Standard measurement of carbon footprints

Abstract

This paper proposes a method for standardizing the measurement of carbon reduction when using renewable energy sources in conjunction with utility grid energy. The term renewable energy will be used to describe systems that do not depend on the burning of hydrocarbon based fuels to produce electricity. Greenhouse gasses will be used to describe emissions like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, and methane common to the burning or manufacture of hydrocarbon based compounds. Utility grid, will describe publicly available electricity which typically has a high greenhouse gas emission per watt-hour energy generated.