Report Contents

Report#:EIA/DOE-0573(98)

November 5, 1999 
(Next Release: November,  2000)

Executive Summary

Preface

U.S. Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in Perspective

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Methane Emissions

Nitrous Oxide Emissions

Halocarbons and Other Gases

Land Use Issues

Appendix A: Estimation Methods

Appendix B: Carbon Coefficients Used in this Report

Appendix C: Uncertainty in Emissions Estimates

Appendix D: Emissions Sources Excluded

Appendix E: Emissions of Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide in the United States, 1949-1997

Appendix F: Common Conversion Factors

References

Glossary

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Related Links

Greenhouse Gas Page

Environment Page

Energy-Related Carbon Emissions in Manufacturing

Manufacturing, which accounts for 80 percent of industrial energy consumption, also accounts for 80 percent of industrial energy-related carbon emissions. In 1994, two industries, petroleum and chemicals, emitted over 40 percent of the energy-related carbon in manufacturing. The next four largest emitters (primary metals, paper, food, and the stone, glass, and clay products industry) produced the other 40 percent of the energy-related carbon emissions from manufacturing (see figure).

The carbon intensity of energy use is the amount of carbon emitted per unit of energy used. Both the mix of energy sources used and the uses of energy affect carbon intensity. Overall, manufacturing industries had a carbon intensity of 17.16 million metric tons per quadrillion Btu in 1994; however, the carbon intensities of the various industries differed markedly.

The petroleum industry and the chemical industry both convert energy sources into products, such as petrochemical feedstocks and plastics (Table 6). Only part of the carbon content is emitted to the atmosphere, the rest being sequestered in the product (see Table A2). As a result of the nonfuel use of energy sources, the petroleum and chemical industries had lower than average carbon intensities in 1994, 12.91 and 14.69 million metric tons per quadrillion Btu, respectively.

Table 6.  U.S. Carbon Sequestered by Nonfuel Use of Energy, 1990-1998

The paper industry uses wood byproducts extensively, yielding a carbon intensity of 11.87 million metric tons per quadrillion Btu in 1994. The carbon emissions from wood combustion are considered to be zero, because the carbon emitted has been recently sequestered and the regrowing of the trees will resequester the emitted carbon. In contrast, the primary metals industry relies heavily on coal and, to a lesser extent, on electricity (much of which is generated using coal). Both coal and electricity are carbon-intensive fuels, resulting in an overall carbon intensity of 26.19 million metric tons per quadrillion Btu for this industry in 1994.

The food industry and the stone, metal, and glass industry both had carbon intensities that were slightly above the average for all manufacturing industries. However, the carbon intensities for these two industries, and for the primary metals industry, were comparable to those for "All Other Manufacturing Industries" (25.45 million metric tons per quadrillion Btu).

Electricity use is the main source of carbon emissions in industries outside the top six emitters of carbon. Other manufacturing includes industries such as textile mill products, furniture and fixtures, leather and leather products, fabricated metal products, industrial machinery, and electric and electronic products. Their collective carbon intensity was 25.45 million metric tons per quadrillion Btu in 1994.