Full Answer
Which is better, electric or gas?
Over their lifetime, electric cars are better for the environment than gas-powered cars
Where do electric cars get their fuel?
Electric cars get their fuel from the electrical grid. Fun fact about the grid – depending on where you are in the world, the electricity flowing through the wires around you was generated from a wide range of sources, both fossil fuel-based and renewable. For example, in Poland, much of the country’s electricity generation still comes from coal, while in Germany, wind and solar make up a larger share. This means that using electricity from the grid (like when you charge an electric car) can mean a different carbon impact depending on where you are. This is known as carbon intensity, and it is a useful way to compare the electricity mix of different regions and countries. The chart below shows different carbon intensities by country for 2020, as well as projected carbon intensities for 2050:
What is transport and environment?
Transport & Environment is a leading clean transport advocacy and campaign group in Europe. They release annual reports on electric vehicles and clean transportation, as well as conduct research and advocate for new energy and transportation policies. Their findings mirror the previous two studies: in all countries studied, electric vehicles emitted less carbon dioxide than their gas-powered counterparts:
Do electric cars have lower emissions?
The evidence is clear: from “cradle to grave”, electric cars have lower overall emissions in just about every scenario than their gas-powered counterparts. At the end of 2020, engineering and environmental consultancy firm Ricardo, alongside specialists in the European energy and environmental sector, delivered a conclusive report analyzing ...
Can you compare electric cars to gas cars?
Want even more interesting emissions comparisons between electric cars and gas-powered options? A recent project out of the Trancik Lab at MIT called Carbon Counter lets you compare your exact car model to the rest of the auto landscape with an interactive graph – you can even customize the data for your specific state! It also charts cars on a cost of ownership axis for another dimension of comparison. Unsurprisingly, their tool shows that EVs contribute far lower volumes of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere, in line with all of the studies we mentioned above.
How does fracking affect the environment?
One of the newer methods of natural gas extraction, fracking, negatively impacts the environment in several ways. Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, is the process of injecting liquid at high pressure into rocks and holes under the earth to force open existing fissures in rock and extract the natural gas contained within. Like other extraction methods, some of the methane gas is released, furthering global warming and harming the atmosphere. One possible major issue with fracking is the pollution of groundwater. There have been many studies into this possibility, with varying results. In fact, the New York Times reported radiation present in hydraulic fracturing wastewater released into rivers in Pennsylvania.
What is Evergreen Home Heating and Energy?
Evergreen Home Heating and Energy's mission is to make Puget Sound area homes the most energy efficient, comfortable homes in the country. Through our decades of knowledge and expertise, along with innovative and cutting-edge technologies, we believe we are the HVAC company that will make this goal a reality.
Why is heating our homes bad?
All of us live in homes that require heating. Because we don’t yet have viable means of generating all our power with renewable sources, heating our homes has a negative environmental impact. One way to reduce our carbon footprint is to reduce the amount of damage that heating our homes does to the environment.
How is natural gas formed?
It is formed naturally underground when the remains of plant and animal matter are exposed to heavy pressures under the Earth’s surface. Because it occurs naturally under the Earth’s surface, it must be extracted. During the extraction process, much of the gas is lost to the atmosphere. Methane is a greenhouse gas, meaning it has a negative effect on our environment through global warming. In fact, a 2015 report by the Environmental Defense Fund surmises that natural gas released during the extraction process may negate much of its clean-burning benefit over other fossil fuels. See this Guardian article for more info.
What is the energy source in Puget Sound?
However, that is not the case. 35% of Puget Sound Energy’s electricity was generated by burning coal in 2015, and another 24% came from natural gas, meaning at least 59% of PSE’s electricity came from fossil fuels. For Seattle residents, the fuel mix looks a lot better regarding fossil fuels. In 2014, less than 2% of Seattle City Light’s electricity came from fossil fuels. The vast majority came from hydro generation. Hydro does not require the combustion of fossil fuels, so from an emissions standpoint it is much better for the environment. However, hydro is not considered a renewable energy source as it comes with its own environmental costs. Dams can physically damage fish and hamper their migration and reproduction. Dams also cause large scale changes in the habitat surrounding the dammed river.
What are the two most common fuel sources for heating?
The two most-used fuel sources for home heating are natural gas and electricity. We’ll examine both options in detail and try to come to some conclusions.
Can electricity be used for heating and cooling?
Another nice fact about electricity is that it can be used as the fuel source for both heating and air conditioning. Heat pumps, which run on electricity, provide both heating and cooling, all in the same piece of equipment! No other fuel source can provide this, since all air conditioners run on electricity.
Which is better for nature and its survival – heating with electricity or gas?
Over the years people have come up with a very large number of solutions. From the beginning of man until today, people have invented a number of things from many fields. So they invented a number of solutions in the field of home heating. If in the past our ancestors used to heat with firewood, today we have more options.
Generate electricity yourself and heat your home
We suggest you make a change in your household this fall. Why not install solar collectors or a small home windmill (if you are in an area with increased winds) to get electricity? It is a great way to reduce your electricity bills, but also to use natural resources to get electricity through which you will heat.
It is also a great solution if you ask to connect to gas central heating
Many countries in the world have implemented gas as a means of heating their homes. Entire metropolises are with such solutions and it is not a problem at all but on the contrary, a huge relief that is available for homes, but also the environment.
How much CO2 does natural gas emit?
And it is; natural gas emits 117 pounds of CO2 to make a million BTUs of heat, while the US national average for generating electricity is 401.5 pounds of CO2 per million BTU. ( source) Using an electric range is just exposing everybody's kids to the dangers of combustion products, the mercury, particulates and CO2 that comes from the generation of electricity. Sort of...
How much NO2 does a gas stove add to the air?
Gas burners were estimated to add 25–33% to the week-averaged indoor NO2 concentrations during summer and 35–39% in winter. The variability between seasons likely reflected the fact that air ventilation is lower in winter. For CO, gas stoves were estimated to contribute 30% and 21% to the indoor air concentration in summer and winter, respectively. The model predicted that when homes did not use venting range hoods, household exposures frequently exceeded benchmarks the authors set based on federal and state health-based standards.
What about those combustion products?
Gas stoves emit nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. According to Wendee Nicole in Environmental Health Perspectives, a recent study by researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory modelled the exposure:
Why are gas stoves more efficient than electric stoves?
Because gas burners provide instant heat, and cooks have greater control over the temperatures, they're generally more energy efficient than their electric competitors [source: Directgov ]. When you turn on a gas stove, you instantly get a flame, whereas electric stoves often take longer to heat and cool.
How much more energy efficient is an induction stove?
Induction stovetops like this one are up to 50 percent more energy-efficient than gas and electric ones.
How to maximize heat transmission on electric stove?
To maximize the heat transmission on electric stoves, find flat-bottomed pans that make full contact with the eyes [source: Cureton and Reed ]. Regularly clean the grease catchers under your burners since the shiny surface reflects heat and reduces cooking time. Also, size matters on the stove and in the oven.
How much energy does cooking use?
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that cooking accounts for 4.5 percent of the energy we use at home [source: U.S. Department of Energy ]. Because that's a relatively tiny slice of our household carbon emissions, the question of whether a gas or electric stove saves more energy isn't a burning one for people looking to minimize their carbon ...
Is microwave cooking more efficient than electric cooking?
Other cooking appliances can cut down on cost and energy as well. Microwaving is one of the cheapest and most energy-efficient cooking methods, using two-thirds less power than electric ovens [source: Cureton and Reed ]. But since microwaves are more suitable to reheating rather than cooking, try out a toaster oven for baking small dishes.
