Going Net Zero 101
Breaking out of fossil fuels seems like a no brainer. But to be honest, I made the net zero commitment without fully understanding the extent of what it means. In my trial and error, I found that modern culture is still deeply seeped in the fossil fuel dark ages, making this journey more challenging than I hoped. Now with some big learning under my belt and a clear vision in sight, I have a proper net zero strategy.
Why net zero?
First for perspective, U.S. households generate 5.43 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions every year. Some relativity might hep that sink in. The average carbon footprint of a person in the United States is 16 tons, one of the highest rates in the world. Globally, the average carbon footprint is closer to 4 tons.
The International Panel on Climate Change recently reported that the richest people consume the most resources, and they are therefore the most responsible to cut their energy demand. You might not think that’s you, but compared to the rest of the world - it’s you.
"I think there are individuals with high socioeconomic status who are capable of reducing their emissions by becoming role models of low carbon lifestyles, by choosing to invest in low carbon businesses and opportunities, and by lobbying for stringent climate policies." – IPCC lead author.
I call this the luxury of choice. If you have the luxury of choosing what you eat, how you travel, or of owning a home, then you have a responsibility to go net zero.
Where to get started
Next, let’s take a look at how Americans use energy. Knowing where energy is used is important to understanding which outputs you should focus. I’m a visual learner, so here’s a chart by the Energy Information Administration to help you figure out how to block and tackle the most important opportunity areas first.
This means that your big ticket item is HVAC, because half of your home’s energy is spent on heating and cooling. Water heating is your next big ticket item to tackle. A similar report from EIA in 2015 broke that remaining 39% (all other uses) down a bit further for us. Clothes washers, dryers, & dish washers are 5%; cooking is 2.7%; and computers 1.6%.
Now you have the gist on why going net zero is paramount as well as the priority areas to focus.
Strategy to net zero
In order to talk about net zero strategy, I think we need to debunk a pretty prominent myth. Not too long ago, I remember learning that natural gas is cleaner than coal and an efficient fuel that is a necessary bridge to a net zero future. I also recently saw a local clean and carbon-neutral coal facility being celebrated. To be clear, there is no longer a collective fossil-fueled route to net zero.
Basically, we need to get entirely off fossil fuels - period
Net zero means full decarbonization, which means getting entirely off fossil fuels. No combustion. No natural gas. No gasoline. Here’s the 3-point iterative cycle for going net zero. These steps are not sequential. All three should be taking place together and perpetually.
Electrify everything
Swap to renewables
Cut energy demand
Let’s unpack.
First, we need to electrify everything. Electricity can be powered entirely with renewables - although it isn’t yet, it can and will be. Home heating and cooling, cars and buses, cookstoves, and water heaters all need to be transitioned to electric.
Total electrification is a reality check that operators/contractors have yet to wrap their heads around. I had the three most prominent local HVAC contractors tell me that it is impossible to heat my house electrically in my climate, unfortunately. I now know that is false and misleading information.
Next, we must swap from fossil fuels to renewables. Yes, that means all fossil fuels, coal, oil, natural gas, and gasoline, must be swapped out for renewables. For consumers, this primarily means installing a home solar array, subscribing to green energy through your utility, or using a home geothermal heat pump or small-scale wind technology.
Last, we need to cut energy demand - straight up. Americans consume an egregious amount of energy, and we need to cut that sh*t out. At home, that means boosting efficiencies to reduce energy usage. Secure your home envelope to retain heating and cooling with better windows and insulation. Additionally, upgrade to more efficient appliances and swap to all LED lighting.
The American lifestyle of stuff consumption needs to be considerably sliced back. The kind of stuff we consume, mainly food, travel and goods, has massive embodied energy in production, manufacturing & distribution. Accordingly, corrective steps include shifting to a locally-produced and plant-based diet, limiting long-distance travel, and cutting our stuff acquisition habit, e.g. cut clothes back by 75%.
We need bold and educated self-advocacy
This synopsis took me a while to piece together even though solutions information and technologies have existed for quite a while. There is rampant old-school misinformation circulating within the mainstream. Therefore, as a consumer and citizen, the net zero journey requires determined self-education, bold self-advocacy, and loud and proud voices.
Some relevant resources
