Green House Gas Emissions
Data Evaluation
The line graph displays different contributors to the CO2 emissions in North Carolina. For example, in 2018, the three largest CO2 contributors were electricity, transportation, and residential use. Electricity accounted for 32% of all gross CO2 emissions. Transportation accounted for 33% of all gross emissions. Commercial and Industrial use accounted for 15% of North Carolina’s CO2 emissions.
Although greenhouse gases are natural, immense amounts of such are dangerous to the health of planet Earth. When greenhouse gases are emitted, they are absorbed into the atmosphere. When too many greenhouse gases are emitted and absorbed, heat from the sun is trapped, thus causing global warming. North Carolina’s emittance of greenhouse gas emissions come from a range of different sources: transportation, residential, waste management, gasoline and diesel highway, natural gas and oil systems, agriculture, industrial/commercial, and non-highway sources.
Data in the above graph is accurate until 2018. Years 2019 through 2025 are predictions provided by NC.gov.
Each person’s carbon footprint is important, as the compilation has contributed greatly to natural disasters caused by global warming.
Transportation
Data Evaluation
Transportation accounts for approximately 30% of North Carolina’s total carbon footprint. However, transportation is a carbon footprint component that the consumer has relative control over. Presently, cars range from gasoline to fully electric. Instead of purchasing a vehicle that requires gasoline, consumers with the means to could invest in electric vehicles in an effort to decrease their carbon footprint.
In an effort to decrease the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, policy makers in California created a mandate that after 2035, zero-emission vehicles are the only new vehicle type permitted to be sold. The carbon emission gap between alternative transportation and gas/diesel vehicles implies that electric vehicles should be the future.
Carbon Sinks
Data Evaluation
Carbons sinks are natural resources that absorb carbon dioxide. These play a vital component in the carbon cycle, global warming, and carbon dioxide emissions. When CO2 is released, natural resources absorb a large percent of it. Although they absorb much of it, humans produce substantially more than these sinks can absorb. Furthermore, deforestation has contributed to fewer carbon sinks. Due to many factors, including the overabundance of CO2 released by humans, carbon sinks can not absorb nearly the amount needed to maintain stable greenhouse gasses.
Sylva, North Carolina
Jackson Paper Manufacturing Company
The Jackson Paper Mill, located in Sylva, North Carolina, is a local pollutant. On average, it emits 176 tons of CO every year. It emits an average of 10 tons of SO2, 96 tons of NO, 36 tons volatile organic compounds, and 55 tons of particular matter. Due to how small Sylva is, this data displays a serious hazard.
Canton, North Carolina
Evergreen Packaging
Evergreen Packaging, located in Canton, North Carolina, is one of the largest toxic air emitters in Western North Carolina. The plant is converting from coal to natural gas. Thus reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide by approximately 75% from a staggering 7,200 tons per annum to 2,000 tons annually.
DUKE POWER PLANT
Located in: Buncombe County, North Carolina
One of North Carolina’s main greenhouse gas sources comes from electricity generation. Buncombe County, North Carolina, houses a Duke Energy Power Plant, which emits 1,068 tons of sulfur dioxide every year.
This is a rough estimate because the graph only goes to 2014 and the data above is from 2015.
1,068 (year 2015) tons of SO2 is approximately 1.19% of the total North Carolina SO2 emissions. About 90,000 tons of SO2 was emitted in North Carolina (year 2014).
Bull Run Fossil Plant
Located in: Anderson County, Tennessee
This coal-fired power plant was built in 1967 and was the largest in the world at the time. It produces 865 megawatts of power or supplies 400,000 homes. It hit a Carbon Dioxide peak in 2007 at 6.7 million tons and a minimum in 2013 at 1 million ton.
Technical Solution
Artificial Intelligence to Improve Accuracy
To understand the environment better, various technical solutions are available, which can help us segregate huge amounts of data available on carbon emissions in North Carolina. The implementation of Artificial Intelligence makes it possible to solve the problem even faster owing to the current problems faced in the environment. This convolutional neural model developed using Python to process the data based on categories of carbon emissions data available and classify them with an accuracy of more than 95% with an intention of making the algorithm work faster.
About Us
Drew
I am an Eastern Band Cherokee Indian attending Southwestern Community College with plans to transfer to a four year university. I have always had many interest in life with a main focus being to developing the tribes IT department. My goal is to become a Network Specialist or Engineer to help better organize the fluidity of trial affairs. As I grow older I constantly worry about global warming and how I can make a difference to lessen future repercussions. This website represents my first attempt to increase awareness geared towards our local community in Western Carolina.
Maxime
I am a student at Southwestern Community College who will graduate in the spring of 2021 with an Associate of Science degree. I hope to pursue aerospace engineering at a technical institute in the fall, and possibly study for a bit longer towards a Master’s degree. My goal is to become involved in the space exploration field with some of the bigger names out there, such as NASA and SpaceX.
Jamie
Yes, hello! I am a student at Southwestern Community College working towards a transfer to UNC Wilmington. At UNCW I plan to pursue a BS in marine biology and later enter their graduate program for a MS in the same field. I’m on track to graduate SCC with an AS transfer degree in Summer of 2021.
Trevor
I am in the Carolina student transfer excellence program at Southwestern Community College, planning on attending UNC Chapel Hill in the fall of 2021. I plan on getting my BS in Biology and then apply to Dental School. We all live on Planet Earth and have responsibilities that require us to take action in the present, not the future.
Emma
I am a student at Southwestern Community College, and I will receive my Associates of Science degree in the spring. In the fall of 2021, I plan on attending a four year institution majoring in Chemistry on the pre-med track; following, I hope to attend medical school. It is important for humanity to be aware of our impact on the environment, live sustainably, and progress towards a cleaner environment.
Divya
I am a graduate student at University of Dayton and I will receive my masters degree in Computer Science in May 2021. I am a software engineer and plan on majoring in software development (Intelligent Systems) for business enterprises.