This book examines the importance of offsetting the warming impact of greenhouse gases, discussing challenges in the search for clean energy and switching to low- or zero-emission energy options.
General Note
Includes glossary.
Content Note
Energy and global warming : an introduction - The fossil fuel era - The global warming problem - Solutions to energy-related global warming - Chart : global anthropogenic GHG emissions, 1970-2004 - Sidebar : a global warming emergency? - The world's reliance on fossil fuels : current energy usage - Fossil fuels and carbon emissions - Countries responsible for carbon emissions - U.S. energy usage - Chart : U.S. primary energy consumption by source and sector, 2008 - Growing energy demands and emissions - Sidebar : global warming and peak oil - Cutting fossil fuel emissions - The 1997 Kyoto Protocol - Prospects for U.S. emission cuts - Graph : net emission reductions under cap-and-trade proposals in the 111th Congress, 2005-2050 - U.S. regulatory efforts - Improving energy efficiency - Geoengineering solutions - Individual lifestyle changes - Sidebar : the Energy Star program - Bridge strategies : low-emission energy sources - Natural gas as a transition fuel - Map : major U.S. natural gas shale beds - The clean coal debate - Nuclear power - Sidebar : France--a leader in nuclear power - Methane energy - Developing clean and renewable electrical energy - Solar energy - Wind power - Sidebar : clean energy in Malawi - Geothermal energy - Energy from water - Table : U.S. electricity from renewable energy by sector, 2004-2008 - Reinventing transportation energy - Biofuels - Sidebar : Brazil's flex-fuel auto industry - Hydrogen fuel cells - Electric and hybrid vehicles - Illustration : how hybrids work - Achieving a clean-energy economy - Encouraging investments in clean energy - Sidebar : renewable energy portfolio standards - A new clean-energy policy - The role of carbon caps - Creating green jobs - Map : clean-energy jobs by state, 2007 - Economic impact - Challenges in the search for clean energy - Technological challenges - Infrastructure needs - Table : today's electrical grid and tomorrow's - Political obstacles - Environmental concerns - Winning the global race toward clean energy - Sidebar : China and clean energy.