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Global Warming / Climate Change: What we can do about it

Climate Change is the most serious problem we face in the 21st century. Future generations are depending on us to do whatever we can to turn things around.

By Greg Seaman Posted Mar 3, 2009

The Union of Concerned Scientists, a group of over two thousand scientists, has concluded that global warming is beyond dispute, and already changing our climate. The last 30 years have seen the warmest surface temperatures in recorded history, and the past several years have been among the warmest on record.

Scientists have concluded that human activity, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, is the major driving factor in global warming. Read: how global warming has developed.

Global warming can be slowed, and stopped, with practical actions that yield a cleaner, healthier atmosphere. The question is: will we act soon enough?

“Many people don’t realize that we are committed right now to a significant amount of global warming and sea level rise…the longer we wait to do something about it, the more change we will have.”

Gerald Meehl, The National Center for Atmospheric Research

Ultimately it is up to each of us, as individuals and families, to take action to slow down and eventually reverse global warming through everyday awareness of our energy use, and attention to ways we can conserve electricity and minimize fossil fuel usage.

What we can do

The goal is to bring global warming under control by curtailing the release of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping “greenhouse” gases into the atmosphere.

We can contribute to this global cause with personal actions. Our individual efforts are especially significant in countries like the US and Canada, where individuals release over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per person every year.

We can help immediately by becoming more energy efficient. Reducing our use of oil, gasoline and coal also sets an example for others to follow.

Reduce electricity usage around the home

The largest source of greenhouse gases is electric power generation. The average home actually contributes more to global warming than the average car. This is because much of the energy we use in our homes comes from power plants which burn fossil fuel to power our electric products.

To reduce the amount of electricity used in our homes:

Switch to energy-efficient lighting
Replace the familiar incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. For each CFL bulb replacement, you’ll lower your energy bill and keep nearly 700 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air over the bulb’s lifetime. CFL bulbs last much longer and use only a quarter of the energy consumed by conventional bulbs. LED bulbs are also energy-saving, but have a narrower range of application. Advances in LED bulb technology, however, are leading to more applications for these bulbs in the home. LEDs are more efficient than CFLs and do not have issues surrounding disposal, as do the CFLs. More info.
Improve the efficiency of home appliances
Home appliances vary greatly in terms of energy-efficiency and operating costs. The more energy-efficient an appliance is, the less it costs to run. You can lower your utility bill and help protect the environment. Here’s how.
Buy energy-efficient appliances when shopping for a new appliance
Do this especially when shopping for a major appliance such as a refrigerator, dishwasher, or air-conditioner – select the one with the highest energy efficiency rating. By opting for a refrigerator with the Energy Star label — indicating it uses at least 15 percent less energy than the federal requirement — you can reduce carbon dioxide pollution by nearly a ton in total. More info.
Reduce energy needed for heating
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling systems in the U.S. emit over a half billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. Much of the energy used for heating our homes is wasted, and yet the prevention is, in many cases, simple and inexpensive. Here’s how.
Reduce energy needed for cooling
Air conditioners alone use up to 1/6th of the electricity in the U.S. and, on hot summer days, consume 43% of the U.S. peak power load. You can reduce much of the need for air conditioning, and enjoy a cost savings benefit, by using ‘passive’ techniques to help cool your home. Here’s how.

Improve vehicle fuel-efficiency

The second largest source of greenhouse gases is transportation. Motor vehicles are responsible for about a third of all carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. and Canada.

Practice fuel-efficient driving
Every gallon of gasoline burned puts 26 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. You can boost the overall fuel-efficiency of your car as much as 30% by simple vehicle maintenance and attention to your style of driving. Read these tips for fuel-efficient driving.
Buy a fuel-efficient car
Even more important is the choice of car or truck you buy. If you buy a new car that gets 10 more miles per gallon than your old car, the amount of carbon dioxide reduction realized in one year will be about 2,500 pounds. The new hybrid cars, using efficient gas-electric engines, can cut global warming pollution by 30% or more. Learn more about hybrid cars.
Recycle air conditioner coolant
If your car has an air conditioner, make sure you recycle its coolant whenever you have it serviced. You can save thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide each year by doing this.
Drive less
You’ll save energy by taking the bus, riding a bike, or walking. Try consolidating trips to the mall or longer routine drives. Encourage car-pooling.

Conserve energy in the home and yard

Yard maintenance contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions. Per hour of operation, a power lawn mower emits 10-12 times as much hydrocarbon as a typical auto. A weedeater emits 21 times more and a leaf blower 34 times more.

Reduce lawn size
Lawn size can be reduced by adding shrubs, beds, ground covers and mulched areas. Try creating a lawn area small enough to be mowed using an efficient reel (push) mower. Lawn edging can be set low enough to mow over, reducing or eliminating the need for a weed-eater. More info.
Recycle whenever possible
Aluminum cans, newspapers, magazines, cardboard, glass – anything recycled reduces the energy needed to create new products. To find the recycling center nearest you, call: 1 800-CLEANUP. For ideas on home recycling, click here for more info.
Eat locally produced food
Today, the food choices available in supermarkets come from all over the world. All of this ‘traffic’ in food requires staggering amounts of fuel – generally by refrigerated airplanes or transport trucks. Food transportation is one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions. More info.
Eat vegetarian meals
Vegetarian food requires much less energy to produce. Enjoying vegetarian meals once or twice a week results in significant CO2 savings. More info.
Paint your home a light color if you live in a warm climate, or a dark color in a cold climate.
This can contribute saving up to 5000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.
Choose clean energy options
If you can choose your electricity supplier, pick a company that generates at least half its power from wind, solar energy and other renewable sources.
Buy clean energy certificates and carbon offsets
Help spur the renewable energy market and cut global warming pollution with “wind certificates” or “green tags,” which represent clean power you can add to the nation’s energy grid in place of electricity from fossil fuels. More info.

A “carbon offset” is an emission reduction credit which can be purchased by individuals, businesses and governments to reduce their net greenhouse gas emissions. More info.

While it may be difficult to adopt some of these suggestions, any amount of energy saved is significant. Even small changes are worthwhile, as they spark our awareness. As we become more aware of the importance of saving energy, we find ways of saving where possible.

Making energy conservation a part of our daily awareness is essential to the goal of reducing global warming.

Related information:

Forecast Earth – climate change, global warming and green living information
Global Warming: it’s not too late
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
The One-Tonne Challenge
Is global warming real?
How global warming has developed
The hidden opportunity in global warming
Carbon Offsets
Climate Change – why we can’t wait

Related articles:
Global Warming: background
Climate Change – why we can’t wait
Climate Change Threats Can Be Stabilized
9 ways NASA can help fight Climate Change
Geoengineering – will schemes to reverse global warming do more harm than good?
An organic farmer’s perspective on the meat/climate change debate

Posted in Science and Transportation Tags climate change, global warming, science

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Comments

Posted by Greg Seaman

Oct 7, 2009 1:24 am

Breanna, you are right on, on all counts. Good for you for thinking independently and believing in yourself.

Posted by BreannaL

Oct 7, 2009 9:10 pm

It doesn't matter whether global warming is real or not. You can still do things to help the world. It was interesting to hear your opinion, though.

Posted by Charel

Nov 30, 2009 4:15 pm

I agree I want this world to last as long as possible I am only a kid but I try my best to help out!
great website!

sicerly,
charel

Posted by anoymous

Dec 1, 2009 9:51 am

So true.

Posted by John H. Fringer, III

Dec 11, 2009 9:49 am

Rick Evans (of Zager & Evans) wrote these lyrics in 1964:
“In the year of 9595
I’m wondering if man is gonna be alive
He’s taken everything this old earth can give
And he ain’t put back nothin….”He should’ve written: “In the year 2025…”. But if you’re a republican, you must adhere to the party line and deny that glo…bal warming exists or is caused by rising greenhouse gas levels. That’s like saying, “I must deny reality because of my political views.” What if the republican party line was, “Cigarette smoking is harmless”? Then you, as a republican, would smoke in defiance and ridicule scientific evidence that smoking causes cancer, right?

Posted by thomas kasmer

Dec 15, 2009 7:45 pm

Do a Google search of the word Hydristor. This program of retrofitting existing vehicles can substantially reduce the CO2 emissions from existing vehicles while doubling fuel efficiency.The Hydristor system converts any vehicle into a hydraulic hydrid and the existing car is not scrapped. Performance is greatly improved and that also improves the saleability of vehicles like Ford Expeditions, Cadillac Escalades and Dodge Rams that will now rocket to 60 on pre-stored energy which is added to the engine. A diesel Suburban will reach 60at the limit of tire adhesion in 3 seconds flat. Just imagine how rejuzinated SUVs and large pickups would re-ignite the public desire for them for the fuel economy
and performance with the unconscious benefit of large CO2 reductions.

Tom Kasmer 607-2068960, tkasmer@yahoo.com

Posted by May peace b wid u

Dec 22, 2009 11:00 am

we are able to see it and I wonder why u cant feel it

Posted by Ologba thaddeus

Dec 29, 2009 9:20 am

How possible is it to feed only or mosty on vegetable

Posted by Chris Schmidt

Jan 8, 2010 12:55 pm

All I can say for sure is that God never meant for us to just keep using up all of our resources which he gave us. Basically this world was meant to be a garden for us to take care of and therefore it does not have unlimited resources since the Earth was not made to be put through the destruction which it has endured and so it is up to us to start taking better care of what God gave us.

Posted by Adam Lopata

Jan 12, 2010 4:31 pm

everything that is more energy-efficient is much much more expensive…

Posted by carolyne

Jan 13, 2010 9:11 pm

well nothing should ever stop
exept global warming

Posted by KELLY

Feb 4, 2010 7:09 pm

it doest mean to just eat vegies dude it means to think on ways you can maybe like snacks…
"Enjoying vegetarian meals once or twice a week results in significant CO2 savings". thats what it said not for your life.. just saying, all this website is trying to say is how you can help our earth your just
another one of those human beings out there that need to help its your choise to do so-MTB…

Posted by Susheel

Feb 6, 2010 10:18 am

These problems are self created by us, so we have to start on the way of controling this global warming without delay. Everything is possible with GOD.

Posted by Julia

Feb 7, 2010 9:51 am

Global warming has NOTHING to do with God. We have caused global warming ourselves and we can also attempt to overcome it ourselves.

Posted by philip clarkson

Feb 8, 2010 11:52 am

When making decision, on what we should do about global adverse climate change.
It is better too deal with the anomalies as they arise, then plan for certainty of what we will do.