Identify the Cause of Greenhouse Effect
From LoveToKnow GreenLiving
Scientists continue to attempt to identify the cause of greenhouse effect. The only way to combat this very controversial environmental issue is to determine its origin and create a plan to minimize and even eliminate it.
Identify the Cause of Greenhouse Effect
Because some scientists aren’t convinced about the reality of global warming, the race is on to identify the cause of greenhouse effect and the results as well. Bizarre weather patterns throughout the world often prompt people to begin blaming environmental issues, such as global warming. Many scientists and concerned citizens feel that the greenhouse effect is a totally manmade condition, and as a result, they also believe that man must find a way to correct the effects that greenhouse gases have had on our world.
Just what is the greenhouse effect? To put it simply, the temperature of the earth appears to be rising. This is due to gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, trapping the sun’s energy. If these gas levels weren’t so high, the extra heat could find its way back into space, creating a cooler environment on earth. How much cooler? If all of the gases were to escape back into space, the earth could be as much as 60 degrees cooler.
The greenhouse effect gets its name from the actual greenhouse that is used to house plants in the winter. The effect of a greenhouse on a plant is similar to the effect these gases have on the earth. Just as the glass panes in a greenhouse trap the heat from the sun, the gases which make up the earth’s atmosphere trap the sun’s energy.
Greenhouse gases are emitted in a variety of ways, including the following:
- Deforestation-This is the disappearance of trees, which allows more greenhouse gases to become trapped within the environment.
- Burning-When trash, brush, wood, and fossil fuels are burned, carbon dioxide is also released into the atmosphere.
- Electrical appliances-Many electrical appliances in your home emit gases referred to as Chloroflourocarbons or CFCs. These gases are found in refrigerators, some cleaners, and aerosol cans.
- Population growth-Simply the increase in the population of the world can cause the greenhouse effect. Industries and manmade machines contribute to the greenhouse theory.
Finding Solutions
If the earth’s atmosphere has already experienced irreparable damage, what can people do to stop or at the very least reduce the results of a greenhouse effect? You might not think that any action you take will have much significance upon scientists’ ability to identify the cause of greenhouse effect. Think again. If everyone would react more seriously to the condition of our planet, changes could begin to take place. While your everyday efforts might seem insignificant, the population as a whole could begin to reduce the damage done by the greenhouse effect.
- Reduce carbon dioxide by reducing or eliminating pollutants such as fossil fuels.
- Find alternative energy sources, such as solar energy or wind energy.
- Research alternative fuel choices, such as hydrogen fuel.
Whether you realize it or not, you can do your part to conserve energy and reduce the amount of pollutants that are emitted into the atmosphere.
- Turn off lights, appliances, and electrical equipment when not in use.
- Use timers for various appliances that are used every day.
- Consider purchasing a hybrid vehicle.
- For short distances, walk or ride a bike instead of driving your car.
- Plant trees in your area. This helps absorb some of the carbon dioxide that can’t escape back into space due to the greenhouse effect.
Challenge your family and your community to find ways to conserve energy and to search for alternative fuel sources. Involve your kids in researching ways to make the world a healthier place to live. After all, it’s up to us to secure a green planet for our children to enjoy.
Comments
Here's another way to reduce carbon footprint - re: auto industry; Every day across North America, thousands of cars pull into a dealership or shop for service, and in order to protect the interior of a customer's vehicle, those shops use disposable seat and floor covers.
Approximately 65,000 tonnes of disposable seat and floor covers from the auto service industry are dumped into North American landfills each year. Added to that, over 130,000 tonnes of green house gases are emitted into the air we breath to manufacture these disposable covers. Worldwide, the estimates are 260,000 tonnes of waste and 483,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas. (Approximately 1.86 tons of carbon gas is produced to manufacture 1 ton of polyethylene in an oil/gas fired factory.)
Clearwater Impex Group Inc. a Canadian company, has taken up the challenge to get the word out to help eliminate or at least drastically reduce this environmental waste.
We have to step up to the plate and take action into our own hands. The daily news about climate change shows that this change is happening faster than any previous predictions and now is the time to 'walk the walk'. All industries can do something (about this problem) and the auto service industry is no exception. We must let the public know about this because over 75% of service customers are unaware that disposables are used in their vehicles while in the shop and we're sure that if they knew, they'd gladly do something to help reduce this waste.
Clearwater is rolling out it's RAW Campaign (Reduce Automotive Waste) to the public and the service industry with the introduction and education of using economical reusable seat/floor covers to replace disposables that are currently in use.
The program is based on the service customer purchasing a reusable cover through their dealership, repair shop or other retailer and to make sure it would be kept at hand in their vehicle. Just as the supermarkets are selling reusable shopping bags to their customers to reduce use of plastic bags, the consumer can help reduce waste and greenhouse gases by buying economical reusable covers to be used each time they take their car in for service. The great thing about this is that unlike reusable shopping bags, the customer would never forget to have one as long as it's in the car.
We hope to have the repair shops asking all their customers coming in for service if they have a reusable cover or the customer asking their service shops if they have reusable covers they could purchase. Reusable covers are very economical and will go a long way to reduce greenhouse gases and free up room in our landfills; approximately 1 pound of disposables is eliminated for every 5 uses.
A very easy solution to this problem.
-- Contributed by: Roland Zikmanis
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