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| Climate Change Mitigation |
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  There
has been a great deal of attention in recent years about global warming
and greenhouse gases. Concern over global warming prompted the world's
governments to negotiate the Kyoto Climate Change Treaty, which requires
the world's largest economies to cut their overall emissions of six
greenhouse gases. The European Union's target is to reduce emissions
by 8% below 1990 levels; the USA's target is 7%; Japan's is 6%.
Many experts believe that the most cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions is through increased energy efficiency. Yet, consumers
often buy products that are not energy efficient. Advocates of energy
efficiency believe that energy efficient products can conserve energy
and be economically profitable at the same time. The Rocky Mountain
Institute in the USA, for example, has determined that we already
have the technology to abate at least half of the global change problem
- at a profit (visit http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid17.php
to find out how).
Copper Reduces Greenhouse Gases.
Among the engineering metals, copper is the best conductor of heat
and electricity- kilogram for kilogram. About 70% of all copper consumption
is used to benefit from copper's enhanced thermal and electrical energy
efficiency properties.
Copper could play a significant role in making the nations of the
world more energy efficient. By using copper instead of less energy
efficient materials, more of the electricity generated is used to
reap benefits from the products we use. The increased electrical efficiency
reduces electrical demand, which in turn reduces the consumption of
fossil fuels. Reduced fossil fuel consumption means reduced emissions
of greenhouse gases, which in turn reduces society's impact on climate
change (i.e., global warming).
The copper industry is pursuing programs to reduce the demand for
energy in ways that benefit the environment and do not adversely impact
living standards. These programs, operating without the use of government
mandates, rely on market forces and new technology to lead us to a
better future.
AC and Refrigeration Initiative
In the US, the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute's (ARI)
Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Initiative (HVAC&R), partly funded
by the Copper Development Association Inc., seeks to improve the efficiency
of air conditioning and refrigeration equipment as well as provide
consumers with greater equipment capability and flexibility. Because
of the ubiquity of air conditioning and refrigeration systems, this
program has significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Click here for more information
about how copper in air conditioners and refrigeration systems can
reduce greenhouse gases.
Heat Pump Program Reduces Greenhouse Gases
The Copper Development Association of the US operates a heat pump
program which demonstrates how direct source heat pumps can take advantage
of the fact that while the temperature above ground fluctuates as
a function of the season and the weather, the temperature several
feet underground is relatively constant. This temperature differential
can allow heating and cooling costs to be cut, in some cases by as
much as 80%, with comparable drops in greenhouse gas emissions. Click
here for more information about how copper the heat pump program
can reduce greenhouse gases.
Electrical Energy Efficiency Program
The US Copper Development Association operates an electrical energy
efficiency program which compares the increased cost of efficient
motors and electrical delivery systems with the reduced costs of using
more efficient systems. This information helps to determine when it
makes economic sense to convert to more-efficient motor and electrical
delivery systems. Click
here for more information about how efficient copper motors and
electrical delivery systems can reduce greenhouse gases.
Motor Rotor Program Can Reduce Power Plants
The US Copper Development Association is also funding a motor rotor
program which is developing new technology to allow copper to be used
instead of less-efficient aluminum in the rotors of motors. Substituting
copper for aluminum in rotors of motors offers substantial increases
in energy efficiency. The motor rotor program has the potential to
eliminate the need for up to 3.5 600 MW power plants in the US. Its
positive global impact would be even greater. Since power plants produce
gases responsible for global warming, reducing the need for power
plants by converting to energy-efficient copper will reduce global
warming gases. Click
here for more information about how the copper motor rotor program
can reduce greenhouse gases.
Electric Vehicles Reduce Greenhouse Gases
Although the copper industry is not currently funding any major projects
on electric vehicles, the electric vehicle has long been a subject
of great interest to ICA. Electric vehicles will have an important
impact on the energy supply infrastructure and they will offer tremendous
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions -- because they use energy
far more efficiently than internal combustion engines. Click
here for more information about how electric vehicles can reduce
greenhouse gases.
Solar Cells - Copper Increases Efficiency of Solar Cells
Click
here for information about how copper increases the efficiency
of solar cells, thereby reducing greenhouse gases. |
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