Are you doing anything to help reduce global warming? (only for people who care about the environment)?

Question

What are you doing to help reduce global warming.

I try to recycle as many things as I can such as cans and paper. I also ride my bicycle everywhere even though I got a car. I make sure I turn off all the lights when no one is around. I try to plant but it's kinda hard because my condo unit receives no direct sunlight. Only several of my hardy plants survived. Thanks for letting me know that there are people out there doing something to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. It's also nice to know that there are always idiots out there who like to answer questions that don't apply to them. The question if ONLY for PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT!!!!

In 2003, 54 billion cans were recycled, saving the energy equivalent of 15 million barrels of crude oil - America's entire gas consumption for one day.

Making new aluminum cans from used cans takes 95 percent less energy and 20 recycled cans can be made with the energy needed to produce one can using virgin ore.

Answer 1

"Each of us must make energy saving changes in our lives, and convince our family and friends to do the same, so each of us takes personal responsibility for reducing our own CO2 footprint on the planet. How can we expect others to change, if we don't follow our own advice. We have an opportunity to lead by example. First, we must educate ourselves on the problem, and the steps we, personally, can take to solve it.

Simple steps, like lowering our thermostats in winter, and raising them in summer; replacing regular light bulbs with compact florescent bulbs; using less hot water; insulating your home; turning off (and unplugging) electric devices not in use; walking, biking, carpooling or taking public transportation when possible; buying products that use less packaging material; buy locally grown foods and shop at your local farmer's market; buy organic foods; keeping the air in your automobile's tires inflated and the engine well maintained; and, of course, recycling, can make a significant difference.

We can go even further than that. When we need to replace an appliance - choose one with an energy star label. When it comes time to buy a new car, look at buying a hybrid (or one that runs on alternative fuels, like E85). If it's available in your area, switch to green power, that uses renewable resources like solar and wind to provide electricity to your home - or if you can afford it, install your own solar panels on your home. Whenever you get a chance - plant a tree."

Answer 2

Stop having so many kids!!!

One thing nobody likes to talk about in the global warming debate is that the increase in CO2 levels over the past 100 years is directly related to the global population increase.

We should, by all means, try to be as effecient as we can. We can drive economical cars, keep our thermostats at a reasonable level, and conserve electricity. But having one less kid will do more to curb global warming than all of those things combined.

BTW: Most recycling (with the exception of aluminum) actually increases the greenhouse gasses that cause global warming. This is due to the increased amount of oil that must be burned for the energy to operate the recycling plants, as opposed to simply making new stuff. While it may not be eco-friendly, burying our trash generates a lot less CO2 than operating recycling centers.

*** EDIT***
Good info on the recycling of aluminum cans. Aluminum is so energy consuming to extract from bauxite that it used to be considered a precious metal.

I am not saying you shouldn't recycle other items (nobody wants smelly trash in their back yard). However, people should be aware that the recycling of paper and plastic, at best does nothing, and at worst actually accelerates global warming.

Answer 3

I installed a 10 KW solar panel system on my roof 4 yrs ago. It is connected to the grid. I have actually seen my electric meter run backwards. In a couple more years it will have paid for itself and the electricity will be free. By decreasing the draw on the power grid it is that much less power needed to be produced by burning fuels. However, to be honest, burning fuels on the earth's surface can not cause global warming. If CO2 is the culprit, it is heavier than air. Plus, plants take up CO2 as fast as it is produced. It is impossible to increase CO2 levels on the surface.
Additionally, 85% of the earth is water. The sea plants consume most of the CO2 on the earth's surface. Trees and plants are bit players in this scenario.
On the other hand, if fuel is burned above 30,000 ft. that definitely could cause warming. Whereas jet engines burn 2-5 tons of kerosene per hour, each ton of fuel converts to 3.66 tons of CO2, and there are thousands of hours of jet traffic per day over the USA, not counting the world, and even tho CO2 will slowly settle down to earth(takes time), still there is without a doubt an increase of greenhouse gasses in the upper atmosphere as a result.
The other gas is methane. It is decomposed by ozone. The bulk of the ozone is produced by lightning strikes. So Mother Nature has the ability to keep herself clean from some items.
The bigger question is 'what will we do when oil is no longer available at all?'.

Answer 4

Yes. I've ordered oak acorns off Ebay and will be distributing them to people who are committed to growing them into trees. I'm also working with cherry pits and attempting to sprout them. I don't have local property and can't plant trees myself, but I can do the sprouting and help others get trees started.

In addition to that, I'll have plenty of hanging baskets this year and I've ditched the silk plants in favor of real ones. Every plant recycles carbon dioxide and we need lots of them. The only way to REVERSE global warming is to plant and overplant while we are reducing our own carbon emissions.

NOTE TO JOHN B. Watch "An Inconvenient Truth." We are losing more forest than we are planting right now which means carbon dioxide is NOT being recycled back into oxygen at a sufficient rate. In addition to that, coral is dying--thousands of acres of it--and algae has been severely affected by pollution. You could say we are losing the forests in the oceans, too.

Carbon dioxide is in the lower atmosphere, that's true. What it does is it traps the heat that would be returned to space after it reflects off the planet surface. One thing they didn't mention in Al Gore's film that I'm curious about is the impact of asphalt on global warming. It certainly traps heat as well.

Recycling is necessary, but replanting is far more important. I have to laugh at those guys in Washington who want to build factories to filter carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and put in the ground. That technology is 20 years away. If they start massive reforestation projects now, the factories will be obsolete before they are built.

Answer 5

it truly is relatively a help. If residing area is equipped one on suitable of the different then there is greater land left to advance vegetation to feed all those human beings. All homes that best are created from concrete and metallic, not timber. so as that they don't decrease down finished forests to construct them. Forests are a source which could help mitigate worldwide warming. even nonetheless it is likewise an illustration of inhabitants enhance, too; which does not help the atmosphere. might you relatively have a tall construction created from stone and metallic, or 1000's of timber framed properties cluttering the panorama? take a look into the pictures in the links and tell me that's greater efficient, a highrise construction or city sprawl?

Answer 6

Well, if I knew EXACTLY what people need to do to reduce global warming, I would do it.
But, since I DO actually care about the environment (or rather, the biological side of it), I recycle as much things as I can. (strangely enough, I hate the thought of plastic being buried in the ground, just sitting there and taking up space, while something else that's biodegradable could have taken its place.)
Also, we use biodegradable laundry powder at home. (Although whether its very effective or not, I don't know.)

Answer 7

I am avoiding using heating as much as possible in the winter and I rarely use the aircon. I ride my pushbike much more in town and only drive when I need to do the shopping or travelling to a course out of town. I do not eat cow, or chicken which contribute to methane emmisions. I keep all my home appliances turned off at the plugs when they are not in use. This saves energy which is produced by coal burning.

Answer 8

Recycling all our throwaways, driving a fuel efficient car and doing scheduled maintenance on the car, using as many energy efficient appliances as we can, replaced all the light bulbs with fluorescent lighting, servicing our central heat and air conditioner to maximize efficiency. Keep temperatures at 78 in summer, 70 in winter. Buy American products.

Answer 9

We commute on motorcycles. We have a 4 cylinder mini truck that we only drive a few times a month.

We don't have an air conditioner.

In the winter we only run space heaters for which the electricity is made by natural gas.

Further, I try not to buy products made in Mexico or south east Asian countries so as not to support countries who are the main culprits for greenhouse gas production.

You? Still running A/C at home or driving a large SUV?

Answer 10

I'm patiently waiting for global warming to dissolve the next ice age, just as it has all of the previous ones at times during which there was no industry.

Global warming beyond the normal and the natural is a big fib, promoted and instigated by that liberal lunatic, Al Gore.