Showing posts with label Environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Environment. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Carbon footprint

I’ve been reading lately about our carbon footprint.  Here is what I have learned. 

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.  It also defines our carbon footprint.  Basically, this is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and especially, climate change.  It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases or carbon dioxide that is produced in our day-to-day lives, typically through the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation.   Simply put, it is the amount of total carbon dioxide emitted for us to carry out our daily lives.

The carbon footprint consists of two parts.  The primary footprint is a measure of our direct emissions of CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels including domestic energy consumption and transportation (e.g. car and plane). We have direct control of these.

The secondary footprint is a measure of the indirect CO2 emissions from the whole lifecycle of products we use - those associated with their manufacture and eventual breakdown. To put it very simply – the more we buy, the more emissions will be caused on our behalf.

Are you aware that your home is typically the largest contributor to your carbon footprint annually? 
Why is it important to reduce our carbon footprint?  Because carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that damages the environment and contributes to global warming.  It is important for all of us to be aware of this and take steps to reduce our carbon footprint.  To see what you can do to reduce your carbon footprint, go Here

Finally, if you’re interested, you can also go Here to calculate your own carbon footprint.

footprints

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Consume less, Share more

 

I saw this bumper sticker on a car today …

 

 

… and it made me think. 

So, when I got home, I googled it and found this …

 

The Global Warming Survival Guide:  51 Ways to Save the Environment

Number 51:  Consume less, share more, live simply

Here is the Full List:

  • Turn Food Into Fuel
  • Get Blueprints For a Green House
  • Change Your Lightbulbs
  • Light Up Your City
  • Pay the Carbon Tax
  • Ditch the Mansion
  • Hang Up a Clothes Line
  • Give New Life to Your Old Fleece
  • Build a Skyscraper
  • Turn Up the Geothermal Heat
  • Take Another Look at Vintage Clothes
  • Capture the Carbon
  • Let Employees Work Close to Home
  • Ride the Bus
  • Move to a High-Rise
  • Pay Your Bills Online
  • Open a Window
  • Ask the Experts For An Energy Audit of Your Home
  • Buy Green Power, At Home or Away
  • Check the Label
  • Cozy Up to Your Water Heater
  • Skip the Steak
  • Copy California
  • Just Say No to Plastic Bags
  • Support your local farmer
  • Plant a bamboo fence
  • Straighten up and fly right
  • Have a green wedding
  • Remove the tie
  • Shut off your computer
  • Wear green eye shadow
  • Kill the Lights At Quitting Time
  • Rearrange the Heavens and the Earth
  • Rake in the Fall Colors
  • End the Paper Chase
  • Play the Market
  • Think Outside the Packaging
  • Trade Carbon for Capital
  • Make Your Garden Grow
  • Get a Carbon Budget
  • Fill'er Up With Passengers
  • Pay For Your Carbon Sins
  • Move to London's New Green Zone
  • Check Your Tires
  • Make One Right Turn After Another
  • Plant a Tree in the Tropics
  • If You Must Burn Coal, Do it Right
  • Drive Green on the Scenic Route
  • Set a Higher Standard
  • Be aggressive about passive
  • Consume Less, Share More, Live Simply
  • Who knew?

    To get the bumper sticker, go Here or Here.

    Saturday, March 28, 2009

    Earth Hour: Tonight’s the Night!

    At 8:30 pm local time on Saturday, March 28, 2009 Earth Hour will commence. People all over the world will band together in unity by turning off their lights for one hour. The purpose is to “make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions.”

    Spread the word! Email your friends, family and associates and ask them to participate in this world-wide event. Ask your federal, state and local officials to do the same.


    Lets stand together for one hour. Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm. Turn out. Take action.

    My friend Ross in South Africa will participate. So will Christine in Kentucky. I will turn out my lights tonight at 8:30 pm. How about you? Will you join us?

    To learn more about this important event, visit the Earth Hour website. To join the movement of global solidarity against global warming, go Here. Be the voice for our planet!