Archive for October, 2007
Global Warming- What Changes Can We Make At Home
Thursday, October 25th, 2007 by Global WarmerSince the start of the Industrial Revolution and the rise in the usage of fossil fuels, mankind has gradually increased the amount of greenhouse emissions pumped into the atmosphere. The Earth is able to cope with a reasonable amount of these emissions due to our huge forests and other plant life that take in carbon dioxide and output oxygen.
Nonetheless, matters have gotten out of balance. Too much carbon dioxide is being poured out while also a large part of our environment and our great forests are being spoiled. If we act immediately to decrease emissions we can begin to bring back the proper balance in our air that is required to keep the planet’s average temperature within a safe range.
It has been estimated that a typical family of 4 with 2 autos can output as much as 45 tons of carbon dioxide a year. Even without including cars, it requires energy to create and process the items we use daily - and that energy often is generated by fossil fuels. So to make changes we can begin by adjusting the quantity of energy we use or waste.
A few suggestions for around the home are -
- Rinse your dishes and wash your clothes in cold water.
- Compost yard waste and food to limit garbage sent off to landfills.
- Don’t run the water continuously while brushing your teeth or shaving.
- Buy recycled paper and recycled plastic items.
- Use a smaller appliance rather than the larger appliance whenever possible.
- Insulate your house correctly - for instance, by recaulking the windows.
- Turn down the thermostat and wear a sweater.
- Walk or ride a bike to nearby destinations.
- Try out a push mower on your lawn.
- Purchase environmentally friendly cleaning products with no phosphates.
- Switch all incandescent light bulbs to energy saving bulbs.
- When driving organize your tasks to get the most out of your outing.
- Pay your bills online, avoiding extra travel to your bank.
- Recycle plastic, glass, paper, and also metal tins.
- Keep your tires properly inflated and your car tuned up.
- Avoid buying products with wasteful packaging.
- Do not throw out old clothes - instead, donate to a charity.
- Buy in bulk.
- Buy water saving showerheads.
- Dry your clothes on a clothes line.
- Use canvas bags for groceries.
- Use plastic items for as long as possible.
- Repair leaking toilets and taps as soon as possible.
- Turn off lights and appliances if not in use.
- Keep cooling and heating appliances in good working order.
All of us can do a few of these items here, if not all. Be assured that by all of us doing this together, it will add up to a large change to the air.
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Threats of Global Warming
Monday, October 15th, 2007 by Global WarmerThe threat of Global Warming is viewed by a few as a straightforward adjustment in the Earth’s climate that has varied over time anyway. Even when presented with known facts like the rise in levels of greenhouse gases, steady rise in temperatures in the 20th century, or the receding of glaciers, the uniqueness of these events are lost on them.
These ones seem to feel that even if there’s a trend, what does that mean for us exactly? Warmer summers? Maybe even longer ones? Who would hate that?
To understand what Global Warming will mean for us in the long run requires us looking past the current situation. It requires we take all the data we have now on how our Earth is being impacted and build on that, to imagine what may happen if how we solve our energy requirements and demands doesn’t change.
Greenhouse gases do not disappear. They will remain and build up in the atmosphere for years. There is no simple way to it - if we don’t change it will just get warmer. And finally, with all that additional warming in our atmosphere, the punch we’re going to feel will make the current events seem a tap on the shoulder.
A few of the worst case scenarios include continually high maximum temperatures -
- With damage to animals, crops, and local wildlife.
- With unmeetable demands on cooling systems.
- With tens of thousands of heat-related deaths. Already in 2003 about thirty thousand people died due to one of the warmest summers recorded.
- With increased heat added to the air, the extra energy intensifies storms like monsoons, typhoons, cyclones, and hurricanes. This leads to infectious diseases, loss of life, and loss of coastal ecosystems and corals. Katrina proved that.
- With increased lives of disease bearing insects and animals - more people will then become infected.
- With the reduction in the quality and quantity of fresh drinking water. Major droughts are happening already in underdeveloped countries. North America is encountering water restrictions on occasion. For example, one town on Vancouver Island, had to cancel all tourism for several days because of low water levels. Water needed to be trucked in for the local residents, leading to huge economic losses.
- With the loss and destruction of valuable forest to drought and fire.
- With uncontrolled wildfires - current examples include California and Australia.
Since we have already encountered some of these situations it should make people ’sit up’ and take note. Any one of these problems would be horrible to experience, but if we don’t pay attention to the signs we might find there will be a high price paid.
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Actually What’s Global Warming
Monday, October 8th, 2007 by Global WarmerIf you are still wondering what is Global Warming, here is a simple definition.
Global Warming is, simply, the idea that the temperature of both the air on the ground and the water are getting warmer. Also this is a trend that will continue until more and more severe problems will come up for all life on our planet. This trend that leads to higher and higher temperatures will in turn bring about changes in the snowfall and rainfall. As well, it will change sea levels. Increased heat in the air will mean more energy which will increase the intensity of major storms. Seasons will alter dramatically.
In a nutshell, Global Warming isn’t a matter of making colder parts of the Earth more pleasant in the summertime. It’ll touch all aspects of our lives and demand an enormous amount of our resources and attention to deal with it.
To confirm that the air and the oceans are heating up, it requires a careful recording of data from a number of sites all around the Earth. It needs to cover enough time to show a definite trend. It also means monitoring the complex changes that may be occurring in all the varied life systems of Earth due to the climate adjustments. This would include diverse ecosystems, insects, animal life in the air, on the ground, and in the sea, human life, and vegetation.
There are two viewpoints to the problem of Warming. Those who believe that this is an serious situation requiring a prompt response and those who feel that others are over reacting to a normal variance in the planet’s climate pattern. Everyone is invited to look at the facts available to us now and make up their own mind. Any solution to this situation will need both the support and cooperation of all peoples.
The issue of Global Warming is a complex one. However, it is well worth our energy and time to locate a solution to it as the quality of our lives and our children’s lives will be affected in the years ahead. Whether you agree that Global Warming is real or not, a study of how our environment is affected may help us to put into practice good habits. This will mean a benefit of money and energy. It will also result in a cleaner, healthier environment right now.
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