The additions of these quantities of CO2 to the atmosphere are the major contributor to climate change and the threat of global warming. Since the Industrial Revolution the amounts of energy used from fossil fuels has risen dramatically, raising concerns about the sustainability of energy requirements and use.

There is now an imbalance taking place. The amount of energy actually leaving the earth appears to be decreasing as the planet becomes increasingly more insulated by the blanket of carbon dioxide and other gases creating the Greenhouse effect and subsequent global warming.

Domestic gives rise to large amounts of indirect pollution.

Production of energy to be used as domestic fuel accounted for the following proportions of total air pollutants in the UK during 1995:

• carbon dioxide 27%

• sulphur dioxide 27%

• black smoke 21%

• nitrogen dioxides 11%

• carbon monoxide 8%

Click for "Energy to Carbon Dioxide"