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ENERGY EFFICIENCY = POLLUTION PREVENTION
Implementing energy efficient technologies in your facility helps prevent utility generated pollution. You can calculate the environmental benefits of an energy efficiency measure using the table below. For example, a lighting upgrade in Cincinnati, Ohio, which saves 45,000 kWh per year would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 81,000 lb (45,000 x 1.8), sulfur dioxide emissions by 468 kg (45,000 x 10.4 / 1,000), and nitrous oxide emissions by 158 kg (45,000 x 3.5 / 1,000). To put that in perspective, the average car emits 15,000 lb of carbon dioxide in a year, and planting an acre of trees consumes 7,333 lb of carbon dioxide a year.
Region |
States
|
lb CO2 per
kWh saved |
g SO2 per
kWh saved |
g NOx per
kWh saved |
| 1 |
CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT |
1.1 |
4.0 |
1.4 |
| 2 |
NJ, NY, RI, VI |
1.1 |
3.4 |
1.3 |
| 3 |
DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV |
1.6 |
8.2 |
2.6 |
| 4 |
AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN |
1.5 |
6.9 |
2.5 |
| 5 |
IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI |
1.8 |
10.4 |
3.5 |
| 6 |
AR, LA, NM, OK, TX |
1.7 |
2.2 |
2.5 |
| 7 |
IA, KS, MO, NE |
2.0 |
8.5 |
3.9 |
| 8 |
CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY |
2.2 |
3.3 |
3.2 |
| 9 |
AZ, CA, HI, NV |
1.0 |
1.1 |
1.5 |
| 10 |
AK, ID, OR, WA |
0.1 |
0.5 |
0.3 |
This information originally appeared in Conservation News, a quarterly publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Facilities Management and Service Division (FMSD) Conservation Information Clearinghouse.
Here are some links to other useful pollution calculators:
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