Common sense isn't.
Analysis, data and calculations that TVA used as a basis to state, “In fact, an investment of an additional $8 per month on your power bill buys enough Green Power Switch to equal the environmental benefits of planting an acre of trees in the Tennessee Valley.” (Reference: http://www.tva.gov/greenpowerswitch/green_mainfaq.htm#3 archive, 2002)The complete TVA statement at the link above, for more context, was:
How does green power benefit the environment?This claim, that purchasing $8 per month of green power provides the environmental benefits of planting an acre of trees, now appears to be a demonstrably false and misleading claim, based on the released information.
The environmental effects of traditional energy sources like coal, natural gas, oil, and nuclear power can be significant. Although no source of energy is impact-free, renewable resources create less waste and pollution. In fact, an investment of an additional $8 per month on your power bill buys enough Green Power Switch to equal the environmental benefits of planting an acre of trees in the Tennessee Valley.
Benefits of Planting Trees Reference 1 (archive 2002) Reference 2 (archive 2001) Reference 3 (archive 2002) |
TVA Claimed Benefits of Green Power |
Actual Benefits of Green Power |
---|---|---|
Trees provide a cool, green, shady place in which to live, work, and play. | n/a |
n/a |
One acre of healthy trees produces enough oxygen for 18 people per day. | n/a | n/a |
Trees filter air pollution. | n/a | n/a |
In one year, an acre of trees absorbs the amount of carbon dioxide you produce when you drive your car 26,000 miles. | Purchasing 2 blocks
of green power per month for a year (3,600 kilowatt-hours total) at $8
per month ($96 total) reduces CO2 emissions by about 7,300 pounds. |
According to TVA's
data, on average (pdf, local), about 80% (
or
more archive, 2003) of TVA's green power comes from burning methane gas from
landfill or sewage treatment gas. In fact, this emits about as much CO2
as any other burning of fossil fuels (actually somewhat more, due to
lower quality fuel); however, TVA treats this CO2 as if it does not
"count" because it would have been emitted by burning the gas from the
landfill or sewage treatment anyway. That's like claiming that burning
natural gas in gas turbines shouldn't "count" because the gas would have
been burned in furnaces or hot water heaters anyway. |
Trees conserve our precious water resources by reducing water runoff, and help to prevent soil erosion. | n/a | n/a |
Trees decrease your energy costs. Trees placed strategically around a home or building can reduce heating and cooling costs from 10-50%. | n/a | n/a |
Trees increase property values. Building lots with trees routinely sell for 10% more than sites without trees. | n/a | n/a |
Tree reduce noise pollution by absorbing and blocking urban noise. | n/a | n/a |
Trees can be a haven of wildlife and plant diversity in the midst of the city. | n/a | n/a |
Year 0 | 0 lbs/acre |
Year 5 | 10,000 lbs/acre |
Year 10 | 22,000 lbs/acre |
Year 20 | 74,000 lbs/acre |
Period (Years) | Average Carbon Flow | Converted to CO2 (x 3.67) |
1-5 | -2,000 lbs/acre/year | -7,340 lbs CO2/acre/yr |
6-10 | -2,400 lbs/acre/year | -8,800 lbs CO2/acre/yr |
11-20 | -5,200 lbs/acre/year | -19,084 lbs CO2/acre/yr |
Number of Blocks | Green kWh/month | Acres/block/year | Acres of Trees Planted* | |||
1 | 150 | .5058 | 0.5058 | |||
5 | 750 | .5058 | 2.529 | |||
25 | 3,750 | .5058 | 12.645 | |||
100 | 15,000 | .5058 | 50.58 | |||
250 | 37,500 | .5058 | 126.45 | |||
375 | 56,250 | .5058 | 189.675 |
Quote of the moment |
We are afraid to die because we don't know the day nor the hour, because death can surprise us at any moment. Because we fear what comes after death, we are afraid of finding ourselves in an unknown and disagreeable place, filled with anxiety. If we want to die well, we must learn to live well. The experience of death is extremely important, because our state of mind at that moment can decide the quality of our future rebirth. We can even, at the moment of dying, make a special effort. In the course of it meditation can reach an unequalled summit, as shown by the preservation of the body. |
~ The Path to Tranquility, September 13, 14th Dalai Lama ~ |
Common sense isn't.
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