Uncovering the Hidden Emissions: How Household Appliances Contribute to Our Carbon Footprint.
By Rose Morrison, managing editor of Renovated
As the evidence of climate change keeps mounting, many people have taken action to reduce their carbon footprints. While the world has made massive strides, the emissions problem may be a bigger issue than many realize. A new study from scientists at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands claims people’s homes are full of carbon “time bombs.”
Direct energy emissions only tell part of the story of the impact of household appliances on climate change. As this recent research shows, everyday home tech — and even houses themselves — carry a massive, latent carbon footprint that could jeopardize future environmental goals.
What Is a Carbon Time Bomb?
Despite the name, the “time bomb” the Groningen study mentions doesn’t refer to a sudden, violent release of emissions. Rather, it describes a massive amount of carbon stored within common products and materials. As these artificial carbon sinks degrade — which the study notes can take several hundred years — they’ll release the stored gases into the environment.
While fossil fuels are most notorious as an energy source, this isn’t their only use. Companies often use coal, crude oil, and natural gas as feedstocks for making other materials and products. Plastics, rubbers, fertilizers, lubricants and various additives all rely on these carbon-heavy resources, leaving them with considerable greenhouse gases ready to leak into the atmosphere.
Office equipment and large appliances like refrigerators or washing machines are common examples of these carbon “time bombs.” Fabricated metal and synthetic resins you can find in insulation and HVAC systems are also large stores of fossil fuels. Even building materials such as steel and concrete can carry a hefty carbon footprint.
The presence of such greenhouse gas stores is important to address. The average house in the U.S. can emit as much as 29.6 metric tons of CO2 per year, and this figure doesn’t even include appliance and material “time bombs.”
Overall, buildings account for 26% of energy-related emissions, putting them on par with sectors like transportation and ahead of agriculture. That statistic also includes commercial structures, but the residential sector is responsible for a fair share of the whole, too.
Research Says Tech Is a Massive Environmental Risk
The University of Groningen study sought to learn more about homes’ carbon footprints by analyzing the carbon stored in common appliances and materials. Its findings are concerning. Between 1995 and 2019, the researchers estimate the world has accumulated 8.4 billion tons of fossil carbon in long-lasting products.
They measured this footprint by tracking the flow of coal, crude oil and natural gas throughout supply chains over the years. By looking at how much went into the production of durable products — which they define as working as a stand-alone item and lasting over a year — they could estimate various items’ latent greenhouse gases.
Overall, durable goods and infrastructure add 0.4 gigatons of CO2 potential every year. This carbon is not releasing into the atmosphere yet but can slowly do so over the next decades as products sit in landfills. At the same time, CO2 emissions in the U.S. have fallen by just 2% between 1990 and 2022, which is not fast enough to keep up with these growing “time bombs.”
As far as specific items go, rubber and plastic are the biggest concerns, accounting for 29.5% of stored carbon in durables. Bitumen — a binding agent common in asphalt and roofing — came in second with 24.2% of the total. Large appliances, electrical machinery, and vehicles followed with 16.4%, 7.4% and 5.8%, respectively.
The eventual carbon emissions from appliances and materials as they degrade could act as a massive spike in fossil fuel use. Consequently, they would interrupt progress, reducing the relative impact of near-term direct emissions reductions.
Impact of Household Appliances on Climate Change
Addressing this issue starts with recognizing the impact of common appliances on climate change. These effects can go beyond latent carbon, too, so it’s essential to understand the whole picture.
HVAC Systems
Your house’s heating and cooling are some of the most significant contributors to its carbon footprint. Plastic pipes, petroleum-based insulation and fabricated metal all carry a substantial amount of latent greenhouse gases. HVAC also consumes a lot of energy — it accounts for roughly half of your home’s power use, which typically comes from fossil fuels.
The refrigerants in air conditioning pose another issue. Older options contain chlorofluorocarbons, which damage the ozone if they leak into the environment.
Kitchen Appliances
Kitchen machinery like ovens, dishwashers and refrigerators also consume considerable electricity. They typically use a lot of plastic, rubber and metal, too, all of which can release greenhouse gases once in a landfill.
Gas stoves — which more than a third of American homes have — are additionally worrisome. These directly release nitrogen dioxide and fine particles into the air when they run. Electric options are less damaging but still imperfect, as most electricity today isn’t clean.
Laundry Appliances
Like many kitchen appliances, laundry machines and dryers often use plastic or rubber seals. Consequently, they’re part of the product category accounting for the largest share of stored carbon.
Laundry machinery may also use natural gas for heat, depending on your home. This consumption is often far less than things like HVAC, but it’s still worth noting.
Smart Appliances
Smart appliances and carbon emissions have an unusual relationship. On the one hand, Internet of Things gadgets can make your home more efficient, reducing its direct emissions. On the other, though, manufacturing them means more reliance on plastic and potentially damaging mining practices for the metals inside.
Impact of Building Materials on Climate Change
It’s also vital to understand building materials and their carbon footprint. While homeowners often have less control over this factor, learning about it can spur positive change.
Embodied Carbon from Materials
Many construction materials carry a lot of embodied carbon — indirect emissions from production and the supply chain. Concrete is responsible for up to 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions, and half of all U.S. manufacturing emissions come from concrete, steel, asphalt and glass. Consequently, reliance on these materials puts a massive strain on the environment.
Impact of Home Insulation
Insulation can also contribute to carbon “time bombs.” Polyethylene — a common insulating material — is a big concern, as it comes from crude oil.
Eco-friendly insulation, however, is an important part of green buildings. The better-insulated a house is, the less HVAC energy it wastes, leading to lower power-related emissions.
Sustainable Alternatives for Home Construction
Thankfully, sustainable alternatives for home construction are becoming increasingly common. Bamboo, for example, has higher tensile strength but grows naturally. Every ton of it also removes 0.2 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, so it’s a helpful way to counteract latent carbon in appliances.
Mycelium — a kind of fungus — is useful as a green insulator. Other sustainable construction materials include hemp, cork, straw, and recycled metals and glass.
How Homeowners Can Lower Their Carbon Footprints
While the Groningen study and other research paints a worrying picture, it is possible to move forward. Here are a few ways you can reduce the carbon footprint of your home.
Efficiency Improvements
A few upgrades can go a long way in reducing reliance on damaging materials and lowering electricity-related emissions. Switching to an efficient garage door, for example, can reduce energy loss by 71%. Installing energy-efficient windows, sealing doorways and cracks, and insulating your house’s envelope can also yield significant savings. Newer appliances also tend to use less power and water. Look for those built from recycled materials, too.
Renewable Energy Sources
Transitioning to renewable power is another significant step in the right direction. Installing solar panels or turbines may be expensive, but renewables are now the cheapest type of energy in terms of their generation costs. Consequently, they pay for themselves over time.
Not every home or homeowner can reasonably install on-site renewables. However, many utility providers today let you opt-in to getting renewable-generated electricity from the grid.
Behavioral Changes
Some simple changes in behavior can help, too. Consider lowering your thermostat in the winter, raising your AC in the summer and not running appliances every day. Switching to LED lights, hanging laundry to dry and washing it with cold water can also make an impact.
How Governments and Businesses Can Help
Consumer awareness about home energy consumption is just the start. Governments and large companies will also need to take action to address large carbon stores in people’s houses.
Regulations on fossil fuel reliance are an important step. Similarly, tax incentives for organizations and consumers that switch to sustainable practices can promote a healthier planet. Even disclosure requirements can help, as studies show carbon transparency is linked to higher carbon efficiency if the regulations focus on actual outcomes, not just goals.
Manufacturers can help by switching to renewable energy to reduce embodied carbon. Considering alternative materials — such as bioplastics and recycled metals — is also important, as it will slow the growing carbon “time bombs” in homes.
Homes and Their Contents Are a Key Piece of Climate Action
Considering the impact of buildings’ electricity use and carbon stores in appliances, climate-friendly homes are a huge factor in the fight against climate change. The road to green living may be more challenging than it initially appeared, but it’s still possible. Taking action now is key to preventing a worse future.
About the Author
Rose is the managing editor of Renovated and has been writing in the construction industry for over five years. She’s most passionate about sustainable building and incorporating similar resourceful methods into our world. For more from Rose, you can follow her on Twitter.