Fossil fuels and pollution : the future of air quality

1 Energy, Fossil Fuels, and Global Warming 1 Energy Sources—Fossil Fuels 2 Measuring Energy 4 Fossil Fuels and Global Warming 14 Global Energy Use 21 2 Greenhouse Gases, Health, and the Environment 26 Greenhouse Gases 26 Global Warming Potential 29 Greenhouse Emissions and the Biggest Contributors 33 The State of the Union in Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions 41 Health Issues Associated with Global Warming 51 Emissions and Oil: Quick Facts 52 3 Evolution since the Industrial Revolution 62 The Industrial Revolution 63 Donora, Pennsylvania, Smog, 1948 69 The Great London Smog 69 Acid Rain 72 The Clean Air Acts 72 Coal Plant Pollution 77 Modernization and Global Warming 79 Environmental Time Line 80 The Green Industrial Revolution 83 4 Global Warming and Pollution: Buildings and Homes 87 Green Buildings 88 Increased Productivity—Real-Life Examples 89 Energy Efficiency 91 Operation Change Out: the Military Challenge 96 Green Homes 97 The ENERGY STAR® Program 97 5 Global Warming and Pollution: Green Transportation 108 Energy Efficiency 109 Fuel Economy 111 Contributors to Global Warming and Pollution 115 New Technology 117 In the News—the Top Environmentally Friendly Cars 121 6 Global Warming and Pollution: Cities and Industry 124 Global Warming and Cities 124 Global Warming and Industry 135 Industry Arguments against Global Warming Action and Why They Are Wrong 141 The Other Global Warming—a Look into the Future 144 7 Global Warming: Agriculture Today 149 Agricultural Greenhouse Gases and Pollution 149 Renewable Energy Generation 151 In the News—What Is Happening Today 157 Making a Difference: Solutions to the Problem 165 8 Fuel Technology 170 Biofuels and Clean Vehicles 170 Alternative and Advanced Fuels 174 New Fuel Technology 186 9 Green Technology: Tomorrow’s Cars Today 197 Driving into the Future 197 Hybrids 199 Electric Vehicles 201 Flexible Fuel Vehicles 202 Fuel Cells 203 Plug-in Vehicles 206 Air-Powered Vehicles 207 Cars of the Future 208 10 Conclusions—the Future of Air Quality 210 Is It Too Late? 210 The Future of Air Pollution and Climate Change 212 Health and Environmental Impacts 213 Public Awareness as a Foundation 214 The Future of Air Quality Management 215 What Happens Next? 217 Appendixes 224 Distribution of Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by End-Use Sector, 2007 224 U.S. Emissions of Greenhouse Gases, Based on Global Warming Potential, 1990, 1995, and 2000–2007 228 World Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Region, 1990–2030 229 Chronology 232 Glossary 238 Further Resources 245 Index 258