, petroleum dependence, and
traffic growth. Curbing the growth of
transportation's GHG emissions will require
a combination of meaningful policies and
technological progress. A successful policy
portfolio will involve all modes of
transportation and will include a variety of
measures, from fuel economy and fiscal
policies to infrastructure investments. In
the longer run, technological progress — and
policies that promote it — must provide the
means for continued efficiency improvements
and ultimately for a transition to
low-carbon energy sources for
transportation.
The U.S. transportation system will
continue to be powered primarily by
conventional, petroleum-based liquid fuels.
As a result, the most productive options to
reduce GHG emissions will be fossil fuel or
carbon pricing policies, energy efficiency
improvements, and the blending of low-carbon
replacement fuels with petroleum liquids.[More
Information]
•
Top of page
The Environmental Assistance Office for Small
Business provides non-regulatory,
client-confidential pollution prevention assistance
to small businesses in the greater Charlotte region.
The EAO is designed to assist regional businesses in
their efforts to voluntarily prevent pollution. The
EAO staff can provide timely assistance for
pollution prevention planning, including information
about industry-specific case studies, waste-specific
case studies, and new technologies. The office
provides links of resources to needs between the
region's business community, government,
municipality, and university. If there is a
particular issue or question you would like to see
in an upcoming edition, please send an e-mail to
EAOforSB@email.uncc.edu
Contact Information:
Environmental Assistance Office for Small Business:
9201 University City Blvd. 258 Cameron Building, UNC
Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28233-0001
Phone number: 704-687-3968 Fax number: 704-687-3115
Email:
EAOforSB@email.uncc.edu
Services:
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Assistance with Air Permits - Assistance for
small businesses in completing paperwork for EPA
air permits.
-
Educational Materials - Educational pamphlet,
brochures, flyers, and other materials to relate
facts on pollution prevention.
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Educational Outreach - Develop educational
outreach campaigns and presentations for the
public or employee training.
-
University Resources - Library information,
faculty expertise, student projects and research
at both graduate and undergraduate levels.
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