Discussion Topic Chemical energy sources are often portable and provide large amounts of energy.
Fossil fuels are one kind of chemical energy source. Most of the energy we use in the
United States is generated by the combustion of fossil fuels. However, fossil fuel
combustion adds greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, mostly CO2. One measure of
the total amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere each year
is called a carbon footprint. Read this article to compare the carbon footprint of an
average person in the United States to an average person around the world.
Knowing that greenhouse gases are contributing to climate change, how can we reduce
our carbon footprint, particularly in the United States? Could hydrogen fuel replace
fossil fuels in the future? Why or why not? Should the size of a person's carbon footprint
be limited by law? Why or why not?