Global Warming Cause And Effect

There are things individuals can do to help stop global warming.  Yet, when nations get involved, it is to everyone’s benefit to see to it that the right steps are taken.  Nations can combat global warming by many different means.

For one thing, a good forestry department can have a huge impact.  The carbon dioxide that is one cause of global warming is eaten up by trees.  If a country fosters the growth of its forests and does not allow them to be cut down indiscriminately, global warming will be slowed down.

Another thing nations can do is to focus on energy efficiency.  The less energy is used, the less global warming has a chance to take hold.  A country can place efficiency standards on appliances and cars.  Even better, they can redesign cities so that walking and cycling can become an option instead of people having to drive everywhere.

Alternative sources of energy emit little or no greenhouse gases.  Using them will help curb global warming.  Hydro-power, solar energy, and windmills can be used to take the place of burning gas, or coal for electricity.  Windmills, in fact, are already being set up by the scores in many fields in out-of-the-way places.  This is a good step to prevent global warming.

Nations can also be quick to adjust their policies to the climatic changes of the times.  When one type of crop will no longer grow well because it needs a cooler climate, that crop can be replaced in that area with a different kind that will.  Nations can build aqueducts to transport water to drought-ridden areas.

There are different ways that nations can get their message about global warming across.  First, they can make laws about it.  They can require people to use environmentally-friendly appliances, fuel sources, and vehicles.  They can make it a legal requirement for auto makers to reduce harmful emissions given off by their cars.

Another way to change people’s behavior is to make it financially advantageous to be concerned about global warming.  If gas prices are higher, people are spurred on to finding a more fuel-efficient vehicle, or even a different fuel source altogether.

Tax incentives and government subsidies can also encourage people to think about global warming.  The only problem is that this approach usually favors those who have more money in the first place.

Governments can make it their business to inform and educate the people of the country.  With news and data about global warming, people will be prompted to take it seriously.  When methods for reducing greenhouse gases are made known by the government, people have a chance to put those methods into practice.

Finally, it is essential that governments get involved with making sure that research and development are done.  Global warming cannot be overcome without good information.   It is to the advantage of every citizen when the nation puts some of its focus on global warming.  When a country approaches global warming with a common sense, proactive sensibility, beneficial changes can be made.

Tags: alternative sources of energy, carbon dioxide, cause of global warming, climatic changes, energy efficiency, greenhouse gases, harmful emissions, hydro power

Global warming is one of the “hottest” issues nowadays. The current climate change is the worst yet to happen. Global warming is an overall increase in world temperature which is attributed to the increasing number of greenhouse gases trapped in the atmosphere. Searching an alternative energy source is considered a way of reducing the toxic emissions.

Greenhouse gases can be produced both by natural and industrial processes. The most abundant greenhouse gases on earth’s atmosphere are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and CFCs.

There are several sources of greenhouse gases. Burning of fossil fuels and deforestation lead to higher concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Without the trees and plants to take in the carbon dioxide emitted by burning fossil fuels, natural gas and petroleum products, all of the CO2 emitted stays in the atmosphere.

Also the use of CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons in refrigeration systems and in fire suppression systems and other manufacturing processes also increase the greenhouse content of our atmosphere. While the use of non-organic fertilizers in agriculture also lead to higher nitrous oxide concentrations, another greenhouse gas.

In the United States, greenhouse gas emissions mainly come from the use of fossil fuels as energy source. Approximately 82 percent of the greenhouse gas emission in the United States in 2006 came from the combustion of coal, natural gas and petroleum (United States Energy Information Administration). Meanwhile in Asia, Chine is expected to increase its emission of greenhouse gas because of the construction of old-fashioned power plants in its internal provinces. Currently, the carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are the highest in 150,000 years. The 1990s was most likely the warmest decade in history, while 1998 was the warmest year (Greenpeace).

Not controlling the greenhouse gas being emitted by human activity can increase climate change the next hundred years that will be much faster than anything known and recorded in history. There are necessary steps to be undertaken to control the toxic emission that will soon be killing us.

To minimize the consumption of oil, petroleum and other fossil fuel, we should use energy efficiently. Energy that we use should be generated from renewable energy source, which would mean harnessing the natural energy from the sun, winds, crops, tides and waves.

Green energy is another term used to describe sources of energy that are considered to be environmentally friendly, which is also similar to the renewable sources of energy.

There are numerous ways of generating electricity and energy from renewable and natural sources that generate clean and safe energy. Wind, sun, and heat can generate electricity for less price and less carbon emission than those of coal and even gas.

Shifting the world’s attention to alternative fuel source other than relying on fossil fuel is among the solutions in resolving the drastic climate change. Greenpeace cited that with renewable energy and using it smartly, can deliver half of the world’s energy needs by 2050. Greenpeace also cited that it is feasible to reduce carbon dioxide emission to almost 50 percent within the next 43 years.

Governments are taking steps to use and tap alternative energy sources as main source of energy. The European Union leaders made an agreement in March 2007 to ensure that 20 percent of their nation’s energy should come from renewable fuels by 2020. This is part of their effort to cut carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gas. There are even governments offering incentives to their residents who are using green energy.

Alternative energy source may not be the only way to reduce the greenhouse emission that human activity produce. There are simple ways in which we can do to contribute in reducing toxic gas emission and mitigate global warming.

Tags: alternative energy source, burning fossil fuels natural gas, burning of fossil fuels, carbon dioxide concentrations, greenhouse gas emissions, sources of greenhouse gases

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are a group of chemical compounds that has been shown to have caused the ozone holes in the stratosphere over both the North and South poles. A seasonal hole appears above Antarctica in September.

These holes in the atmosphere allow the sun’s rays to enter the earth without a protective layer to shield us, which may cause an increase in skin cancer.

CFCs are an aggregation of chemical compounds that include alkanes and haloalkanes. These chemicals are used in aerosol spray cans, refrigerants, foam blowing (to make packing foam and foam cups), fire extinguishers and solvents to clean electronic equipment.

The use of CFCs began in the 1920, when carbon tetrachloride was used in fire extinguishers, until the end of World War II. In 1928, Thomas Midgley developed CFCs as a replacement for a mixture of ammonia, chloromethane and sulfur dioxide that was commonly used as a refrigerant.

The CFC was superior to the former compounds because it was non-toxic, had a low boiling point and was generally non-reactive.

CFCs continued to be used, mostly by the military and in firefighting, until 1974 after the journal, ¬Nature by Molina and Rowland, showed their findings regarding the ozone layer depletion. They won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for that work.

They found that by adding hydrogen and creating hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC), made the compound less stable in the lower stmosphere, which meant they would break down before they reached the ozone layer. Eventaully, the chlorine would be taken out, creating HFC with an even less stable compound.

Scientists show that the decreases in CFCs have been helping the ozone layer, particularly over Antarctica, and predict that that particular hole will close permanently by the year 2050.

Tags: global warming carbon dioxide, global warming cause, global warming causes and effects, global warming changes

There is great concern over the greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles that contribute to global warming.  Transportation has become a major issue.  New fuels, new cars, and new types of communities are being discussed as solutions. 

Gasoline-burning cars are a major contributor to global warming.  In fact, they are the second largest cause of global warming pollution in the United States.  It would be beneficial if the cars could be more efficient.  If they could burn cleaner fuels, it would even be better. 

It is predicted that Americans will continue to put gasoline-burning cars on the road at alarming rates over the next twenty years.  The number estimated is around 300 million new cars.  With this expectation, it is clear that cars should be made with energy efficiency in mind.  Otherwise, they will cause extensive global warming. 

Hybrid engines are being touted by many celebrities as a way to prevent global warming.  Many celebrities prefer the Prius hybrid car.  These hybrid cars do, in fact, double gas mileage.  At the same time, they reduce harmful emissions that lead to global warming. 

Future technologies for cars, such as fuel cells, may ease global warming even more.  Fuel cells change hydrogen fuel and oxygen into electricity.  Then, the electricity is used to run the vehicle.  This technology has already been used by NASA and is projected to help ease global warming in the future. 

Alternate fuels have been in the news for helping with reducing global warming as well.  One of the most interesting fuels is bio-diesel.  This type of fuel can be made from a variety of sources.  Vegetable oils such as soybean and rapeseed oils have been used successfully in regular diesel vehicles. 

Animal fats work, but are rarely used because they are too expensive.  However, used oil from fast food restaurants can be employed to do the same thing.  It is surprising that global warming can be slowed down by the use of fast food by-products. 

Ethanol is being used in many countries, now including the US, to decrease pollution and dependence on foreign oil.  Global warming is impacted, too.  Brazil, which uses ethanol almost exclusively, makes the fuel from sugar cane.  In the US, corn is the chief source of ethanol. 

Some cars are flex-fuel cars which can be run on different fuel sources.  They can use alcohol, gasoline, or a combination.  E85 is mostly ethanol with 15% of the fuel being gasoline.  This fuel performs a little better than pure ethanol, but is more conducive to cutting down on global warming than gasoline. 

Another way global warming can be addressed through transportation issues is in community planning.  Communities can be built so that people can spend more time walking or cycling than driving.  This cuts down dramatically on greenhouse gas emissions, thereby reducing global warming. 

The world, especially the US, can make some changes in the way they move about and transport their goods.  If people do nothing, greenhouse gasses will surely increase drastically.  However, if changes are made, global warming will be cut to a very large degree. 

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While the majority of celebrities and many scientists in the world view global warming as a disaster of epic proportions, not all agree.  Some people, even scientists, have opposing viewpoints that are based on their own formal observations and the data from many sources.  It is interesting to explore what these people have to say about global warming. 

One of the most talked-about aspects of global warming is the rise in sea levels.  If you are to believe most people who speak on global warming, you have to think that many habitable places on earth will soon be underwater.  There is some evidence to refute this. 

There is a professor of paleogeophysics and geodynamics at Stockholm University who presents interesting data.  According to this professor, the sea levels are in the same range they have been in over the last three hundred years.  There has not even been the slightest rise in sea levels in the last decade. 

While a sea level rise of .1 to .9 meters is predicted by the year 2100, it is not seen by this group of people as a dangerous situation.  After all, there was a .2 rise in the sea level during the past century and humans did not even seem to notice. 

When the global warming pundits talk about the rises in sea level that result from three sheets of ice that melt per year, it is the opponents of the movement that put it into terms that make sense.  If the ice continues to melt at that rate, it will take a thousand years to raise the sea level by 5 cm. 

The people who preach on the dangers of global warming believe that Hurricane Katrina and others were intensified by global warming.  Many experts on the other side of the fence claim that the extreme storms have not been unusual earth events.  They also say that better reporting of severe weather occurrences contributes to the impression that global warming is having an impact. 

While those dedicated to stopping global warming are worried about the recession of the snows of Mount Kilimanjaro, others believe there are reasons besides global warming.  These people say that you have to understand how glaciers interact with the climate around them.  Knowing that the air has been drier, they say, leads you to the fact that the glacial recession is a natural occurrence. 

Many people who fear global warming say that it will increase diseases like malaria by allowing disease-bearing mosquitoes into higher elevations.  Others realize that there are other reasons for the additional cases of malaria and other such diseases. 

These include the facts that 1) people from lowland areas are resistant to disease but carry it with them when they move to higher elevations, 2) deforestation leaves a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and 3) more pools and ditches will lead to more mosquitoes. 

For many reasons, global warming is not a subject that everyone agrees on.  People from all over the world have different opinions and they often do not wish to see another’s viewpoint.  When the true facts about global warming are clear, people can begin to come together to address the problem. 

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This article, taken from The A-Z of Global Warming deals with the Kyoto Protocol. A major political force which brought global climate change to the fore was born from the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, where an agreement called the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), was agreed. This followed hot on the heals from the release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s ( IPCC ) first report dealing with climate change.

The Kyoto Protocol as it became known entered into force on the 16th February 2005 and became the first important step in relation to climate change as governments and countries around the world committed themselves to a binding agreement to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

The road to Kyoto was a bumpy one. After agreeing the UNFCCC, governments realised that action had to be taken to set real reduction targets, and so, in 1997, in Kyoto in Japan the parties to the UNFCCC reached agreement on what later became known as The Kyoto Protocol.

For the protocol to enter into force it had to become ratified by at least 55 parties to the convention, and incorporating a list of 35 industrialised nations. These nations together with the EU, accounted for at least 55% of the total of CO2 emissions in 1990.

A stalling point came however when the USA, having signed up to the protocol under President Clinton, withdrew from the protocol when President Bush was elected in early 2000. Luckily, the protocol was thrown a lifeline by Russia, when President Putin ratified the agreement on November 18th 2004.

The protocol’s main aims required industrialised countries to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gasses by 5% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. The gasses covered are the 6 main greenhouse gasses, namely;

- Carbon dioxide (CO2);
- Methane (CH4);
- Nitrous oxide (N2O);
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs);
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs); and
- Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)

The agreement attempts to do this by providing for various market based mechanisms to assist countries or individual companies meet their respective emission targets. Emissions caps are put on Annex 1 countries, giving each country an emissions quota, or allowable amount of CO2 emissions. So for example the European Union has been given a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% below 1990 levels. This target can be distributed amongst member states.

In general developed Annex 1 countries have to reduce their CO2 emissions, whilst developing non Annex 1 countries have not had to cap their emissions, but instead will participate in CO2 emission reducing projects.

There are three basic methods open to countries to meet their targets;

Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS)

As explained above, these schemes allow for the trading of CO2 emissions for carbon credits. So, if a country or industry exceeds their assigned amount of CO2 emissions, they would be able to purchase credits from a country or industry that has not. Only a small proportion of global emissions are covered by these schemes, and currently the EU has the largest scheme, the EU ETS.

Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM)

This is a way for Annex 1 countries to earn credits by investing and funding climate friendly projects and technologies in developing countries, thus helping control emissions in these countries.

Joint Implementations Projects (JIP)

Basically these are the same as CDM’s, but with Annex 1 countries investing in climate friendly technology in other Annex 1 countries, rather than other developing countries.

Whilst Kyoto is an incredible achievement it is at present the world’s only agreement attempting to limit greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. There are problems due to the fact that the USA has not ratified the Protocol, and neither had Australia, until literally 3rd December 2007, following government change.

Whist the USA refuses to sign up to the protocol other countries such as India and China, whilst ratifying the Protocol do not have obligations at present to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions on the basis that these countries were not responsible for today’s greenhouse gas levels. However, at the rate these countries are developing, they will soon be the World’s major polluters as they build more and more fossil-fuelled electricity plants to satisfy their energy needs. Indeed it is believed that in June 2007 China overtook the USA as the world’s highest CO2 emitters

It is true to say however that instead of the richest countries reducing their emissions by 5% to 1990 levels, they have in fact increased them by some 10%. It is believed that only four countries, UK, France, Germany and Sweden are on track to meet the targets set.

Recently the UK announced the introduction of a Climate Change Bill making it the first country to set legally binding targets to reduce its CO2 emissions. The Bill will receive royal ascent in the autumn of 2008, and it will set targets to reduce CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050.

What will happen after 2012? Well, UN secretary Ban Ki-moon convened a high level event that took place in New York on 24th September 2007, to promote discussions on ways to move the international community toward negotiations on a new global agreement on climate change. This took place at the UN climate change conference which took place in Bali on 3rd December 2008. The purpose of discussions will be to try and get in place a multilateral framework for action on climate change, already refered to as Kyoto 2, for the period after the Kyoto agreement ends in 2012.

Whist the Kyoto Protocol was a big step in the right direction, it seems that much more needs to be done and far greater cuts made to CO2 emissions to ensure global temperatures do not rise over critical levels.

Copyright (c) 2008 Simon Rosser

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This article is taken from The A-Z of Global Warming book due to be published in September 2008. A Lawyer by profession i felt inspired to write the book following a viewing of Al Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth in November 2006. Further information can be found on the following website, www.a-zofglobalwarming.com

Tags: global causes, global natural, global science, global warming activities, global warming arctic, global warming books

In the movie The Day After Tomorrow, there are many special effects including an ice event caused by global warming.  Much of the science of the movie has been called into question.  However, there may be some truth to the idea that global warming could cause an ice age. 

The theory starts with an understanding of why Europe and Scandinavia are not colder already.  After all, other places at the same latitude are covered with ice and permafrost.  Alaska and Greenland are both as close to the North Pole as Europe.  Yet, it is not global warming that keeps Europe warm. 

The ocean currents called the Gulf Stream bring warm waters up to the UK and Europe from the Caribbean.  These waters warm the countries around their path.  This is what causes the UK, Europe, and Scandinavia to have such a nicer climate than, say, Alaska.  Global warming has nothing to do with that. 

An important factor about the Gulf Stream is that to keep the Great Conveyor Belt going, cool water must feed back into the loop and be brought back to the point in the Caribbean where the process began.  This keeps the water moving. 

Global warming is significant in that it could slow the Gulf Stream, or even stop it.  If this were to happen, the cold waters would stay in the area of Europe, the UK, Scandinavia, and the Northeastern US.  It could mean an ice age for those regions. 

In every major cooling event, such as the last great Ice Age, the Gulf Stream has been significantly weakened.  This can happen for different reasons.  In current times, it can happen due to global warming brought on by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels. 

If the new Ice Age happens, it will likely be due to the melting of the polar ice.  This will dump large quantities of cold, fresh water into the ocean.  It would disrupt the Gulf Stream and cause the cooling of many areas that now have milder climates.  Global warming will be the cause. 

An ice age will probably not happen gradually, either.  This is a phenomenon that takes place rather quickly.  Perhaps it does not happen as fast as the ice event in The Day After Tomorrow.  However, it could happen within a few short years with global warming being to blame. 

The return flow of cold water from Greenland, which goes back to the Caribbean, has already showed a weakening in the last 50 years.  There has been a 20% decline in the amount of current flowing in this direction.  It only makes sense that the warm waters coming from the Caribbean have lessened too. 

These currents are a part of the world-wide network of currents called the Global Thermohaline Circulation.  This global warming could then cause a slowing or stoppage of the Gulf Stream affecting the entire earth. 

The statistics are used to answer the question of whether an ice age could be caused by global warming.  Observations have been made of current data and historical information gleaned by studying the ocean and the lands around it.  With all the information at hand, it appears that it is indeed possible that global warming could lead to an Ice Age. 

Tags: information about global warming, man made global warming, natural causes of global warming, no global warming, prevent global warming, reduce global warming

Global warming is discussed in two main types of books.  Some would have you believe there is no problem at all.  Others speak of evidence of global warming, dangerous consequences, and solutions to global warming.  Reading a variety of books on global warming 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 wan to save he earth from hazards such as global warming.  It also implores world leaders to stands up and listens to the warnings of an environment in crisis. 

An opposing viewpoint is presented in a book titled Unstoppable Global Warming: Every 1,500 Years.  The book, written by Dennis T. Avery and S. Fred Singer, is an argument that global warming is a cyclical event that has happened gradually and systematically throughout history.  Scientific data backs up the claims and demonstrates why no one should be concerned about global warming, in the authors’ opinions. 

However, there is scientific information that supports the claims of global warming dangers.  A book called Global Warming: The Complete Briefing gives facts and theories about the foundations of global warming and climate change.  In it, the future of the world and ways to help minimize global warming 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 the startling facts about the quickly occurring changes brought on by global warming, and how that 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 change the situation. 

The Down To Earth Guide To Global Warming, by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon, is another book that uses a bit of humor to discuss a serious subject.  It not only has facts about the genesis of extreme global warming, but it is full of vivid pictures.  As another book for elementary children, it gives ways for kids to fight global warming in every area of their lives. 

A fun and interesting book on the subject of global warming 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 look at a survival guide aimed at surviving global warming.  At the same time, it offers important information about ways to improve the environment.  It is a companion book to the Live Earth Concerts in July of 2007 that took place during a 24-hour period around the world. 

It is easy to find books about global warming.  Many are aimed at the children who are next to inherit the earth.  Some focus heavily on scientific data.  Others rely on humor to tell their story.  Some are even a simple call to arms to anyone who will help curb global warming.  Global warming is a subject worth study and there are plenty of books to read about it. 

Tags: global warming games, global warming gases, global warming graphs, global warming greenhouse, global warming humans, global warming ice age

If people knew what kind of future global warming would actually bring, they would likely want to do more to help the environment.  The problem is that predicting the future of global warming is a very complex task.  Just as the local weatherman does not always get it right, neither can the predictor of global warming. 

Some of the difficulties inherent in forecasting future global warming have to do with those same factors that every meteorologist faces.  Winds can cool the air or warm it depending on the direction they take.  Cloud cover can cool a hot day.  Air masses move in to cause storms as cool fronts and warm fronts are generated. 

Ocean currents can change the temperature of the land on which they strike.  The earth’s atmosphere is constantly in a cycle of evaporation and precipitation.  The nature of this cycle will affect global warming.  At the same time, all these variables will be affected by global warming in return. 

It is hard to predict the future of global warming when little is known about the actions people will take to prevent it, or not.  Underdeveloped countries will strive towards development.  Generally in the past this has meant using the cheapest industrial equipment available, even if it is the most polluting.  However, these countries may decide to put emphasis on preventing global warming instead. 

It is not known at this time how fast the population of the world will grow.  Statisticians can make educated guesses, but a number of factors can always change the dynamics of population growth.  Biological factors, as well as governmental policies and economics can all play a part.  The more people on earth, the greater the chance for global warming. 

Fuel efficient cars have already been developed, and the research continues to make them even better.  There is a question, though, as to whether the people of the world will embrace these technologies.  At least at first, cost might prevent poor people from having hybrid or other fuel efficient cars.  The extent to which this technology is made available to all people will affect the amount of global warming that can be expected. 

As ice melts in the Polar Regions, the ocean temperatures are affected.  This is due to global warming.  However, it also can perpetuate global warming by changing the evaporation rates of the sea.  The courses and speeds of the oceans currents cannot be predicted with accuracy, but they will have an affect on global warming. 

The proliferation of dark areas can lead to global warming.  The trouble with using this fact to predict global warming is that it is not known how many dark areas will be uncovered by melting ice.  As long as there is enough ice to maintain a light color, a good deal of the heat will be reflected off into the atmosphere. 

While it is nearly impossible to predict the future of global warming with complete accuracy, it is good to explore the subject.  It is important to estimate the damage that will be caused by global warming in order to make the concept of global warming more concrete. 

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Have you heard of global warming before?  If you regularly watch television, surf the internet, or listen to the radio, there is a good chance that you have.  In recent years, global warming is an issue that has seen an increase in press.  Although there is a lot of debate that surrounds global warming, you may still be concerned.  After all, if the predictions are right, the earth may not be a safe place for your future family members.

If the thought of global warming and the affects it can have on the planet in the future scare you, you will want to do you part.  Unfortunately, many individuals do not realize how easy, as well as how affordable it is to join in on the fight against global warming.  Unfortunately, much focus is placed on energy efficient vehicles and appliances.  If you do not have the financial means needed to make these purchases, it is okay, as there are more affordable ways that you can help.

One of the biggest chances that you have to help prevent global warming or lessen its impact is in your home.  In your home, you will want to look at your electricity uses.  Are there appliances, like your computer, that are turned on when you aren’t using them?  How about the lights in your home?  Are your lights turned on even when nobody is in the room?  If you answered yes, these are things that you will want to change.  Limiting your electricity use is a great way to not only help prevent global warming, but it can also save you money too!

As previously stated, you will want to lessen the amount of electricity used in your home.  One of the easiest ways to do so is to ensure that all lights and appliances are turned off when they are not in use.  What is nice about this approach is that it is completely free and, as previously stated, you can save yourself money!  Another step involves examining your heat.  Instead of having your thermostat cranked up high, you may want to put on a sweater and turn the heat down.  Even a few degrees can help reduce the toxic emissions that come from your home. 

In keeping with electricity, you will want to take a close look at energy efficient light bulbs.  Unfortunately, many individuals do not realize the many benefits to using these light bulbs, as opposed to traditional ones.  For starters, you can save yourself a little bit of money each year by switching all or at least most of the lights in your home to energy efficient light bulbs.  Also, these light bulbs work much longer than traditional ones.  Depending on your use, an energy efficient light bulb can last as long as one or two years.  By price comparing, you can easily find multi-packs of these energy efficient lights for around five dollars.  Talk about affordability!

Even if you are a renter, as opposed to a homeowner, there are still ways that you can work to combat global warming.  You may want to speak with your landlord about making any window repairs, especially if you feel cold air entering into your home when it shouldn’t be.  Ask your landlord about the hot water heater, do they use a hot water heater blanket?  Hot water heater blankets are affordably priced and they can help to save the environment and your landlord may also be able to save a little bit of money as well, as they can lower the temperature of their water heater.

As previously stated, you may not have the financial means needed to purchase a new hybrid or energy efficient car.  Even so, you will still want to take a close look at your methods of transportation.  When you drive, do you really need to?  If you are able to walk, carpool or take public transportation, you are encouraged to do so.  Even if you leave your car home, just a couple of times a week, you are still doing your part, even though small, to help stop the horrific impacts that global warming may have on our planet.

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