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Going green does not have to mean being one hundred percent planet conscious all the time. Start simple. Turn off a light when you’re not in the room. Providing you are not immediately planning on going back into the room (and turning the light back on again), this is a great way to save energy. This one act is so easy; your children can do it. In fact, this will even get the family involved. Make an effort to make sure that all lights not necessary for security are off before you leave the house.

If you want to really help the atmosphere, unplugging electronics that are not going to be used for a long time helps. This is especially true of cell phone chargers. This cuts down on the amount of carbon gases being released into the air.

Saving on water is another big part of going green. Shortening your shower is the best way to do that. Another simple idea is to make sure that all faucets are turned off completely after every use.

There are other ways to start going green. You can even take your efforts to the work place. Start by car pooling. Then at the workplace, if there are none already in place, try and get a few recycling receptacles. Not surprisingly, although many people are conscientious about recycling at home, the same people often neglect this duty at work. Our environment and the legacy we leave behind to our children and grandchildren are too important for just a part-time effort.

In addition to this, try and get your suppliers to use only recycled paper for printers and copy machines. This will keep the cycle of reusing materials going, and save the forests.

At the end of the work day, try and get everyone in your office to shut down their computers, and if it’s possible, unplug them. This will conserve a lot of energy in the long run.

If you want to do a team effort, try arranging a community project or a cleanup crew for your neighborhood. Pick up litter on the side of the road or at a national park. This will keep it clean and beautiful for the world’s animals. We are not the only ones on the planet, after all.

Chances are, there is already a group out there in your area that is doing all of these things. You can join them and make a big green difference in your neighborhood. Doing this will make you feel good, and help the environment too. Grab friends and family to join the effort.

Look around you when you go out next. You will see that everyone is trying to make an effort to be just a little more green. Whether it’s recycling cups at a restaurant, or offering biodegradable packaging, the green movement is slowly spanning the globe.

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Going green does not have to mean being one hundred percent planet conscious all the time. Start simple.

Photo: cosmos.ucdavis.edu

The effect that each of us has on the environment is called our Carbon Footprint. Many factors contribute to our individual carbon footprint, including where we live, the size of our home, how old our appliances are, what we drive and how much air travel we do. While there is no way to eliminate our carbon footprint to slow climate change; there are things we can do to reduce the size of our “shoe”.

Working together to individually reduce our personal carbon footprint can only be good for our planet, our future and the future of generations to come. By knowing what our personal impact is, we can then work on reducing it. In order to reduce our carbon footprint, we must first know what size we are. There are carbon calculators online carboncounter.org that are simple to use and will quickly show you how much your carbon burden is.

There are many organizations that continually endeavor to offset and mitigate the damages by CO2 emissions, including wind power, reforestation projects and solar power projects, including Conservation International, Nature.org and Carbon Counter.org.

Why would I consider alternatives to traditional air conditioning?

Traditional air conditioning uses hydrofluorocarbons which are in the process of being phased out because of the damage they cause to the ozone layer. According to the US Department of energy, controlling the temperature in buildings year round emits over half a billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, adding to the expanding global warming situation.  We are also generating about 24% of the nation’s sulfur dioxide through temperature control, which is a major component of acid rain. From a green stand point, the less air conditioning used, the less damage we will cause to the environment. Even newer air conditioners approved by the EPA emit harmful gasses, although they are less harmful than their predecessors.

There are some health considerations as well. Re-circulated air can increase the level of mold spores and chemicals in the air that your breath. People who are constantly in temperature controlled environments are shown to be more susceptible to upper-respiratory illnesses and sinus problems.  Socially, individuals who are accustomed to air conditioning may chose to avoid activities that expose them to the natural environment making them less likely to spend time outside and participate in outdoor activities.

How can I cool my house without air conditioning?

There are many ways to control the temperature of your living environment without relying on any system that mechanically cools air. Some of these may seem labor intensive or expensive at the beginning, but a larger investment now may save a significant amount of money in the future, not to mention considerably reducing your carbon foot print. Below are some of the more popular methods:

Landscaping – Adding trees in strategic areas around your house can significantly reduce energy costs every year. Deciduous trees placed on the south and west sides of your property can create a wind break, shade in the summer and allow light and radiant heat through in the winter. Vines and shrubs can also provide shading and cooling and may grow more quickly than trees.

Drapes and Blinds – Placing light-colored fabric that allows light through over your windows may help reflect much of the sun’s heat but still allow light through. Closing blinds on the windows that are getting direct sunlight during the day can also significantly reduce the sun’s effects.

Paint – The color of your house can also be a significant factor. Houses painted with dark colors will absorb much of the radiant energy during the day and transfer that heat into your house. Painting your house a lighter color can actually cut down the temperature and reflect the heat away from your house.

Insulation – Making sure that your house is properly insulated not only can keep your house warm in the winter, but also help keep it cool in the summer. Improving insulation and making sure all the nooks and crannies are sealed can prevent warm air from seeping in. Attic insulation can keep hot air from radiating down into the lower floors. You can also install a radiant barrier on the underside of your roof. This foil paper is stapled to the roof rafters to help reflect heat from the interior of your house.

Fans – One of the biggest ways to help cool down your house is to utilize a fan. Ceiling fans are some of the most effective as they create a draft throughout the room that creates a cooling effect. Window fans can also be very effective in many climates. Place a fan in the window facing out, close all of the nearby windows and open all of the windows at the other end of the house. The fan will pull hot air out of the house and cool air into it through the opposite windows. You may also want to look into getting a house fan. These fans are installed in the top floor ceiling and pull air up through your house and into the attic. These fans can create a draft through the entire house and pull cool air in from all open windows and doors.

But what if I live in a very hot area, or want air conditioning?

If you are in the market for an air conditioning system to cool your house, there are several new and ‘green’ options to explore available to the everyday consumer.

Evaporative Coolers – These are more commonly called swamp coolers and work very well in dry and arid areas. They cost less to install and use about a quarter as much energy as a traditional air conditioner. They do require more maintenance but it is not difficult or expensive. Evaporative coolers should not be used in humid climates as they will only add to the humidity in the room. Because they continually use water in the process, it is also not suitable for areas where limited water supplies are a concern.

Radiant Hydronic Cooling – This method uses the floor and ceiling to absorb the heat from the rest of the room. This is done by placing panels under the floor or in the walls through which chilled water is circulated. Unfortunately, for homes in humid areas, this method can cause condensation to build up in the house and is therefore more suitable to arid climates as well.

Geothermal Cooling – One of the up and coming green ways to cool your house, geothermal cooling is achieved by running a pipe into the ground, much like a well. Water or an anti-freeze/water solution is pumped through the pipes, pulling heat from the building and cooling it underground. These systems can be 20% – 40% more efficient than traditional air conditioners and can cut your energy costs by up to 50%.

If you think that going ‘green’ may be the best decision for you, contact a local contractor with HVAC training who specializes in alternative and green systems for the house. They will be able to provide professional advice for your specific situation.  You can also talk to a landscaper designer or local nursery for more information on the best plants and locations to utilize for shading and wind management. No matter how much or little money you have to spend, there is a green option that will fit in your budget.

The Global Warming Problem

When cars, factories and power plants burn fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, they release global-warming pollution. These pollutants accumulate in the atmosphere for many decades, acting like a huge blanket that traps heat. That, in turn, warms our planet. The global-warming pollution, primarily carbon dioxide, emitted from the first model T’s is still in the atmosphere, acting as a thickening layer of insulation.

With our increased reliance on fossil fuels, the concentration of these pollutants continues to accumulate, threatening the stability of our climate. Distinguished scientists across the nation have been surprised by the speed and severity of the issue and its effects on people’s lives: the elderly suffering from heat waves, families whose homes are threatened by floods and eroding coastlines, hunters and anglers watching wildlife disappear and homeowners who are at risk of mudslides.

Scientists are convinced that we now have a small window of time to avoid the most dangerous consequences. If we join together now to solve this problem, they say, our children may be spared even more dramatic effects within their lifetimes.

Some Global Warming Solutions

To help, there’s a Web site that lists easy ways to help slow down global warming. For example, did you know that:

• An energy-conscious family can reduce its global-warming pollution contribution by over 35,000 pounds per year by taking such simple steps as selecting Energy Star appliances and insulating their house.
• You can save money on electricity by installing a programmable thermostat, which reduces global-warming pollution.
• If you plan your trips to combine errands, this will reduce emissions, saving gas, wear and tear on your car, and your valuable time.

Whatever kind of vehicle you drive, choosing the most fuel-efficient model in its class is the single most important way to cut global-warming pollution.

“Global warming is the most serious environmental challenge of our time. It is more urgent and its dangers are more fundamental than most Americans realize,” explained Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense. “Millions of individual Americans acting together add up to a powerful part of the solution.

Many of the trans-formative solutions will emerge from America, the country with the deepest reservoir of scientists, engineers and bold investors.” Environmental Defense is a centrist organization dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people, including the right to clean air, clean water, healthy food and flourishing ecosystems.

Guided by science, Environmental Defense works to create practical solutions that win lasting economic and social support because they are nonpartisan, cost-effective and fair.

The heat-trapping property of these gases is undisputed although uncertainties exist about exactly how earth’s climate responds to them. Energy from the sun drives the earth’s weather and climate, and heats the earth’s surface; in turn, the earth radiates energy back into space. Atmospheric greenhouse gases trap some of the outgoing energy, retaining heat somewhat like the glass panels of a greenhouse. Without this natural ‘greenhouse effect’, temperatures would be much lower than they are now, and life as known today would not be possible. Instead, thanks to greenhouse gases, the earth’s average temperature is a more hospitable 60°F. However, problems may arise when the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases increases. Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have increased nearly 30%, methane concentrations have more than doubled, and nitrous oxide concentrations have risen by about 15%. These increases have enhanced the heat-trapping capability of the earth’s atmosphere.

Consequently, the temperature of the planet earth is rising. Fossil fuels burned to run cars and trucks, heat homes and businesses, and power factories are responsible for about 98% of world carbon dioxide emissions, 24% of methane emissions, and 18% of nitrous oxide emissions. Increased agriculture, deforestation, landfills, industrial production, and mining also contribute a significant share of emissions.

All these have dramatically reduce the lifespan of living earth. The quest for efficient energy affects every country on the planet. Worldwide there is an increasing interest in developing clean, reliable alternatives to petroleum fuels. Many smart, safe, and clean alternative power sources are available in the market.

People can easily install these clean power sources at their home as alternative energy to help reducing carbon dioxide emission as well as reducing their utilities bill. In recent year, people has come up with alternative power sources run their cars in order to reduce the spending on petrol gas and of course, reduce the carbon dioxide emission. It is easy and at the same time, you could save money! Please play your part on global warming.