There are a lot of people on Earth who seem to believe we have two Earths....We have seen now what has happened in the Philippines. It is an urgent warning, an example of changed weather and how climate change is affecting all of us on Earth....We need action before it is too late. The threat is very real and we all have to take responsibility to stop it. ~ UN, #YolandaPH So what can we do??? It is said that burning fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, oil and gasoline raises the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and carbon dioxide is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect and global warming. We can help reduce the demand for fossil fuels, which in turn reduces global warming, by using energy more wisely. Here are 10 simple actions we can take to help reduce global warming. 1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminum cans. If there isnt a recycling program at your workplace, school, or in your community, start one. By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. 2. Use Less Heat and Air Conditioning - Adding insulation to your walls and attic, and installing weather stripping or caulking around doors and windows can lower your heating costs more than 25 percent, by reducing the amount of energy you need to heat and cool your home. 3. Switch to CFL bulbs - Wherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFLs last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat. 4. Drive Less and Drive Smart - Less driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great forms of exercise. But if you must drive, make sure your car is running efficiently. For example, keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every gallon of gas you save not only helps your budget, it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. 5. Buy Energy-Efficient Products - Home appliances now come in a range of energy-efficient models, and compact florescent bulbs are designed to provide more natural-looking light while using far less energy than standard light bulbs. Avoid products that come with excess packaging, especially molded plastic and other packaging that cant be recycled. If you reduce your household garbage by 10 percent, you can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. 6. Use Less Hot Water - Set your water heater at 120 degrees to save energy, and wrap it in an insulating blanket if it is more than 5 years old. Buy low-flow showerheads to save hot water and about 350 pounds of carbon dioxide yearly. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water to reduce your use of hot water and the energy required to produce it. That change alone can save at least 500 pounds of carbon dioxide annually in most households. Use the energy-saving settings on your dishwasher and let the dishes air-dry. 7. Use the Off Switch - Save electricity and reduce global warming by turning off lights when you leave a room, and using only as much light as you need. And remember to turn off your television, video player, stereo and computer when youre not using them. Its also a good idea to turn off the water when youre not using it. While brushing your teeth, shampooing the dog or washing your car, turn off the water until you actually need it for rinsing. Youll reduce your water bill and help to conserve a vital resource. 8. Plant a Tree - If you have the means to plant a tree, start digging. During photosynthesis, trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. They are an integral part of the natural atmospheric exchange cycle here on Earth, but there are too few of them to fully counter the increases in carbon dioxide caused by automobile traffic, manufacturing and other human activities. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime. 9. Get a Report Card from Your Utility Company - Many utility companies provide free home energy audits to help consumers identify areas in their homes that may not be energy efficient. (IF YOU WISH TO HAVE YOUR APPLIANCES ASSESSED, PLEASE PM ME AND I CAN VERY WELL ASK PEOPLE TO DO IT) 10. Encourage Others to Conserve - Share information about recycling and energy conservation with your friends, neighbors and co-workers, and take opportunities to encourage public officials to establish programs and policies that are good for the environment. These 10 steps will take you a long way toward reducing your energy use and your monthly budget. And less energy use means less dependence on the fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases and contribute to global warming. (Source: About) rappler/move-ph/issues/disasters/typhoon-yolanda/43904-un-ban-haiyan-climate-change
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 01:38:55 +0000
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