environmental facts
ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
The United States Is the most energy intensive nation in the world. With only 6
percent of the total population, this country accounts for more than one-third of the
world energy consumption. Annual national energy use is 70 quadrillion Btu's (which
equals 2.8 billion tons of coal, or 616 billion gallons of oil, or 70 trillion cubic
feet of natural gas). Gross energy use per capita has risen from 229 million Btu's
in 1947 to 333.3 million Btu's in 1971.
Energy is a vital component of environmental rehabilitation as well as America's
prosperity. The problem is whether reasonable energy demands can be met without harming
the environment.
ENERGY SOURCES; (Trillion British thermal units)
1971 1975 1980 1985 2000
Coal 12,560 13,825 16,140 21,470 31,360
Petroleum 30,492 35,090 42,190 50,700 71,380
Natural Gas 22,734 25,220 26,980 28,390 33,980
Nuclear Power 450 2,560 6,720 11,750 49,230
Hydropower 2.798 3.570 3.990 4.320 5.950
TOTAL 68,989 80,265 96,020 116,630 191,900
ENERGY USE; (Trillion British thermal units)
Consuming sector 1971 1975 1980 1985 1990
Household & Commercial 17,441 20,175 23,860 27,700 39,630
Industrial 22,623 25,860 29,390 34,870 57,780
Transportation 16.989 19.090 22.870 27.130 42.660
TOTAL 57,053 65,125 76,120 89,700 140,070
EPA ENERGY OBJECTIVES;
Minimize growth of energy demand.
Promote efficiency and conservation
Make energy-environment impact assessments on basis of entire energy chain—
extraction, processing, transportation and use.
Work toward decreasing reliance on fossil fuels.
Maximize pollution control technology and increase energy flexibility by
increasing electricity end uses, particularly in transportation.
Encourage clean use of domestic coal.
Promote development of exotic energy sources—solar, geothermal, fusion.
Oppose projects which promise quick energy but at high environmental cost.
FUELS POLICY:
* Primary (health-related) air quality standards to be attained in all states by
1975 even if some States must delay attainment of secondary (welfare-related)
standards. Secondary standards to be achieved by 1977 or 1978
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY • WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460
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FUELS POLICY (continued)
* Encourage production of clean fuels, particularly natural gas, and stack
cleaning equipment.
* Promote new technologies which will permit maximum use of coal, our greatest
fossil fuel resource.
* Discourage large-scale switching of high-sulfur coal or oil to natural gas or
low-sulfur oil.
* Use natural gas and low-sulfur oil for industrial feedstocks and residential
and commercial heating; use high-sulfur fuels for industrial purposes where
stack-cleaning is more efficient and economical.
CONSERVATION:
* One-half of every barrel of domestic crude oil goes for gasoline to power autos
and trucks, convenient but inefficient vehicles....promote use of smaller
vehicles and shifting of urban passengers from autos to mass transit.
* Railroads carry one-half of intercity freight tonnage at one-tenth of the total
fuel consumption....promote shifting of intercity freight from highway to rail;
consolidate urban freight movements.
* Airliners, on the average, fill 50-60% of their seats....consolidate flights,
spread out arrivals and departures, eliminate short and low-density flights
and switch passengers to ground transport, use the most efficient aircraft,
and fly at optimum speed.
* Improve home insulation, install more efficient air conditioning, and use
architectural and landscaping techniques which make the most of natural
lighting and temperature control.
* Streamline industrial processes and equipment.
DO EMISSIONS CONTROLS WASTE ENERGY?
Emission control devices reduce engine efficiency by about 7% but provide a vital
Social function. They use gasoline—but don't waste it. In comparison, automatic
transmission has a 6% fuel penalty, air conditioning 9% to 20% depending on conditions,
and weight carries the largest penalty—up to 100Z. A 5,000-lb car, for instance burns
twice as much gasoline as a 2,500-lb. one.
ENERGY GAPS;
Today—An energy gap exists today between the amounts of clean fuels and stack-cleaning
equipment needed to meet both primary and secondary air quality standards by 1975
and the amounts which will be available. Primary standards can be met by the 1975
statutory deadline. The Clean Air Act directs that secondary air quality standards
be achieved "within a reasonable time." Increasing supplies of clean fuels and
stack-cleaning equipment will make this goal attainable by 1977 or 1978.
Tomorrow—The potential exists for an unbridgeable time gap between exhaustion of
fossil fuel reserves and development of "perpetual" energy. The Earth would not
be able to sustain its present, and increasing, population at low-energy levels.
Environmentalists and energy producers alike must take the long view and work for
the best use of present energy resources and early development of new source?.
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