June 27, 2007—The energy-related production of carbon dioxide in the US decreased by 1.3 percent in 2006, according to an initial estimate by the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Carbon dioxide is the dominant greenhouse gas emitted in the US, and since most of it is produced through energy use, the trend in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions generally reflects the nation’s trend in overall greenhouse gas emissions, explains EIA.
EIA credits the decline to mild weather conditions, a drop in demand caused by high energy prices, and the use of less carbon-intensive energy sources in the production of electricity.
Overall, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions decreased from 5,955 million metric tons in 2005 to 5,877 million metric tons in 2006. However, over the long term, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 17.9 percent in the US since 1990, notes EIA.
Of particular interest is a 1.2 percent decline in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions from industry, despite an estimated 3.9 percent increase in industrial output. According to EIA, this suggests an industrial shift toward energy efficiency or low-carbon energy sources. In fact, industrial emissions of carbon dioxide in 2006 were nearly equal to the level of emissions in 1990.
In addition, carbon dioxide emissions from the commercial and residential sectors decreased by 1.0 percent and 3.7 percent respectively in 2006, as heating degree-days declined by 7.4 percent, while at the same time cooling degree-days decreased by almost 1 percent, notes the report.
The EIA will release a full inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and a more detailed analysis of the trends in November. The preliminary estimates are available from EIA’s Web site.
