Super potent greenhouse gas used in flat screen TVs poses global warming threat

(Photo of flat screen TVs at Wal-Mart from Flickr and and photographer Adam G)

News Update 2: A chemical used in making flat screen TVs is 17,000 times as potent a greenhouse gas as CO2. Researchers at the University of California-Irvine are seeking to measure the synthetic chemical, NF3, in the atmosphere, because of its huge potential impact on global warming. The chemical, nitrogen trifluoride, is used in the manufacture of computers and flat screen TVs, despite the knowledge that it could add significantly to global warming. Industry leaders say only about 2% escapes into the atmosphere, but scientists have not yet verified that. NF3 lasts in the atmosphere 550 years, compared with 100 years for CO2 and 12 years for methane. It has not yet been registered as a greenhouse gas and was not included in the Kyoto treaty. The research at Cal-Irvine may well lead to its inclusion in future climate change treaties. This points up the risk that new chemicals can undo much of the good done to curb emissions and they need to be regulated. (Source: Greenwire)

Renewable energy use here down 1% last year due to dought, carbon dioxide emissions grew

(Photo of hydroelectric waterfall from Flickr and photographer grendelkhan.)

News Update 1: Consumption of renewable energy in the U.S, slipped slightly in 2007 because lack of rain cut hydroelectric power 14%. Drought is predicted to be a continuing problem because of climate change. Other forms of renewable energy were up, according to a report from the Energy Information Administration. Wind rose 21% and biomass 7% (mostly because of ethanol). Overall renewables were down 1%, following several years of growth. Sources of energy in 2007 were:
• renewables 7%
• petroleum 40%
• natural gas 23%
• coal 22%
• nuclear 8%
Meanwhile, carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. grew 1.6%, according to the EIA, with all the growth attributed to residential and commercial buildings. Since 1990 C02 growth in the U.S. was nearly 20%. Nations that signed the Kyoto treaty (not us) were committed to cutting C02 5% from 1990 levels.
(Source: E&E News PM, Greenwire)