Green
America Is Shaking Off Its Addiction to Oil
Bloomberg has put together an impressive interactive data visualization on America’s weakening oil addition.
America Is Shaking Off Its Addiction to Oil
Bloomberg has created an impressive graphical presentation on how America’s oil addiction is waning. Click here to view it in a new window.
Gasoline, at an average cost of $2.67 per gallon, is now the cheapest it has been in the United States since 2010. This comes in tandem with a tumbling oil price, which has left oil exporting countries such as Russia in a tough situation.
However, due to America’s current shale revolution, production has even surpassed 1985 levels of production to above 9 million bpd. Usually this increase in supply would lead to an increase in consumption, but so far it is not the case.
GDP and oil production no longer move in tandem as they have through the history of the United States. In addition, gasoline consumption is predicted to be flat in 2015. Bloomberg points to a few reason for this new disconnect. First, cars are becoming more fuel efficient, and baby boomers are driving less as they retire. In addition, young people are also moving to cities where more efficient forms of transport such as public transit or ridesharing rule the day.
Bloomberg also shows that America is becoming more energy independent. It has produced 89% of the energy it has consumed this year, and imports from countries such as Russia, Venezuela, Nigeria, and other OPEC countries have decreased substantially.
Green
The Carbon Footprint of Major Travel Methods
Going on a cruise ship and flying domestically are the most carbon-intensive travel methods.
The Carbon Footprint of Major Travel Methods
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Did you know that transport accounts for nearly one-quarter of global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions?
This graphic illustrates the carbon footprints of major travel methods measured in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emitted per person to travel one kilometer. This includes both CO₂ and other greenhouse gases.
Data is sourced from Our World in Data, the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and The International Council on Clean Transportation, as of December 2022.
These figures should be interpreted as approximations, rather than exact numbers. There are many variables at play that determine the actual carbon footprint in any individual case, including vehicle type or model, occupancy, energy mix, and even weather.
Cruise Ships are the Most Carbon-Intensive Travel Method
According to these estimates, taking a cruise ship, flying domestically, and driving alone are some of the most carbon-intensive travel methods.
Cruise ships typically use heavy fuel oil, which is high in carbon content. The average cruise ship weighs between 70,000 to 180,000 metric tons, meaning they require large engines to get moving.
These massive vessels must also generate power for onboard amenities such as lighting, air conditioning, and entertainment systems.
Short-haul flights are also considered carbon-intensive due to the significant amount of fuel consumed during initial takeoff and climbing altitude, relative to a lower amount of cruising.
| Transportation method | CO₂ equivalent emissions per passenger km |
|---|---|
| Cruise Ship | 250 |
| Short-haul flight (i.e. within a U.S. state or European country) | 246 |
| Diesel car | 171 |
| Gas car | 170 |
| Medium-haul flight (i.e. international travel within Europe, or between U.S. states) | 151 |
| Long-haul flight (over 3,700 km, about the distance from LA to NY) | 147 |
| Motorbike | 113 |
| Bus (average) | 96 |
| Plug-in hybrid | 68 |
| Electric car | 47 |
| National rail | 35 |
| Tram | 28 |
| London Underground | 27 |
| Ferry (foot passenger) | 19 |
| Eurostar (International rail) | 4.5 |
Are EVs Greener?
Many experts agree that EVs produce a lower carbon footprint over time versus traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
However, the batteries in electric vehicles charge on the power that comes straight off the electrical grid—which in many places may be powered by fossil fuels. For that reason, the carbon footprint of an EV will depend largely on the blend of electricity sources used for charging.
There are also questions about how energy-intensive it is to build EVs compared to a comparable ICE vehicle.
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