Energy savings from elimination of beef consumption
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This document analyzes the energy and greenhouse gas savings from eliminating beef consumption from one's diet. It finds that if Jessica, who eats 4 ounces of beef per week, were to cut out beef, she would save 5 miles driven per week in emissions, 1,304 gallons of water usage per week, and 0.55 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per week. For the average American who eats 25.6 ounces of beef per week, eliminating beef would save 32 miles driven per week in emissions, 8,346 gallons of water usage per week, and 26.5 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per week. Cutting out beef has significant environmental benefits.
Energy savings from elimination of beef consumption
- 1. Energy Savings from Elimination of Beef Consumption By: Miss Jessica L. Bills
- 2. Research question: ¡°If I cut beef from my diet, how much energy and greenhouse gas will I save?¡±
- 3. ? I eat approximately 4 ounces of beef per week. ? However, the average American eats 25.6 ounces of beef per week. That¡¯s a big difference! To compensate for these differences I built two Excel spreadsheets analyzing: ? Miles that could be driven in a car for comparative greenhouse gas emissions ? Water Usage (in gallons) ? Carbon Dioxide Emissions (in pounds)
- 4. Weekly: Energy Type Current Average Consumption Eliminating Beef from Diet Difference x 1 Person Difference x 10 People Difference x 100 People Difference x 1000 People Ounces of Beef Consumed 4 0 4 40 400 4000 Miles that could be driven in a car for comparative greenhouse gas emissions 5 0 5 50 500 5000 Water Usage (in gallons) 1,304 0 1,304 13040 130400 1304000 Carbon Dioxide Emissions (in pounds) 0.55 0 0.55 5.5 55 550 Yearly: Energy Type Current Average Consumption Eliminating Beef from Diet Difference x 1 Person Difference x 10 People Difference x 100 People Difference x 1000 People Ounces of Beef Consumed 208 0 208 2080 20800 208000 Miles that could be driven in a car for comparative greenhouse gas emissions 260 0 260 2600 26000 260000 Water Usage (in gallons) 67,808 0 67,808 678080 6780800 67808000 Carbon Dioxide Emissions (in pounds) 28.6 0 28.6 286 2860 28600 Energy/ Emissions Savings by eliminating beef from Jessica¡¯s diet:
- 5. Weekly: Energy Type Current Average Consumption Eliminating Beef from Diet Difference x 1 Person Difference x 10 People Difference x 100 People Difference x 1000 People Ounces of Beef Consumed 25.6 0 25.6 256 2560 25600 Miles that could be driven in a car for comparative greenhouse gas emissions 32 0 32 320 3200 32000 Water Usage (in gallons) 8,346 0 8346 83460 834600 8346000 Carbon Dioxide Emissions (in pounds) 26.5 0 26.5 265 2650 26500 Yearly: Energy Type Current Average Consumption Eliminating Beef from Diet Difference x 1 Person Difference x 10 People Difference x 100 People Difference x 1000 People Ounces of Beef Consumed 1,331 0 1331 13310 133100 1331000 Miles that could be driven in a car for comparative greenhouse gas emissions 1,664 0 1664 16640 166400 1664000 Water Usage (in gallons) 433,992 0 433992 4339920 43399200 433992000 Carbon Dioxide Emissions (in pounds) 1,331.20 0 1,331.20 13312 133120 1331200 Energy/ Emissions Savings by eliminating beef from the average American diet:
- 6. Other Frightening Facts about Beef Consumption Calories of fossil fuel used to make 1 calorie of protein for various foods:
- 7. Gallons of water required to produce one pound of various foods:
- 8. Number of people whose caloric needs can be met on 2.5 acres of land for the following foods:
- 9. More thoughts to consider: Pound for pound, beef production generates greenhouse gases that contribute more than 13 times as much to global warming as do the gases emitted from producing chicken. For potatoes, the multiplier is 57.
- 10. Beef consumption is rising rapidly, both as population increases and as people eat more meat.
- 11. Producing half a pound of hamburger for someone's lunch, a patty of meat the size of two decks of cards, releases as much greenhouse gas into the atmosphere as driving a 3,000- pound car nearly 10 miles.
- 12. WikiAnswers tells us that Earth is 24,901 miles around at the equator. If just 1000 average Americans stopped eating beef for one year we would save the equivalent amount of emissions to drive around the equator 66.8 times! There is some food for thought.
- 13. In Conclusion: When making dietary choices to lower your carbon footprint, keep this in mind: ? Organic is good ? Locally grown produce is better ? A vegan diet is best!