Greenhouse Gas Overview and
Tracking
Greenhouse Gasses, What Are They?
Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that
absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared
range
This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse
effect
Greenhouse Effect? Huh?
The greenhouse effect is the heating of our Earth’s surface
due to the presence of gases in the atmosphere that
absorb and emit infrared radiation
Or simply stated; greenhouse gases trap heat within the
Earth’s atmosphere; without them the Earth's surface
would be on average about 33°C (59°F) colder than at
present
… Without them, Earth's surface would be on average
about 33°C (59°F) colder than at present;
So, Why All
Of The Concern?
There is a widespread belief in the scientific community
that human activities since the start of the industrial era
(around 1750) have increased the levels of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere
These increases in greenhouse gas concentrations have
very likely caused most of the increases in global
average temperatures since the mid-20th century
…increases from Human Activity are referred to as
Anthropogenic greenhouse gases
What Constitutes A Greenhouse Gas?
The main greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere are
water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and
ozone
These are the MAIN gases, there are many others; such
as, sulfur hexafluoride, hydrofluorocarbons, and
perfluorocarbons
Per volume different gases have varying levels of global
warming potential (GWP) and are often converted into
CO2 equivalents for reporting purposes
Historical Perspective on Anthropogenic
Greenhouse Gases
Historical Perspective on Anthropogenic
Greenhouse Gases cont.
Historical Perspective on Anthropogenic
Greenhouse Gases cont.
Historical Perspective on Anthropogenic
Greenhouse Gases cont.
Historical Perspective on Anthropogenic
Greenhouse Gases cont.
Where Do These Greenhouse Gases Come
From?
What Are The Perceived Results From
Increases In Greenhouse Gases?
What Is Happening With Greenhouse Gases
in the United States
Federal Level
Rejection of the overall Kyoto accord while trying to
implement a broader agenda that promotes energy
security, pollution reduction, and sustainable
economic development
Implementation of very targeted policies especially with
the very harmful gases such as hydrofluorocarbons,
perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, halons,
chlorofluorocarbons, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons,
What Is Happening With Greenhouse Gases
in the United States
Regionally many programs and structures are being
implemented such as;
– The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which is a state-level
emissions capping and trading program by eight Northeastern
US States
– West Coast Governors Global Warming Initiative
– Powering The Plains
– U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
– National Governors Association’s Securing a Clean Energy
Future
What Is Happening With Greenhouse Gases
in California
Assembly Bill 32: California Global Warming
Solutions Act of 2006
– On September 27, 2006 Governor of California, Arnold
Schwarzenegger signed into law Assembly Bill 32: the California
Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. AB 32 requires that by
2020 the state's greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to 1990
levels.
– California Air Resources Board (CARB) was responsible for
putting together the scoping plan on how the State is to meet the
requirements of AB 32
California Air Resources Board Has Put
Forth Recommendations In The Following
Areas
Itron’s EEM Suite’s Role
‘If A Tree Falls In The Forest And Nobody Hears It, Does It Make A
Sound?’…..NO! ...stolen from J.Desmond
Whatever actions are undertaken, data must be acquired,
standardized, quantified, compared and reported
EEM Suite has the started down the path of gathering and reporting on
greenhouse gas data
EEM Suite will calculate and track emissions by gas type and
emission category
EEM Suite can compare data against a base year in order to track
reductions in an organizations or facilities carbon footprint
The Global Warming Potential (GWP) factor
standardizes how much a given mass of
greenhouse gas contributes to global warming.
Emission factor sources are the organizations that
you obtain your emission factors from
Emission factors are used to convert energy usage
data into GHG emission reporting data
Company configuration is where you can set your timelines
for reporting and which emission factors to report on
Meter emission factor assignment is for assigning emission
factor sources and factors to specific meters
Multi-level GHG history is a report that summarizes
monthly GHG emissions for multiple facilities within an
organization
Single-level GHG history can display information
on a single level of an organization
GHG emission category report will display facility emission
quantities from all of the catagories within the system
Within the GHG emission category report it is possible to
drill into a single-level for specific data by meter
Thank You
Ronald Mohr, Section Manager
Los Angeles County
Internal Services Department
Energy Management Division
Systems Section
[email protected]
p. 323-881-3979