Fourth Of July No Picnic For The Nation’s Environment

[Township75]

OAK RIDGE, Tenn., July 3, 2003 -- When an estimated 60 million Americans fire up their barbecue grills this Fourth of July, they'll be burning the equivalent of 2,300 acres of forest and consuming enough energy to meet the residential demand of a town the size of Flagstaff, Ariz., for an entire year.

Tristram West of the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory also calculated that the grills would emit nearly 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. A metric ton is equal to about 2,200 pounds. West's estimate includes carbon dioxide emissions from production and combustion of the fuel. Carbon dioxide, considered a greenhouse gas, is increasing in the atmosphere each year and is thought to be a major factor in climate change.

The full story is here:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/07/030707090445.htm

[Throckmorton]

1. Ok, but how much energy will they use compared to an average day?

More or Less, or about the same?