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Emission Facts: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from a Typical Passenger Vehicle | US EPA

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:44:21 -0000

Comments:

tail-pipe only, not full life-cycle analysis. see fueleconomy.gov for LCA posted by davido

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

MOBILE6.2 (EPA’s computer model for estimating emissions for highway vehicles) can calculate an average fuel economy across the fleet, based on the EPA annual Fuel Economy Trends reports. For 2003, MOBILE calculates values of 23.9 miles per gallon (mpg) for passenger cars and 17.4 mpg for light trucks.

Step 2: Estimating the fuel economy of passenger cars and light trucks (MPG estimate)

This number is then multiplied by an oxidation factor of 0.99, which assumes that 1 percent of the carbon remains un-oxidized.[1.]

(The carbon content is multiplied by the ratio of the molecular weight of CO2 to the molecular weight of carbon: 44/12).

This number is calculated from values in the Code of Federal Regulations at 40 CFR 600.113-78, which EPA uses to calculate the fuel economy of vehicles, and relies on assumptions consistent with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines.

In particular, 40 CFR 600.113-78 gives a carbon content value of 2,421 grams (g) of carbon per gallon of gasoline, which produces 8,877 g of CO2.

Step 1: Determining the CO2 produced per gallon of gasoline
A gallon of gasoline is assumed to produce 8.8 kilograms (or 19.4 pounds) of CO2

Recommendation

To translate GHG reductions into an equivalent number of cars off the road, annual emissions from a typical passenger vehicle should be equated to 5.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent or 1.5 metric tons of carbon equivalent.

Tags: carbon_footprint_calculators epa transport-sector

Posted by: davido

Assumptions and References | EPA Personal Emissions Calculator | Climate Change - Greenhouse Gas Emissions | U.S. EPA

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:19:50 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

Transportation

Pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent are calculated based on EPA's estimate of the greenhouse gas emissions from a typical passenger vehicle in the United States. Estimates of the typical values for fuel economy and miles driven per week are from the same source.

Note that EPA's emissions estimates are lower than estimates obtained through fueleconomy.gov, because EPA's estimates are for tailpipe emissions only. The fueleconomy.gov site estimates emissions over the full fuel lifecycle (including extraction, processing, and transportation of fuel).

Tags: carbon_footprint_calculators epa

Posted by: davido

Frequent Questions | Universal Wastes | US EPA

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:36:03 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

When are fluorescent lights (a type of hazardous waste lamp) considered as universal waste and what are the handling requirements?

When are pesticides considered a universal waste and what are the handling requirements for them?

Pesticides

When are pesticides considered a universal waste and what are the handling requirements for them?

Tags: epa lamps universal_waste

Posted by: davido

Lamps | Universal Wastes | US EPA

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:35:47 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

Lamprecycle.org, sponsored by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) to encourage the recycling of spent mercury-containing lamps, maintains a List of Companies Claiming to Recycle or Handle Spent Mercury Containing Lamps

EPA initiated a mercury-containing lamp recycling outreach program in 2002 to promote mercury lamp recycling by commercial and industrial users.

Where Can I Recycle Universal Waste Lamps?

EPA initiated a mercury-containing lamp recycling outreach program in 2002 to promote mercury lamp recycling by commercial and industrial users.

[60 FR 25542, May 11, 1995, as amended at 64 FR 36489, July 6, 1999]

(2) A small quantity handler of universal waste must immediately clean up and place in a container any lamp that is broken and must place in a container any lamp that shows evidence of breakage, leakage, or damage that could cause the release of mercury or other hazardous constituents to the environment. Containers must be closed, structurally sound, compatible with the contents of the lamps and must lack evidence of leakage, spillage or damage that could cause leakage or releases of mercury or other hazardous constituents to the environment under reasonably foreseeable conditions.

(1) A small quantity handler of universal waste must contain any lamp in containers or packages that are structurally sound, adequate to prevent breakage, and compatible with the contents of the lamps.

What Are the Waste Management Requirements for Small Quantity Handlers of Universal Waste Lamps? 40 CFR 273.13(d)

When Do the Universal Waste Regulations Apply to Lamps? 40 CFR 273.5

Tags: epa lamps universal_waste

Posted by: davido

Composting | Wastes | US EPA

Fri, 11 May 2007 09:35:27 -0000

Highlights and Sticky Notes:

Yard trimmings and food residuals together constitute 24 percent of the U.S. municipal solid waste stream. That's a lot of waste to send to landfills when it could become useful and environmentally beneficial compost instead!

Environmental Benefits - explains how composting benefits the environment.

Science/Technology - discusses how the composting process works and the different methods of composting

Publications - contains a list of composting and related publications.
Related Links - provides links to various composting-related web sites.

Laws/Statutes - discusses regulations for organics materials and composting facilities.

Tags: composting epa wastes

Posted by: davido