The United States holds the record for energy abuse. While Americans drive more miles in less efficient cars, gasoline consumption is at an all-time high. In Asia, Africa and Latin America, billions of people burn firewood for fuel. Burning trees not only releases CO2 stored in trees, but if trees are not replaced, there will be fewer of them left to absorb carbon dioxide. Energy use by sector differs widely.
Individuals use energy to heat their homes and water and to run their household appliances and cars.
The energy that goes into producing the goods and services they buy also must be factored in. Over the past two decades, a number of new industries have been introducing generally good environmental practices. Energy intensity has also declined overall as the more traditional industries such as iron, steel, and petroleum refining have made way for new, higher-tech ones. On the other hand, changes are hard to detect in fossil fuel industries or those that rely heavily on fossil fuels. A close analysis of greenhouse gas emissions by the industrial sector is vital for designing energy-saving and clean energy policies.