Climate Change and Basic Living

A number of factors influence the quantities of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, including economic activity, population, consumption patterns, energy prices, land use, and technology.
There are several ways to track these emissions, such as by measuring emissions directly, calculating emissions based on the amount of fuel that people burn, and estimating other activities and their associated emissions.
EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) has two key programs that provide data on greenhouse gas emissions in the United States: the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks and the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program.
U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Temperature is a fundamental measurement for describing the climate, and the temperature in particular places can have wide-ranging effects on human life and ecosystems.
Changes in temperature can disrupt a wide range of natural processes, particularly if these changes occur more quickly than plant and animal species can adapt.
Concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases are increasing in the Earth’s atmosphere.
In response, average temperatures at the Earth’s surface are increasing and are expected to continue rising.
U.S. and Global Temperature

Outdoor temperatures can affect daily life in many ways. In particular, temperature affects our comfort level and our demand for heating and air conditioning. Collectively, heating and cooling the spaces in which we live accounts for 48 percent of the energy that American households use every year.
One way to measure the influence of temperature change on energy demand is using heating and cooling degree days, which measure the difference between outdoor temperatures and a temperature that people generally find comfortable indoors.
These measurements suggest how much energy people might need to use to heat and cool their homes and workplaces, thus providing a sense of how climate change could affect people’s daily lives and finances.
Heating and Cooling Degree Days