What can you do to stop global warming?
Recycle!
Your city probably has a whole system for recycling the normal daily products like glass, plastic, and paper. Don’t stop there. Get creative with your recycling. Make new products from your old products. Use old t-shirts for cleaning rather than buying new towels. Use old glass bottles for vases. Re-use bottles from bottled water. Old belts can become new dog collars. Shipping boxes are great for storing items in the garage or attic.
Use less
By decreasing the amount of electricity you use in your house you reduce the amount of coal consumption. This leads to lower greenhouse emissions. You can lower your electricity by unplugging appliances that are not in use. Change your light bulbs to CFL. They last longer and use less. Watch your house temperature. The colder or hotter you’re A/C unit works the more energy you use. By keeping a moderate temperature you save both energy and money. Also, contact your city to see if there is renewable energy available in your area. You could have a house powered by solar energy!
Don’t drive if you can walk. By reducing the amount of gas your vehicle burns you reduce the burning for fossil fuels which increase greenhouse emissions. Use public transportation to alleviate traffic and pollution. If you can’t give up your car, at least consider a hybrid, electric, or bio-diesel vehicle.
Don’t waste water. Take short showers, make sure faucets are totally shut after use, and don’t leave leaks. People consume a lot of water. This means we use the water and then clean it at a water treatment plants over and over. This costs time, money, and energy.
Diet is key
A heavy diet of produce as opposed to meat is better for the environment. Why? Ruminant livestock release 20% of the US annual production of methane, a greenhouse gas, in the form of belching and flatulence (EPA Website). Meat is environmentally costly in terms of deforestation for grazing land, feeding, CO2 released from breathing, and processing.
What can you do? Increase your intake of produce. Buy fruits and vegetables that are fresh, organic, in season, and local. This reduces the amount of chemicals, pesticides, and insecticides put into the earth, your food, and your water. Buying local reduces the fossil fuels is costs in shipping produce or meat to outside your immediate area. When you buy produce out of season that means it had to travel from wherever it is in season, to you. Buying fresh foods decrease the amount of energy and waste to package and freeze and ship produce. Buying local (like from a farmers market) increases the stimulation for your local economy. By supporting local farmers jobs are created and spending is increased. Finally, if for no other reason, increase your green because it’s healthier. We all know that red meat has been linked to cholesterol, cancer, and hear disease. If you eat more fruits and veggies and less meat for your health, you can take the extra credit it is good for the environment too!