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            Energy-Related Carbon Emissions


Glossary: 
        Energy-Related Carbon Emissions

      For 
        additional terms, refer to:the Glossary 
        of Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 1998 for 
        additional greenhouse gas related terms,the Glossary 
        of Manufacturing Consumption of Energy 1994 for additional manufacturing 
        terms, andAppendix 
        F of *Manufacturing Consumption of Energy 1994* for descriptions 
        of the major industry groups.
      British 
          Thermal Unit:
        The amount 
          of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree 
          Fahrenheit. One quadrillion Btu is 1015 Btu, or 1.055 exajoules.
        Btu:
        See British 
          Thermal Unit.
        Carbon 
          Dioxide:
        A colorless, 
          odorless, non-poisonous gas that is a normal part of Earth's atmosphere. 
          Carbon dioxide is a product of fossil-fuel combustion as well as other 
          processes. It is considered a greenhouse gas as it traps heat radiated 
          into the atmosphere and thereby contributes to the potential for global 
          warming.
        Carbon 
          Intensity:
        The amount 
          of carbon by weight emitted per unit of energy consumed. A common measure 
          of carbon intensity is the weight of carbon per British thermal unit 
          (Btu) of energy. When there is only one fossil fuel under consideration, 
          the carbon intensity and the emissions coefficient are the same. When 
          there are several fuels, carbon intensity is an energy-consumption weighted 
          average of the emissions coefficients. See Emissions 
          Coefficient.
        Carbon 
          Output Rate:
        The amount 
          of carbon by weight per kilowatthour of electricity produced.
        Carbon 
          Sequestration:
        The fixation 
          of atmospheric carbon dioxide in a carbon sink through biological or 
          physical processes.
        Carbon 
          Sink:
        A reservoir 
          that absorbs or takes up released carbon from another part of the carbon 
          cycle.
        Coal:
        A readily 
          combustible black or brownish-black rock whose composition, including 
          inherent moisture, consists of more than 50 percent by weight and more 
          than 70 percent by volume of carbonaceous material.
        Electricity:
        See Net 
          Electricity.
        Emissions:
        Releases 
          of gases to the atmosphere due to human activity. In the context of 
          global climate change, emissions consist of radiatively important greenhouse 
          gases (e.g., the release of carbon dioxide during fuel combustion).
        Emissions 
          Coefficient:
        A unique 
          value for scaling emissions to activity data in terms of a standard 
          rate of emissions per unit of activity (e.g., weight of carbon emitted 
          per Btu of fossil fuel consumed).
        Feedstock 
          Use of Energy:
        The use 
          of an energy source as a raw material.
        First 
          Use of Energy:
        All energy 
          used in the manufacturing sector, either for fuel use (heat, power, 
          and electricity generation) or for nonfuel (feedstock) use. Excluded 
          are energy sources produced on site from other energy sources.
        Greenhouse 
          Gases:
        Those 
          gases, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, 
          hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride, 
          that are transparent to solar (short-wave) radiation but opaque to long-wave 
          radiation, thus preventing long-wave radiant energy from leaving the 
          atmosphere. The net effect is a trapping of absorbed radiation and a 
          tendency to warm the planet's surface.
        Intergovernmental 
          Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):
        A panel 
          established jointly in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization 
          and the United Nations Environment Program to assess the scientific 
          information relating to climate change and to formulate realistic response 
          strategies.
        Metric 
          Ton:
        A quantity 
          of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms, or 2,204.6 pounds.
        Natural 
          Gas:
        A mixture 
          of hydrocarbon compounds and small quantities of various nonhydrocarbons 
          existing in the gaseous phase or in solution with crude oil in natural 
          underground reservoirs at reservoir conditions.
        Net 
          Electricity:
        Net electricity 
          is the sum of purchased electricity, transfers in, and generation from 
          noncombustible renewable resources minus the quantities of electricity 
          sold and transferred offsite. Thus net electricity excludes the quantities 
          of electricity generated or cogenerated onsite from combustible energy 
          sources.
        Petroleum:
        A generic 
          term applied to oil and oil products in all forms, such as crude oil, 
          lease condensate, unfinished oils, petroleum products, natural gas plant 
          liquids, and nonhydrocarbon compounds blended into finished petroleum 
          products. For petroleum refining only, the Manufacturing Energy Consumption 
          Survey excludes those inputs and feedstocks that were converted to other 
          energy products.
        Sequestration:
        See Carbon 
          Sequestration.
        Shipments:
        Shipments 
          from an establishment of energy sources produced or transformed onsite 
          from the nonfuel use of other energy sources.
        SIC 
          Code:
        See Standard 
          Industrial Classification Code
        Standard 
          Industrial Classification Code:
        A hierarchical 
          classification system that groups establishments according to their 
          primary economic activities. Beginning with the 1998 Manufacturing Energy 
          Consumption Survey, the North American Industry Classification System 
          (NAICS) replaces the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes. 
          See Good-Bye, 
          SIC - Hello, NAICS for an explanation of the changes.
        Total 
          Inputs of Energy:
        Use of 
          energy in the production of heat, steam, power, or the generation of 
          electricity.[Energy-Related 
          Carbon Emissions in Manufacturing]
      
      Contact:
        Stephanie 
          Battles
        Stephanie.Battles@eia.doe.gov
        (Phone: 
          (202) 586-7237)
        FAX: 
          202-586-0018**Contact Us**
	  URL: http://www.eia.gov/emeu/efficiency/carbon_emissions/glossary.html
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        Last Modified: May 31, 2000