April 18, 2008 Helping reduce lifelong greenhouse gas emissions
where you live Contact: Allan Chen As a climate-aware person
with good intentions, you are most likely already taking steps
to reduce your personal carbon footprint. You may be purchasing
ENERGY STAR®-labeled products when you buy or replace your
appliances and electronics. Maybe you've replaced your light
bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps or added insulation to your
home. You may be driving a hybrid vehicle, or even using public
transportation more often. Life-cycle analysis attempts to
quantify the full range of environmental impacts associated with
a product by considering all inputs of resources and materials
and all outputs of wastes and pollution at each stage of the
product's life — including acquiring raw materials (e.g.,
mining), manufacturing and distributing the product, the
consumer's use and maintenance of the product, and its ultimate
disposal. But what's next? The scientific community, by way of
the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Int