Keynote: The Links Between Energy and Climate Change: Why Energy Efficiency, Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Matter
Of the total energy consumed in America, about 39% is used to generate
electricity. Therefore, electricity consumption is an important portion
of a consumer's environmental footprint. Using energy more efficiently
through more efficient products, such as ENERGY STAR qualified
appliances or light bulbs, or through more efficient generation, such as
Combined Heat and Power, reduces the amount of fuel required to produce
a unit of energy output and reduces the corresponding emissions of
pollutants and greenhouse gases. Electricity from renewable resources
such as solar, geothermal, and wind technologies generally does not
contribute to climate change or local air pollution since no fuels are
combusted in these processes. This presentation will discuss the
relationship between energy production/use and greenhouse gas emissions.
It will also provide an introduction to the use of energy efficiency,
energy conservation, and renewable energy sources as a way to reduce
greenhouse gases, enhance energy security, and save money.
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Ken Mitchell has 20 years of wide-ranging multi-media environmental experience including work in the private sector, Federal and State governments, and international assignments on a wide array of environmental programs, including the Clean Air Act, RCRA, Superfund, water issues, and energy and climate change concerns. He is currently the Senior Climate Change Advisor for EPA Region 4 in Atlanta. He holds a PhD in chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a BS in chemistry from UNC Chapel Hill.
