Energy conservation and its impact on climate change

Abstract

On a global scale, anthropogenic factors contribute maximum towards greenhouse gas emissions from the energy usage, two-thirds of which are from burning of fossil fuels for energy to be used for heating, electricity, transport and industry. Our energy generation capacity and energy demand can be affected by climate change. For instance, alterations to the water cycle have consequences on hydropower and increase in temperature has a direct effect on the energy demand for cooling during the summer season, while reducing the need for heating during winter. The greenhouse effect permits solar energy to penetrate the earth's atmosphere and then partially traps that as heat energy. This process has maintained global temperatures, on the earth, at a relatively stable scale-currently an average of 60°F (33 °C) and makes it possible for human populations to survive on this planet. However, release of CO2 by industry and automobile, other gases such as methane traced from burning of fossil fuel and other human endeavours for industrialisation increase the heat enmeshment processes and thereby gradually escalating average worldwide temperatures.