Things You Could Do to Help Stop Global Warming
Without greenhouse gases, Earth couldn't sustain life. However, activities such as burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests have significantly increased the level of these gases in our atmosphere, leading to global warming. Scientists believe unchecked global warming will cause significant changes to the climate. Instead of waiting on policy makers, concerned citizens can take steps in their own lives to help stop global warming.
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Driving Choices
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According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, burning one gallon of gasoline puts 25 pounds of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. When purchasing a new car, look for the most fuel efficient one you can afford and consider fuel saving technologies such as hybrid engines. Driving a fuel efficient car protects the environment and saves money at the gas pump. Drivers who own more than one car should only drive vehicles with low gas-mileage when they are fully loaded with passengers. Commuters should consider taking public transportation or joining a carpool instead of taking the trip to work alone.
Clean Power
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In 2011, more than half of the electricity produced in the United States comes from greenhouse gas emitting coal-fired power plants. Stopping global warming doesn't mean giving up electricity. However, some states now allow utility customers to choose which utility companies they buy their electricity from. If possible, choose a utility company that produces electricity from 50 to 100 percent renewable energy such as wind or solar power.
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Efficient Appliances
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It's a fact of life that appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners and water heaters will eventually break down. When it comes time to replace them, look for high efficiency models that participate in the Energy Star program. Energy Star appliances are more expensive at the time of purchase but their energy savings typically pay back the extra cost within a few years. If American households replaced their current appliances with the most efficient models available, it would remove about 175 million tons of greenhouse gases from the air and save about $15 billion in energy costs.
Efficient Light Bulbs
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Typical compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, generate the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs but only use about 25 percent of the electricity. If every household in America replaced one incandescent bulb with a CFL, it would remove 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases from the air over the lifetime of the bulb. That's roughly equivalent to removing 6.3 million cars from the roads. Not only are they more efficient, they last about three times as long as incandescent bulbs. Using CFLs protects the environment and saves money normally spent on light bulbs and electricity.
Tree Planting
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Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and save energy by shading homes and businesses in the summer and blocking wind in the winter. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, there are eight features to consider before planting trees. Will the full grown tree bump into anything? How wide will it get? Will it lose its leaves with the change of season? What shape is it? How fast will it grow? Will it grow fruit? How much sun, soil and water does it need? What temperature extremes can it withstand?
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References
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