A conventional sectoral approach, based on the industrial, transportation, commercial,and residential sectors, has shaped the way we frame and analyze issues of human dimension ofenergy conservation and CO2 mitigation. This sectoral categorization, however, is limited in itscapacity to reveal the total impacts of consumer activities on energy use and the relatedenvironmental impacts. In this paper, the author explores the relationship between consumeractivities, energy use and related CO2 emissions from both top-down and bottom-up approaches.A top-down study, the re-estimation of U.S. energy use and CO2 emissions from consumerperspective, reveals that about 65% of the energy used and 75% of the CO2 emitted in the U.S.For the year of 2001 are a result of direct and indirect consequences of American consumerdemands. A bottom-up study, the development of an individual CO2 emissions estimator, is apreliminary effort helping the public gain knowledge of their lifestyles-related CO2 emissions,and aiding researchers understand how people respond once informed. Initial findings of thispaper suggest that 1) consumer demand is the driving force for the U.S. energy use and CO2emissions, 2) people are interested in knowing their CO2 emissions profiles. However, not all ofinformed people seem to intend to take active actions, and people who are interested inmitigation may not know how to act effectively.
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