THE PAGE: Even little steps can help the planetBY KATHY REMICK NORTON HIGH SCHOOLTuesday, February 7, 2012 2:07 AM EST
Have you ever thought about what you are doing to the earth every time you drive your car?
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, there are several greenhouse gases that humans are responsible for releasing into the atmosphere. Commonly, they are released via fossil fuel in cars, factories and electricity production. The most common of these gases is carbon dioxide.
Global warming is a pressing issue that has been concerning scientists and people in general for a long period of time.
Greenhouse gases keep heat in the atmosphere, causing temperatures to go up. Levels of greenhouse gases have increased by around 25 percent in the last 150 years. That was when large-scale industrialization began. The main problem with the greenhouse gases is the effect they have on our climate. The average temperature has been rising on Earth, and that has brought changes in weather, sea levels and land use patterns.
There are many things that people can do in their daily lives to help slow down global warming and the effects it has on our world. One small thing you could do is to reduce electricity use at home.
The average home contributes more to global warming than a car does. The energy from our home comes from power plants that burn fossil fuel.
There are many ways to reduce the amount of electricity you use in your home: Switch to energy-efficient lighting, improve the efficiency of home appliances and buy energy-efficient ones, and reduce the energy needed for heating and cooling.
The second way you can slow down global warming is to improve vehicle fuel efficiency. Ways to do this include driving efficiently, driving a fuel-efficient car, and, ultimately, driving less or car pooling whenever possible.
A third way to slow down global warming is by conserving energy in the home and yard. You can do this by reducing your lawn size, recycling whenever possible, eating locally grown foods, eating vegetarian foods, painting your house a light color of you live in a warm climate or a dark color if you live in a cooler climate, and choosing clean energy options.
The little things that you do in your house can lead to big changes in the environment. Will you be the one to start a chain reaction for your community? THE PAGE runs Tuesdays in The Sun Chronicle and is written by area teens. If you attend high school in this area and would like to contribute to The Page, email Features Editor Ken Ross at kross@thesunchronicle.com. Your Email is your "Member ID"
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