Posts Tagged ‘greenhouse gas’

Are you concerned with global warming?  If you are, you are definitely not alone.  As more political figures, scientists, and celebrities voice their concerns about global warming, more Americans are beginning to take notice.

Although global warming is an issue that is widely debated, it is an issue that still causes concern.  For example, the predictions state that the weather will become more erratic in the future.  We may experience horrific coastal flooding and drought will become a big concern.  In 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast and this strong storm is not one that we will ever forget.  In the summer and fall of 2007, southern states, such as Georgia and Tennessee experienced life changing drought conditions, which resulted in the strict enforcement of water bans and water restrictions.

Even if you do not officially believe or support global warming, you may still be concerned with the changes that you are seeing. The good news is that there are a large number of ways that you can help.  If you are interested in doing your part to help stop or lessen the impact of global warming or even just improve the environment, you will first want to start in your own home.

Since carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are a big cause of global warming or at least the rise in the earth’s temperature in general, we need to limit these emissions from our home.  One of the biggest ways to do so is to turn down your heat.  Even a few degrees can make a huge difference with the toxins that are emitted from our homes.  Simply put on a sweatshirt or invest in a thermostat with a programmable timer.  A programmable timer will enable your homes temperature to be low when you are not there, but you can set it to turn your heat on right before you arrive home from work!

In keeping with your heat, it may also be a good idea to have your home updated or at least inspected by a professional.  Many individuals have no idea how much heat escapes from their home.  This is most often the case with poor insulation and broken windows.  If it seems that your house cannot get warm, no matter how high the heat is, you likely have a problem.  This problem is one that you should fix.  Although it will cost you money to reinsulated your home or to repair your windows, these repairs may be able to pay for themselves overtime, due to a reduction in heating costs.

It is also important to examine your electricity use.  The less electricity you use, the better it will be for the environment.  In fact, did you know that by reducing your electricity use, you can not only help to save the environment and combat global warming, but you can also save yourself a considerable amount of money each year?  You can.  Ways that you can reduce electricity in your home include switching all or most of the light bulbs in your home to energy efficient ones, using energy efficient appliances, as well as making sure that all lights and appliances are turned off when they are not in use.

Other additional ways that you can help to stop the affects of global warming and help the environment in general involves limiting your dishwasher use and putting a hot water heater blanket on your heater.  Hot water heater blankets are affordably priced and they are designed to keep your heater insulated.  When properly used, hot water heater blankets can enable you to lower the temperature.  This can also save you time, as well as reduce the emissions from your home.  As for your dishwasher, only run it when you have a full load and hand wash any dishes that you may need right away.  This simple step can also help to save you money, especially overtime.

The above mentioned steps are just a few of the many that you can take to join the fight against global warming.  While it is important to remember that our homes are not the only cause of carbon dioxide emissions, we must all start somewhere.  What better place then inside our homes?

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There is a good chance that you have heard of global warming before.  After all, global warming is regularly talked about on the radio, television, and even on the internet.  Although there is a good chance that you have heard of global warming before, you may not necessarily know what it is.  There is a large amount of debate circulating the theory of global warming and these debates often lead to confusion.

In scientific terms, global warming is defined as the process that results in the earth’s temperature rising.  This rise in temperature is attributed to an increase in greenhouse gases.  These gases are raising the earth’s temperatures to levels that concern many meteorologists and scientists.

When it comes to global warming and the increase in the earth’s temperature, there are many individuals who wonder why all of the concern.  In many aspects, a slight rise in temperate is not shocking, but there seems to be no relief.  The rise of the earth’s temperature will also lead to temperature increases on the ground.  The fear is that these temperature increases will lead to the melting of large ice masses.  The fear is that these melting masses will result in a sea level rise that could result in flooding all around the world.  If so, millions of individuals may be displaced from their homes, with their cities and towns underwater.

Another question commonly asked about global warming is how does it impact us now.  While we are starting to see many changes in our weather and with the earth’s temperature, these changes may or may not be attributed to global warming.  This is where the debate once again enters the picture.  Regardless, if the earth’s temperature continues to rise you may not see the changes firsthand, but your children will.  These changes may include warming temperatures, as well as stronger storms, and varying weather conditions around the globe.

Speaking of the global warming debate, there are many scientists, as well as politicians and other well known figures who claim that global warming is nothing to be concerned with.  In fact, many claim that reducing green house gas emissions, especially from industrial related activities, can have a worse impact on our economy than global warming.  What is difficult for many about the global warming debate is that both sides claim to have proof that backs up their views and theories.

Many also wonder who will be impacted the most by global warming.  As previously stated, you may not see the affects of global warming in your lifetime, but your children or their children may.  That is why you are urged to take action or at least examine global warming in-depth to see what there is that you can do to help.  Global warming could have an impact on where your future family members are able to live, the activities that they are able to participate in, and the economy in general.

In addition to your future family, global warming will also have an impact on sea and wildlife.  It has been said that coral reefs are becoming unstable due to the large amounts of toxins in our waters.  Many animals rely on coral reefs for shelter and food.  There is also concern for other wildlife, including bears.  There have been some unverified reports that bears are hibernating later in the year.  This can have a huge impact on the wildlife cycle, as well as the outdoor activities enjoyed by many humans.

As previously stated, if you are concerned with the impact that global warming may have on your future family, you may want to take action.  Although global warming itself is largely debated, many state that the prevention tips often suggested are ones that can do great good for the earth anyways.  These tips involve keeping your heat at a moderate level, using energy efficient light bulbs, limiting your car use, or purchasing a hybrid or another energy efficient vehicle.

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The United States is the country that leads all others in the use of fossil fuels.  Fossil fuels are those that are formed in the ground over a period of millions of years from dead plants and animals.  Oil, natural gas, and coal are fossil fuels and we use a lot of them!

Fossil fuel use by humans is the largest source of emissions of carbon dioxide which is one of the greenhouse gases that allows radiative forcing and contributes to global warming.  When you burn fossil fuels, they let out a large amount of carbon dioxide.  The atmospheric concentration of CO2, a greenhouse gas, is increasing.  This raises concerns that solar heat will be trapped and the average surface temperature of the Earth will rise in response.

We use fossil fuels to power our vehicles, heat and cool our houses, and generate electricity.  As we said, it takes millions of years to form certain fossil fuels and over-use of them has resulted in a concern that we will soon deplete our supply.  Fossil fuels are non-renewable sources of energy, so once they are used up, they are gone.

In the United States, we use about twelve barrels of oil – the most valuable fossil fuel -   per person per year.  That is why we are so dependent on foreign oil to meet our energy needs.  While the United States does have its own supply of oil, it doesn’t compare to what the Middle East has to offer.  So in order to meet the demand, we have to increase the supply.  Pretty much the only way to do that is to buy it from other countries – usually places like Venezuela or Saudi Arabia.

The increased levels of fossil fuel use in this country has given birth to the green movement urging people to start exploring alternative forms of energy to avoid depleting our fossil fuel supplies completely.  But a bigger reason is because the greenhouse gas emissions are causing global warming that can have a huge effect on the lives of people all over the world – not just in the United States.

If we can reduce our use of fossil fuels and start looking at alternate sources of energy, we not only improve the quality of the environment, but we also reduce our dependence on other countries for our energy resources.  The phrase “American Made” has always meant something in the U.S., but when it comes to decreasing our fossil fuel use and becoming self-sufficient with alternative fuels, it can mean so much more!

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