Ever Wondered What the Largest CO2 Emitting Sources are in the US?
Many people are motivated to reduce their individual carbon footprint, but have you ever wondered what the largest CO2 (carbon dioxide) emitting sources are in the US? If you have, a good place to start is understanding the difference between CO2 and greenhouse gases (GHG). CO2 is one of many greenhouse gases. However, CO2 is a pretty big deal as far as greenhouse gases go. In 2020, CO2 accounted for 79% of all GHG emissions for the year. But, there are several more. For example, you may have heard that agriculture is a big contributor to climate change, but it’s not the top source of CO2. Agriculture releases a combination of nitrous oxide, methane, and carbon dioxide. In this post, we’ll talk about both CO2 and greenhouse gases.
What Industries are the Primary Sources of Greenhouse Gases in the US?
When broken down by industry, our greenhouse gas production looks like this:
- 27% from the transportation sector - This is mostly caused by heavy reliance on fossil fuels for cars, trucks, trains, planes, and ships. In fact, over 90% of the fuel used is petroleum based.
- 25% from electricity production - Again, this is due to widespread fossil fuel dependence, as about 60% of our electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels.
- 24% from the industrial sector - These GHG emissions are mostly from fossil fuels for energy, but some of them are a result of chemical reactions in the processing of raw materials.
- 13% from commercial and residential - Businesses and homes generate greenhouse gases by using fossil fuels for heat, using other products that contain GHGs, and through waste management.
- 11% from agriculture - Livestock, soils, and production processes all contribute to the agriculture sector’s emissions.
You may have noticed a trend here: The common factor creating the emissions across almost every industry is fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas, and petroleum. In fact, fossil fuels were the source of 73% of all the human-caused greenhouse gas emissions in the US in 2020!
What Can We Do About Fossil Fuels?
In a perfect world, we could all go 100% to renewable energy. While many organizations are setting goals for sustainability and carbon neutrality, there are some basic things to do on the way there. For starters, not all fossil fuels are created equal. Fossil fuels with a higher hydrogen content will produce less CO2. For example, natural gas is mostly CH4, which is a high hydrogen content. Burning natural gas to generate energy produces half the amount of CO2 as burning coal to generate the same amount of energy. So, if an industry can’t make a complete switch to renewable energy, it can at least switch to an option that generates less CO2. Coal is the first fossil fuel to avoid, as it is the cause of 59% of the electric power sector’s CO2 emissions.
The Pandemic’s Impact on Greenhouse Gases
As awareness and education on the impact of greenhouse gases have spread, both individuals and industries have started the journey of reducing our emissions. US greenhouse gas emissions have actually decreased since 1990, but only by 7%. The total emissions fluctuate annually based on the price of fuel, the state of the economy, or, in 2020, because of the Covid-19 pandemic. When you compare 2020’s US greenhouse gas emissions to those of 2019, they decreased 11%! Considering that we’ve only decreased our emissions by 7% in the 20-year span from 1990 to 2020, it’s incredible to consider that 2019 to 2020 had such a massive drop. This was largely due to the decrease in travel and other transportation emissions, as well as a small decrease in electricity demand.
How We are Continuing to do Our Part
Over the last 150 years, humans are responsible for nearly all of the increased greenhouse gases. Considering that fossil fuels play such a major role in greenhouse gases, that’s a great place to start reducing our impact. Individuals can make simple switches like buying more local products, carpooling, biking, walking, or taking public transportation. Homeowners can consider their options for renewable energy, whether that is rooftop solar panels or joining a shared solar program. Since they don’t own their roof, families who rent a home or multifamily unit have fewer options for renewable energy. However, Ivy Energy’s Virtual Grid software is bringing fair and equal access to clean energy to multifamily residents. While 12% of single-family homes in California have solar power, only 1% of multifamily housing has adopted solar energy. So far, over 42.5 million pounds of coal have been avoided through multifamily communities using Ivy! We are committed to continuing to do our part to reduce multifamily properties’ reliance on fossil fuels and help reduce CO2 emissions in the US.
Pioneering the Future of Multi-Tenant Solar Energy Management
2024 was a trailblazing year for Ivy Energy, where we shattered barriers, redefined possibilities, and delivered innovative solutions to address the multi-tenant solar split incentive challenge. By driving product advancements, forging impactful partnerships, and scaling operational processes, we empowered multi-tenant properties to embrace clean energy with confidence.
A Year of Growth and Market Expansion
Ivy has grown its active project pipeline 450% compared to 2023, with a line of sight to clear +600% in active projects by the end of the year. Our tech-enabled solutions empower more communities than ever. With $18M in Series A funding (Read more) and the strategic acquisition of Glow Energy (Read more), we are poised for unprecedented growth and impact. This investment enables us to enhance our technology, streamline operations, and expand our reach into new markets nationwide.
Entering new markets with increased resources allows us to address diverse energy challenges and deliver tailored solutions to property owners and tenants. Additionally, the launch of our consulting arm provides expert guidance for our clients and partners to save money and enhance ROI while navigating intricate solar investments.
Meaningful Operational Updates
At Ivy, innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about creating digital tools that empower our clients and their tenants:
- PropTech Integrations: Partnered with RealPage, Entrata, and Yardi to automate rent roll syncing, move-in/move-out updates, and direct charge posting to resident ledgers. These integrations reduce monthly processing time by up to 2 hours per property while enhancing data accuracy and operational efficiency.
- NEM Credit Delay Optimization: The Utility Coordination team adopted the CPUC informal complaint process to reduce delays in NEM activation after PV solar system commissioning. This improvement cut the average resolution time for delayed NEM credits from 123 days in 2023 to 49 days in 2024, allowing property owners to see Net Operating Income over two months sooner on average.
Platform Advancements that Lead the Industry
Our engineering team broke new ground, ensuring our platform stays ahead of the curve:
- Migrated to a new infrastructure processing system for faster processing and further automation improvements across operational features.
- Introduced IvyDual in response to regulatory requirements in California, which allows us to enter new markets where consolidated billing is not viable.
- Achieved SOC 2 Compliance, reaffirming our commitment to data security. (Read more)
- Built initial public API for Conservice integration and new utility data access pathways, strengthening our platform’s versatility and reliability.
Empowering Positive Experiences with CX
At Ivy Energy, our customers rely on us as true partners in their clean energy journey, helping them achieve long-term NOI growth while providing exceptional support for property owners and tenants. We consistently deliver this experience by simplifying complex utility processes and offering our white-glove service that ensures our clients feel supported, informed, and empowered to succeed. This year, Ivy’s Customer Experience Team launched two significant platforms:
- Ivy Implementation Portal: A step-by-step, transparent portal that simplifies solar implementation for our clients and partners across multiple organizations. (Watch a walkthrough of the new portal here.)
- Resident Help Center: Educate tenants about the solar program with helpful resources and offer direct support online or by phone. (Explore the Help Center)
Shaping the Future Through Thought Leadership
In 2024, Ivy Energy reinforced its position as an industry leader; our Virtual Grid 3.0 impressed the judges and earned first place in Solar Power World’s “Best in Show” award for large-scale solar innovation. (Read more)
Leadership team members Alex Dogan, Tanya Kuhn, and Sean Nam were celebrated in San Diego Business Journal’s Leaders of Influence in Technology 2024 for their contributions to advancing sustainable energy. (Read more) Ivy was also featured in Alt Energy Magazine (Read more), San Diego Business Journal (Read more), and on Solar Academy. (Read more)
Logan Carter showcased Ivy’s groundbreaking innovations in a main stage speech at Cretech NY (Watch here), an engaging appearance on the IMN Podcast (Listen here), and a deep-dive interview with Chris Moreno, also known as “Mr. PropTech.” (Watch here) Ivy’s policy team further expanded its influence by authoring a Model VNEM Whitepaper, a critical guide to enabling multi-tenant solar models nationwide. (Read the Whitepaper).
Measurable Environmental Impact
This year, Ivy Energy amplified its environmental contributions, with contracted units in implementation set to offset an astounding 109 million pounds of CO2. Meanwhile, active units have already offset 9 million pounds of CO2, demonstrating our ongoing dedication to reducing carbon emissions.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we celebrate 2024’s successes, we are always looking to the future. In 2025, we’ll continue to push boundaries, deliver innovations that empower our clients, improve tenant experiences, and lead the multi-tenant housing sector toward a sustainable future.
A Message from Dover Janis, CEO of Ivy Energy
“2024 was a year of progress and adaptation. While utility-caused delays challenged our growing pipeline, our focus on agile problem-solving reduced their impact and kept the market moving forward. This is a testament not only to the dedication and focus of our team but also to the strong macro-level foundation that the onsite energy business model provides for real estate owners, even in the face of monopoly-driven resistance. With a large and expanding customer base and hundreds of projects, we have continued to validate the transformative potential of clean energy solutions for shared communities. I’m incredibly proud of our team—now among the most mature, knowledgeable, and experienced in the industry—as we trail blaze the path forward. The market is primed to grow and drive transformative change in local communities. I’m deeply grateful to our partners and customers, whom we have the privilege of serving every day as we continue to lead the way.”
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