Carbon dioxide emissions caused by electric energy consumption in buildings in the Province of San Juan, Argentina

Abstract

Population growth without awareness of energy consumption produces irreversible effects on the environment. Power generation from non-renewable sources is responsible for negative environmental impacts due to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is a GHG indicator. The CO2 molecule has the ability to store longwave radiation (heat) and avoid the natural heat balance between the Earth and outer space. The aim of this paper is to find a representative value of the CO2 emissions produced by electric energy consumption in the building sector (residential, commercial and public) in the Province of San Juan, Argentina and develop a graphic label to indicate the level of emissions. The analysis takes into consideration international CO2 emissions reference values, energy consumption data and population census data. CO2 emissions per capita are calculated based on local electricity consumption values, categorized by numerical equivalent, and displayed on a graphic label. The CO2-equivalent emissions values obtained are notably low compared to the world average.