Global warming is a problem faced by our entire society . Regardless of race, ethnicity, homeland, gender, and age, we are all responsible for helping our planet through this tough time. Soon, global warming will reach a tipping point in which there will be nothing that we can do to stop its harmful effects. By doing your part as a concerned citizen, there are some simple changes that you can make to help decrease the damage that you are doing to the planet's climate. Many things that you do in your every day life contribute to global warming, from making your morning commute to simply turning on a light switch. As a country, America produces the most greenhouse gases per year on the planet. It has been shown that the average American contributes 6.6 tons of greenhouse gas per year. These emissions have only increased since the early nineties, and we need to act now to help save our planet?
What can you do to help decrease your greenhouse emissions? By simply changing a few things in your lifestyle, you can help to decrease your greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 12,280 pounds per year. Following are some tips to helping the planet:
When buying electronic equipment, look for the ENERGY STAR label. These devices limit the use of power, thereby allowing you to cut consumption at least a little bit. Computers, fax machines, copy machines, and various other pieces of home office equipment can be found that are ENERGY STAR compliant.
Insulating your home can both reduce your energy bill and help the planet by using less power.
Fluorescent lights or ENERGY STAR lights can be purchased to bring down your electricity need.
Use low flow faucets in both your shower and your sink. If you can't purchase a new toilet, placing a brick in the back of your toilet tank can cut down on the amount of water used in your toilet, saving water.
When relocating, try to find a job close to your home. The very act of commuting is one of the biggest problems with global warming that we face, with suburban employees making hour-long commutes, draining our planet's oil supply and increasing greenhouse emissions. By carpooling 2 days a week, you can cut your greenhouse emissions by 1,590 pounds per year!
When purchasing a new vehicle, look for one with a high miles-per-gallon rating. Hybrids are ideal, but any car that consumes less gas is recommended.
Written By: Kadence Buchanan
