Johann Hari: We'll save the planet only if we're forced to
In the opinion of the writer the only way we can solve our Global Warming problems is by forcing people to do something by enforcing laws. Many people out there are doing their best in trying to decrease pollution, but that is not enough. What of the others that help contribute to a more polluted world. In this article Johann Hari explained that the majority of the people won’t do anything until they are forced to do it.
In a way I agree with the writer. The only effective way for us to make a cleaner world is by enforcing laws that will make them move and do something. Also there is the fact that by forcing those to do something that they themselves don’t want to do will allow them to protest. It is hard to enforce laws like paying an annual fee for driving a SUV. Why force the people to pay when the very companies themselves are the ones making those carbon emitters. The only right way as I see it is by forcing the companies to make better and environmentally safe products
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Madar City
Masdar City is a whole city dedicated to making a pollution free environment. Masdar city will be built near the Abu Dhabi international airport. The city will placed far from any heavy industrial area or any congested city, but close to a needed air transportation. A city first of its kind that will produce no carbon emissions, no pollution and no waste. Solar and wind energy will be used to power the city, sea water will go through a solar powered desalination plant and the waste water will be used as many times possible in watering crops and for thrown items they will be recycled. Transportation in MC will be by cycling or walking.
I think this is a very great project done by Abu Dhabi. The idea of making a carbon emission free city is realistic. I sincerely hope that this city will become a great inspiration to many other countries to help spread global awareness to make a cleaner world.
I think this is a very great project done by Abu Dhabi. The idea of making a carbon emission free city is realistic. I sincerely hope that this city will become a great inspiration to many other countries to help spread global awareness to make a cleaner world.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Cool Cities
As long as Global Warming exists humanity will suffer. Everyday more and more carbon gases are released into the atmosphere. So to that effect the Cool Cities campaign exists. Cool Cities is a campaign that aims to ridding the world of Global Warming. Cities that sign up in the campaign are given goals and solutions that will help reduce their GW pollution. An example to their efforts a city was able to reduce their carbon emissions by 1200 tons just by replacing all 113 traffic lights and 59 crosswalk signals with LED lights.
In the Abu Dhabi the government has started a project to help reduce the Global Warming effects. That project is “Masdar City”. A whole city that will follow the Cool Cities campaign goal by running on clean power and release no carbon emissions.
In the Abu Dhabi the government has started a project to help reduce the Global Warming effects. That project is “Masdar City”. A whole city that will follow the Cool Cities campaign goal by running on clean power and release no carbon emissions.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
My Carbon Footprint
There are many simple ways to reduce the footprint you leave on the planet. Learn how to reduce your footprint in each consumption category–carbon, food, housing, and goods and services—but don’t stop there. Amplify your impact by encouraging others to follow your lead. Engage your friends and community with local and global movements for social change, or start your own movement!
Reduce your Carbon Footprint
Use cleaner transport
Walk, bike, or take public transit whenever possible.
Avoid allowing your car to idle. If you’ll be waiting for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine (except in traffic). And don’t take the drive-through—park the car and walk inside instead.
Have your vehicle serviced regularly to keep the emission control systems operating at peak efficiency. Check your car's air filter monthly, and keep the tires adequately inflated to maximize gas mileage.
Avoid short airplane trips—take a bus or train instead.
Add energy-saving features to your home
Install compact fluorescent bulbs in all your home light fixtures—but remember, compact fluorescents contain mercury, so look for low-mercury models and be sure to dispose of old bulbs safely through your local hazardous waste program.
Weatherproof your home. Make sure your walls and ceilings are insulated, and consider double-pane windows. Eliminate drafts with caulking, weather strips, and storm windows and doors.
Insulate your water heater. Even better, switch to a tankless water heater, so your water will be heated only as you use it.
Choose energy efficient appliances.
Adopt energy-saving habits
Keep thermostat relatively low in winter and ease up on the air conditioning in summer. Clean or replace dirty air conditioner filters as recommended to keep the A/C operating at peak efficiency.
Unplug your electronics when not in use. To make it easier, use a power strip. Even when turned off, items like your television, computer, and cellphone charger still sip power.
Dry your clothes outside whenever possible.
Make minimal use of power equipment when landscaping.
Defrost your refrigerator and freezer regularly.
Choose green electricity. Many utilities give you the option to purchase electricity generated by wind and solar power for a small rate surcharge.
Purchase carbon offsets to make up for the energy use you can’t eliminate.
Reduce your Food Footprint
Eat more local, organic, in-season foods.
Plant a garden—it doesn’t get more local than that.
Shop at your local farmer’s market or natural foods store. Look for local, in-season foods that haven’t traveled long distances to reach you.
Choose foods with less packaging to reduce waste.
Eat lower on the food chain—going meatless for just one meal a week can make a difference. Globally, it has been estimated that 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions are associated with meat consumption.
Reduce your Housing Footprint
Choose sustainable building materials, furnishings, and cleaning products.
Explore green design features for your building, like passive solar heating, a rainwater catchment or grey water recycling system, and recycled materials.
Choose efficient appliances, including low flow shower heads, faucets, and toilets.
Choose furnishings that are second-hand, recycled, or sustainably produced.
Plant drought tolerant plants in your garden and yard.
Use biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products.
Adopt water-saving habits
Take shorter, less frequent showers—this not only saves water, but the energy necessary to heat it.
Don’t use the garbage disposal. Compost instead.
Run the dishwasher and the laundry machine only when full.
Wash cars rarely, or better yet, take them to a carwash. Commercial carwashes use less water per wash than home washers, and they are also required to drain used water into the sewage system, rather than storm drains, which protects aquatic life.
Avoid hosing down or power-washing your deck, walkways, or driveway.
Regularly look for and fix leaks.
Reduce your Goods and Services Footprint
Buy less! Replace items only when you really need to.
Recycle all your paper, glass, aluminum, and plastic. Don’t forget electronics!
Compost food waste for the garden. Garbage that is not contaminated with degradable (biological) waste can be more easily recycled and sorted, and doesn't produce methane gases (a significant greenhouse gas contributor) when stored in a landfill.
Buy recycled products, particularly those labeled "post-consumer waste."
Reduce your Carbon Footprint
Use cleaner transport
Walk, bike, or take public transit whenever possible.
Avoid allowing your car to idle. If you’ll be waiting for more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine (except in traffic). And don’t take the drive-through—park the car and walk inside instead.
Have your vehicle serviced regularly to keep the emission control systems operating at peak efficiency. Check your car's air filter monthly, and keep the tires adequately inflated to maximize gas mileage.
Avoid short airplane trips—take a bus or train instead.
Add energy-saving features to your home
Install compact fluorescent bulbs in all your home light fixtures—but remember, compact fluorescents contain mercury, so look for low-mercury models and be sure to dispose of old bulbs safely through your local hazardous waste program.
Weatherproof your home. Make sure your walls and ceilings are insulated, and consider double-pane windows. Eliminate drafts with caulking, weather strips, and storm windows and doors.
Insulate your water heater. Even better, switch to a tankless water heater, so your water will be heated only as you use it.
Choose energy efficient appliances.
Adopt energy-saving habits
Keep thermostat relatively low in winter and ease up on the air conditioning in summer. Clean or replace dirty air conditioner filters as recommended to keep the A/C operating at peak efficiency.
Unplug your electronics when not in use. To make it easier, use a power strip. Even when turned off, items like your television, computer, and cellphone charger still sip power.
Dry your clothes outside whenever possible.
Make minimal use of power equipment when landscaping.
Defrost your refrigerator and freezer regularly.
Choose green electricity. Many utilities give you the option to purchase electricity generated by wind and solar power for a small rate surcharge.
Purchase carbon offsets to make up for the energy use you can’t eliminate.
Reduce your Food Footprint
Eat more local, organic, in-season foods.
Plant a garden—it doesn’t get more local than that.
Shop at your local farmer’s market or natural foods store. Look for local, in-season foods that haven’t traveled long distances to reach you.
Choose foods with less packaging to reduce waste.
Eat lower on the food chain—going meatless for just one meal a week can make a difference. Globally, it has been estimated that 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions are associated with meat consumption.
Reduce your Housing Footprint
Choose sustainable building materials, furnishings, and cleaning products.
Explore green design features for your building, like passive solar heating, a rainwater catchment or grey water recycling system, and recycled materials.
Choose efficient appliances, including low flow shower heads, faucets, and toilets.
Choose furnishings that are second-hand, recycled, or sustainably produced.
Plant drought tolerant plants in your garden and yard.
Use biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products.
Adopt water-saving habits
Take shorter, less frequent showers—this not only saves water, but the energy necessary to heat it.
Don’t use the garbage disposal. Compost instead.
Run the dishwasher and the laundry machine only when full.
Wash cars rarely, or better yet, take them to a carwash. Commercial carwashes use less water per wash than home washers, and they are also required to drain used water into the sewage system, rather than storm drains, which protects aquatic life.
Avoid hosing down or power-washing your deck, walkways, or driveway.
Regularly look for and fix leaks.
Reduce your Goods and Services Footprint
Buy less! Replace items only when you really need to.
Recycle all your paper, glass, aluminum, and plastic. Don’t forget electronics!
Compost food waste for the garden. Garbage that is not contaminated with degradable (biological) waste can be more easily recycled and sorted, and doesn't produce methane gases (a significant greenhouse gas contributor) when stored in a landfill.
Buy recycled products, particularly those labeled "post-consumer waste."
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
An Inconvenient Truth
Our college teacher showed my collegues and me a documentary movie called "An Inconvenient Truth". It was all about global warming and the effects it causes on the whole planet. The documentary was presented by Al Gore. While watching the movie I learned a lot of useful information. The movie was very understandable and showed a very nice scientific slide show.
So I would suggest that everybody else should see this.
So I would suggest that everybody else should see this.
Global Warming
What is Global Warming?
Global warming as the name given to the increase of the earth's temperature. So in other words it also means the earth is getting hotter. As for what caused global warming. It is said to be caused by the increase of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere which in return helps trap in more solar rays which also causes the earth to rise in temperature.
To some it might not be a big deal, but global warming can cause devastating effects. For example the increase in temperature is making the glaciers melt which is also letting the sea levels rise. With the sea levels higher coastal areas will become flooded in no time and that is just a mere tip of the iceberg.
Nowadays more people are starting to act to try to stop making more damage to the ozone layer; even though it is a little bit late it is still helping to save humanity. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Global warming as the name given to the increase of the earth's temperature. So in other words it also means the earth is getting hotter. As for what caused global warming. It is said to be caused by the increase of CO2 emissions in the atmosphere which in return helps trap in more solar rays which also causes the earth to rise in temperature.
To some it might not be a big deal, but global warming can cause devastating effects. For example the increase in temperature is making the glaciers melt which is also letting the sea levels rise. With the sea levels higher coastal areas will become flooded in no time and that is just a mere tip of the iceberg.
Nowadays more people are starting to act to try to stop making more damage to the ozone layer; even though it is a little bit late it is still helping to save humanity. It is better to be safe than sorry.
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