Did you know that lighting a typical office overnight wastes enough energy to heat water for one thousand cups of tea (Climate Care.org). This is only one of many examples of how we waste power and Carbon dioxide. Almost everything we do releases carbon dioxide emissions, and in different amounts. We can save money and CO2 by reducing our carbon footprints, which is the total quantity of greenhouse gases that someone produces. Although we don’t think about them very often, a carbon footprint is part of everyone’s life because it’s measured on things we use, our actions create and waste CO2, and several people have worked to find energy saving ways to reduce them and help the environment.
A carbon footprint is measured by using several different variables about someone’s lifestyle. It’s important to note that depending on where someone may live influences their impact on their carbon footprint. Just as Stephanie Pappas mentioned; “In California, for example, electricity generation is relatively climate-friendly, so focusing on vehicular emissions has a greater impact”. Using an online calculator can show anyone how much CO2 they use on average, by answering the questions provided. “Inevitably, in going about our daily lives – commuting, sheltering our families, eating – each of us contributes to the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change” (Nature.org). Basically, determining your carbon footprint is a great first step to better understanding what uses
Carbon emissions are changing the planet for the worse. Energy production (mostly coal) is producing a one third of the US 's global warming emissions. Renewable sources produce little to zero percent. The balance of coal and renewable energy in the U.S. needs to be evened out with renewable techniques. Statistics from the Union of Concerned Scientist’s “Benefits of Renewable Energy Use” show that most renewable resources emit less than one pound of CO2E/kWh. These have significantly less of a carbon footprint than coal, which emits 1.4 to 3.6 lbs. CO2E/kWh or natural gas, which emits .6 to 2 lbs. CO2E/kWh. This impressive difference of carbon emissions between renewable and fossil fuel is the key to caring for our environment. A 2009 USC study found that if 25 percent of the US 's
On average the world us 39% electricity therefore, electricity consumption is an important portion of a customer’s environmental footprint, which leads to the production of Carbon Dioxide ( Co2) a few ways production of electricity has affected the environment is: The main sources that generate carbon dioxide are thermal powered stations where hydrocarbon fuel (gas, oil, and coal) are burned to produce heat and steam to drive to the generators. Hydrocarbon fuel is what causes carbon dioxide letting out chemicals that pollute the earth’s environment.
In “Save the Earth, Buy Less” Jared Blumenfeld that “China will overtake the United States next year to become the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases The most worrying threat to our planet at the present time is global warming. Global warming is a massive problem for one to solve, but we can create positive change by making environmentally-conscious personal choices and inspiring others to take collective action. I believe we all can take actions to reduce the global warming: we can reduce pollution, we can recycle products and we can conserve water. These all actions can contribute to making our planet a “greener” place to live.
Thanksgiving is a time to get together with family, eat a delicious meal and reflect upon what we are thankful for. During the busiest time of year, one of the last things people think about is the effect our favorite holidays have on the environment, and yet, it is something we need to consider. Recently, Carnegie Mellon University did a study on people’s ecological footprints during the Thanksgiving holiday. In their article titled “Thanksgiving dinner’s carbon footprint: A state-by-state comparison” published on ScienceDaily.com, the University discussed and compared the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our earth’s atmosphere during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Carbon footprint is the total of greenhouse gases produced by an individual’s habits as well as the energy required to produce things an individual consumes.
In today 's digital era, advancements are being made everywhere in attempt to change the world for the better. We as a society are trying to break through with technological discoveries, yet also try to cut down on our emitted green house gases; are both of these ambitions actually feasible, and can they cooperate with one another? Obviously the manufacturing and use of our internet-connected devices contribute to the overall pollution of the world, so no matter how efficient these devices are, there will always be room for improvement, however does their effect on our environment really play that large of a part? The intended goal for this paper is to deconstruct the 'meaning ' and overall effect behind an average North-American 's embodied greenhouse gases.
Symbolism and allegory in three aspects of Animal Farm : Old major, The Windmill and The Seven Commandments George Orwell uses symbols throughout the novel Animal Farm to show how the upper class groups use manipulation to their advantage. Animal Farm in simple terms is the allegory of a revolution gone sour. Animalism, Communism, and Fascism are all the symbols which are used by the pigs as a means of satisfying their greed and lust for power. As Lord Acton wrote: "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely” which is definitely the case. The author uses the animals, the windmill, and the seven commandments to symbolize the extreme power over the animals (workers commune). “Writers such as Jonathan Swift use allegory to
In the book, The Birth of Tragedy, by Nietzsche, the late 19th century philosopher uses the terms Dionysian and Apollinian to use them as the two central principles in Greek culture. Apollinian was a term derived from the God Apollo, which related to the sun, light, and clarity, whereas Dionysian derived from the God Dionysius, which would often be thought of as the wine-God that represented drunkenness and ecstasy. Nietzsche uses Apollinian as the basis of all analytical distinctions. For this aspect, all elements that belong to the individuality of man are Apollinian in nature. Furthermore, all types of structure or form fall under this category because form serves to individualize or define that which is formed.
One way to maintain biodiversity is to reduce energy use. By reducing energy demand, carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere is reduced, which in turn means that the contribution towards global warming is lowered and the need to disturb habitat for fossil fuel prospecting and extraction is lessened (Morris, 2013). One way that energy use can be reduced is by being watchful of the energy that is used and how. For example, keeping a light on all day is unnecessary if no one is home and the sun is out. Turning off one light can save a lot of energy, so if everyone did it, the demand for energy will lower. Each gallon of gasoline burned releases 20 pounds of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (Hooper, 2004). By taking public transport, carpooling, walking or bicycling a lot of carbon dioxide is saved from being released into the air, in turn, helping the maintenance of biodiversity. Incorporating renewable energy sources into homes is also a great way to drastically reduce energy consumption (Hooper, 2004). Reducing the release of greenhouse gases through the use of energy is very important and can be crucial to the maintenance of
A carbon footprint is the carbon dioxide production we leave behind due to our daily life activities. The size of our carbon footprint depends on what people do daily, and can be caused either directly or indirectly. Thought it is impossible to not have a carbon footprint at all, we can still reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we produce everyday. (Source 1) One reason why our carbon footprint plays an important role in the world, is because we can raise awareness to how much damage and harm we are causing the Earth unintentionally.
What do we know about our energy sources and how our energy choices affect the environment? Many people still do not put much though into this topic or pay any attention to the amount of energy they use or where it comes from. For some it is just willful negligence, but for many others it may be due to a lack of knowledge on the subject. Perhaps it is a good idea to pay closer attention and educate ourselves so we can make informed decisions that may lead to less stress on our wallets and on our environment. In order to make a change, we should observe our currently used energy sources in everyday life, the impact of increasing energy uses, and observe all of the alternative options available to us.
Global warming has been a controversial topic for years and some have even denied its existence; however, as more studies are being published every day in regards to our changing climate, it is hard to ignore this growing issue and how humans contribute to it. The term greenhouse gases refers to the group of gases that are primarily responsible for global warming and chief among these gases is carbon dioxide. Rising carbon dioxide levels can be attributed to a combination of burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum as well as deforestation in general ( Source A). To slow the effects of global warming, it is important for leaders in our society to consider their greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide, and make
Minding your carbon footprint does not involve never driving a car, boat, or anything that involves gas again; it just means limiting it. Earth naturally releases carbon dioxide into the ground which help keep the it warm. Natural CO2 plays a large role in many key biological processes, like photosynthesis, which helps plants create oxygen for us
But what is a carbon footprint? Basically, carbon footprints are defined as the total amount of greenhouse gasses that are produced when it comes to supporting human activities (and which are expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide) (What is a carbon footprint?). Driving a car, heating one's house, even buying
It is reported that nearly three quarters of green house gases are a result of humans burning fossil fuels from nonrenewable energy, cars, and electricity (LaMeaux, 2014). The effects of carbon emission on climate change are having devastating and many irreversible