DID YOU KNOW ?
50 % of garbage in landfills could have been composted or recycled ?
We've all heard of Global warming. That we need to "reduce our Greenhouse gas ( GHG)emissions" we should burn less fossil fuels, do our part to "protect the Ozone Layer " and so on, but what the heck does it all mean in plain English ?
First the Ozone Layer - A lovely little layer of molecules way out in the Stratosphere that protects us from too much of the sun's radiation. The thinner it is, the more nasty UV rays that get to us down here on Earth. More sunburns people ! Not only that but it can cause disruptions in the marine animals habitat, in the food chain, reduced crop yields, etc. Not good.
so what can we do to reduce the depletion of the ozone layer ?
Theres a lot of scientific mumbo jumbo to get right into it but CFC's ( Chlorofluorocarbons ) are what most of us may have heard of. They are used in the manufacture of aerosol sprays,( hair spray etc) blowing agents for foams and packing materials, as solvents, and as refrigerants( freon, etc ) Although non essential use of CFC's is banned in many countries, it can take CFC's 15 years to get to the stratosphere and another decade to react with the Ozone , destroying up to 100,000 ozone molecules in that time.
We can however....Avoid purchasing products containing ozone-depleting substances. ( use a nice organic gel instead of hairspray ladies ) For a list of substances to avoid, see http://www.checnet.org/HealtheHouse/education/articles-detail.asp?Main_ID=650
Also, insist that the refrigerator repairman uses CFC recovery when repairing old appliances and recycling equipment when servicing your refrigerator or freezer.
And what about Global Warming ?
To make a long story short, Carbon dioxide and other gases ( Greenhouse gases) warm Earths surface by trapping heat from the sun, in our atmosphere. ( our own little greenhouse) A very good thing, because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere and temperatures are rising because the layer of gases is getting too thick, trapping too much heat . Ever step into a greenhouse on a hot summer day ? A little too tropical for me ! So what can we do ?
So many little things that take a little more planning but not much effort. The best part is many of them save you money too ! Most Green house gas ( GHG) emissions from homes come from the fossil fuels burned to make electricity & heat. If you use energy more efficiently at home, you will reduce your emissions and lower your energy bills by more than 30 % in some cases ! A big bonus for you !. Remember the simple things too, like turning down the thermostat a degree or two & wearing a sweater instead, or how about drying your clothes on a line whenever weather permits ? ( you can buy those nice portable , fold up ones for apartment dwellers ! )
Also, since agriculture is responsible for about 1/5 of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, you can reduce emissions just by watching what you eat. ( like buying locally grown food ,which reduces trucking ( gas, oil and $$) & refrigeration as well as plastic packaging ( plastic is made with petroleum ) With the weather turning cooler, one way to reduce emmissions is to be sure your home is properly insulated. Caulking and weather-stripping can reduce carbon dioxide emmissions by 1,700 pounds per year ! You can also save an average of 2,400 lbs of carbon dioxide a year by recycling just 1/2 of your household garbage. Earth 911 can help you find recycling in your area. Remember all those commercials last year about the "One Tonne Challenge" ? This is what it's all about ! I challenge you ! Let me know what you are doing to reduce your emmissions !
