14 DAY TRIAL // The Environemntal Protection Agency (EPA) is benefiting from a new asset in fighting the amount of greenhouse gas emissions all across the US. The agency has recently introduced its online interactive map, allowing people to track some of the major polluters in their state by simply entering their ZIP code.
The new tool is expected to raise the people's level of awareness regarding air pollution and change their perspective on the impact that important power plants, refineries, cement factories, landfills and even universities have on their state of health.
Their initiative is welcomed since most of the people don't really know who to blame for the hazardous emissions lowering air quality in their city.
Using the interactive map, they can spot polluting facilities by entering their name, location, type of chemicals generated or even emissions range.
All in all, EPA has managed to enable users to view and sort GHG data for 2010, gathered from more than 6,700 facilities, in several ways.
According to EPA officials, the online tool ‘would be useful use to inform decision-making,’ for both businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals who are keen on minimizing their carbon footprint.
It seems that energy has a price, which has to be paid by the environment. This appears to be the case of three of the biggest polluters, located in Georgia and Alabama, owned and controlled by Southern Co, one of the most powerful opponents EPA has to deal with.
“The GHG Reporting Program data provides a critical tool for businesses and other innovators to find cost- and fuel-saving efficiencies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and foster technologies to protect public health and the environment,” explained Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation.
Currently, 80% of the total amount of emissions are generated by industrial facilities. American power plants are considered major contributors, triggering 2,324 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (mmtCO2e), closely followed by petroleum refineries, generating of 183 mmtCO2e.