In the United States, 85 percent of man-made greenhouse gas emissions
are produced through energy-related activities, mainly through the combustion
of fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and petroleum. The process of
generating electricity is the single largest source of greenhouse gas
emissions in the United States (34 percent), which relies on electricity
to meet a significant portion of its energy requirements. Electricity
is consumed primarily in the residential, commercial, and industrial end-use
sectors for uses such as lighting, heating, electric motors, appliances,
electronics, and air conditioning.
The Division operates programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
from both clean energy sources
and from all end-use sectors and
also undertakes analyses of the broad range of cost-effective emissions
reductions opportunities from these areas.