Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Halt Global Warming and Make Huge Energy Savings

The way that gas prices are on the rise at the moment should really be the least of our fears, because the gravest concern that has come to threaten our planet this century is how the environment is under attack. It doesn't matter what your background is or even if you are rich or not, we will all have to suffer together regardless. Recent studies have revealed that literally millions of people over the next 40 years shall die due to environment changes from rising cases of skin cancer, lung cancer, and other respiratory diseases.

Our own personal carbon footprint contribution needs to be our main priority in life from now on and not only for the negative aspects but also positive ones, as there is so much that we too can do to help the environment. A great example to get you started would be to just plant a tree as this would help to offset about 720 kg of carbon during it's lifespan, where as taking a plane from New York to Washington would put almost 800 kg of carbon back into the environment.

The average American creates about 22 tons of CO2 each year, which is quite an achievement if you compare it to the rest of the world, who still produce about 6 tons per person, which is still way too much. I am not saying that you have to go around on a push bike, but there really are things you can do to reduce your own personal carbon footprint: -

Tip #1: Buy local. "Carbon cost" is added to virtually everything within the consumer society. You have to take into account transportation, distance and the amount of energy that is consumed in the final delivery of a product to it's point of sale. Recent U.S. Department of Agriculture studies show that the majority of fruit and vegetables have to be transported an average of 1500 miles from the farm up to the kitchen table. This is a complete and utter waste of resources, so do your bit and buy local farm produce.

Tip #2: Dress appropriately. Well I mean why don't we just dress according to more acceptable temperatures. Reduce the thermostat if it's cold and put on a sweater and when it's hot put the thermostat up a bit and take off your shirt. These small hardships will help reduce 2,000 pounds of co2 every year as well as high savings on energy costs. This is all in aid of helping our planet remember, so please make an effort.

Tip #3: New for old: I don't know whether you have seen those new energy-efficient CFL light bulbs that you can buy nowadays. Well they do cost a bit more than normal light bulbs and changing only 3 would result in energy savings per American home of $60 per year and as a planet this would result in a trillion pounds of CO2 not being emitted into the atmosphere. You should also try and upgrade appliances and computers to Energy Star rated machines, and remember to turn off the lights as you leave a room.

Tip #4: Keep it clean. A 500% increase in global warming can be the result of owning a poorly maintained car as well as it costing more to run. Have your car regularly serviced and checked to improve efficiency and if you do go out shopping, go to the nearest available store.

Tip #5: Improve gas mileage. Definitely consider driving a hybrid car or installing an alternative energy booster. I would definitely recommend a water fuel car converter being installed into your existing car. This is a fine way to reduce your carbon footprint by half and you will see a 40% reduction in gas mileage.

If we start now, it will be a much better world for all of our children and grandchildren. Everybody on this planet is equally responsible to stop this destruction and if nothing is done, it will all just end in tears.

Global Warming Information Drive - Is It Really Working?

"One is enough, two is too much and three is a poison to kill a person." This is maxim suppose to applied in a situation where an individual should no longer do it again because of the burden that had caused him/her.

Today, this maxim is also applicable to what is happening around the globe most especially on the Global Climate Change scenario. The earth, even before is already experiencing climate change. It so happen that in the beginning the effects of the change to the human race were tolerable and so there was no concrete evidence for everybody to be alarmed.

We can compare the situation in the case when we encountered bad feeling due to stress maybe, that we only need to take a rest and it's gone. The tolerance of the body and mind reacted as if there's no need to worry about. Until we experience this unfamiliar feelings in a regular basis that it seems the body could no longer tolerate the pain, we go to the doctor for further clarifications.

This is the same with global warming or climate changes, whatever they called it. The effects of this climate change to the humanity is now being felt especially in places were people have narrow tolerance on heat.

Tropical countries on the other hand, only started to feel this climate change. Due to too much heat, some of the primary crops could no longer stand along the heat of the sun and thus affects the crop production. Thought there are other factors to be considered on this matter, the root cause fall more on the human negligence.

At present, complicated problems arise where the human race is rushing to remedy counter measures to avoid the chaos. How could we avoid now this rapidly approaching disaster?

When this problem started to manifest, people in the community including the virtual community commenced to inform everyone about it. Thought information drives to minimize the problem were started to disseminate even before, and today it become already talk of the town, climate change seems to continue in a faster phase. It seems that these information drives did not even stir the concerned citizens of the world.

Furthermore, because of this global phenomenon the human race could no longer reverse the scenario. Until the human race could not settle their personal problems, until countries continue to produce destructive weapons, until individuals could not understands each other' views, until there people who are not creating a friendly environment, there's no way the earth could be save.

Global Warming Books - Some Support And Some Deny

Global warming is discussed in two main types of books. Some authors downplay the issue and insist there is no problem. Others speak of the compelling evidence, dangerous consequences, and solutions. Reading books with more than one viewpoint on the subject gives a balanced perspective.

Probably the most well-known book on global warming is Al Gore's book AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH: THE PLANETARY EMERGENCY OF GLOBAL WARMING AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. Gore's book shows reasons why people need to save the earth from the hazards of climatic change. It also implores world leaders to stand up and take heed of the warnings of an environment in crisis.

An opposing viewpoint is presented in a book titled UNSTOPPABLE GLOBAL WARMING: EVERY 1500 YEARS. The book, written by Dennis T. Avery and S. Fred Singer, is an argument that it is a cyclical event that has happened gradually and systematically throughout history. Scientific data backs up their claims and demonstrates why no one, in the authors' opinions, should be concerned about global warming.

However, compelling scientific facts do exist that support the claims of the dangers caused by climatic changes. A book called GLOBAL WARMING: THE COMPLETE BRIEFING tells facts and theories about the foundations of a hotter climate. In it, the future of the world and ways to help minimize the problem are outlined.

Children can learn about the subject by reading a book called THIS IS MY PLANET: THE KIDS' GUIDE TO GLOBAL WARMING. Jan Thornhill, the author or the book, gives startling facts about the quickly occurring changes in our environment and tells how it is happening. Catering to the younger audience, though, she is careful to sprinkle the book with a lot of hope and ways for children to help improve the situation.

THE DOWN TO EARTH GUIDE TO GLOBAL WARMING, by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon, is a book that uses humor to discuss a serious subject. It not only has facts about the genesis of extreme warming, but it is full of vivid pictures. It is another book aimed at elementary-age children, and it tells ways for kids to fight the problem in every area of their lives.

A fun and interesting book is THE LIVE EARTH GLOBAL WARMING SURVIVAL HANDBOOK: 77 ESSENTIAL SKILLS TO STOP CLIMATE CHANGE. David de Rothschild, the author, constructed the book to be a tongue-in-cheek survival guide for a hotter planet. At the same time, it offers important information about ways to improve the environment. It is a companion book to the Live Earth Concerts that took place around the world during a 24-hour period in July of 2007.

It is easy to find books about what is perhaps the most important environmental issue of the current century. Many are aimed at the children who are next to inherit the earth. Some focus heavily on scientific data. Others rely on humor to spread their message. Some are even a simple call to arms to anyone willing to help curb global warming. It is a subject worth studying, and there are plenty of books available to the earnest pupil.

We Can All Help Alleviate Global Warming!

If you thought that global warming had reached a stage beyond repair, you are probably right. However, that doesn't mean you cannot do your own bit to save the environment! Here are some simple, practical ways to get more eco-friendly:

Avoid plastics: Plastics cannot be easily degraded and this affects the environment adversely. Hence when shopping at your nearest departmental store try and use paper bags or cloth ones. You could even make your own cloth bag to take to the store!

Reuse and recycle: Have some old clothes you don't wear any longer? Maybe you're thinking of dumping them in the dustbin. Stop being so wasteful! Get frugal and try recycling them into some cool clothing. For example an old frumpy t-shirt can be made into an off-shoulder top or old jeans can be cut into cute shorts!

Turn off the lights: When you leave a room, make sure to turn off the lights. Even a few minutes left unattended can consume huge amounts of electricity when considered on a long term perspective. So when not using a room, turn off the light, fan, air condition etc. - basically any electrical appliances.

Natural household cleaners: Instead of using chemical laden compounds to clean your home try using more nature friendly alternatives. For example white vinegar is a powerful cleaner especially for glass surfaces. Even lemon juice works as an excellent stain remover.

Plant more trees: We all know this is a given but not many of us actually follow it. Even if each of us were to plant one or two trees in our lifetime it would make a huge difference to the environment. Plus trees provide shade and relief from the hot summer months!

Don't use pesticides: When gardening, it is best to avoid using chemical pesticides on your plants. Instead try using natural compost. You can create your own compost at home by combining left over scraps of food, vegetables, eggs etc. It will smell awful so you need to keep your compost bin out of your home. Then after a month or so it will be ready for your plants. Natural compost is the best fertilizer for your plants. Plus it is organic!

Make borrowing a habit: If there are certain items and products which you tend to use less often you should borrow them. You will not only save a huge amount of money in the process you are also saving on the amount of wastage.

Eco-friendly fuels: Instead of using conventional fuel sources try natural and healthier alternatives such as solar energy, wood pellets or even wind energy.

Use rollers for painting: If you are planning to paint your home make sure to use a paint brush or a paint roller instead of spray paints. Spray paints emit harmful toxins into the atmosphere.

Walk it: If the distance between your home and office is walk-able then it is best to walk instead of using a bike. You could even try cycling. Its a great exercise and you are cutting down on harmful fuel emissions.

Global Warming Charts

Global warming charts are tools that show graphs or illustrations representing the cause and rise in temperature of the environment due to global warming. You can look at it to fully understand what is happening in the world. Since global warming is a much popular phrase nowadays, connoting to the environmental threats and the frightening climate changes, using these charts will surely help people to have a bigger view of the extent of global warming. These charts aim to clearly impart the disastrous effects and the direct results of global warming. Aside from that, it will help people to see the areas in their daily lifestyle that must be changed. This is imperative as people seldom think about how their lives affect the environment.

The different global warming charts show the varying ways on how people look at the world. They are also interpreted in various ways. You can find here thermal imaging charts, pie graphs, and even diverse statistics. All the information relayed by these charts is presented in a more understandable manner so that anyone looking at them will easily grasp. You can view the different charts about global warming in different sites. Whatever you choose, one thing is for sure; you will get accurate information with regards to global warming and its effects.

More than just giving a comprehensive data about the extent of global warming and how people contribute to it, global warming charts also feed statistics. Among the vital entries stated in these include: the man-made and natural factors, climatic data, sources of greenhouse gases found in homes, global temperatures and other important details. Using these facts, you can see and analyze the best way out of this global warming problem. However, even these charts prove to be useful in informing people about the severity of global warming, all can be put into waste if one will not act on the problem. So, the best thing to do is know the things that should be done to stop global warming.

By paying attention to the information stated in all global warming charts, it is hard to deny the accumulated data that shows the impact of human technology to the environment. Warming of the climate is undeniable since it is now evident from the observations and obviously in the charts. Increase in global average air and ocean temperatures, fast melting of snow and ice and the rising sea levels. Though it sure will be difficult to totally stop global warming-causing human activities, mankind should start acting now. The final solution is to create a non-polluting and non-combustible source of power that will not affect the environment.