What are some simple steps or creative ideas that people can take at home and work to combat global warming?

Question

Global warming is not only one of the most threatening environmental problems, but one of the greatest challenges facing all of humanity. Danger signs are surfacing worldwide as temperatures increase (the last ten years have been the hottest years ever recorded causing glaciers and the polar ice caps to melt, coastal areas to flood and storms to become more severe). If left unchecked, global warming will continue to have a profound impact on our planet that will eventually cause catastrophic results. Fortunately, there are things each of us can do. Buildings -- including our homes -- are major contributors to greenhouse gases they’re responsible for up to 40% of all energy and resource use and approximately 1/3 of greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.

Additional Details

Connect with the Yahoo! Community on global warming issues through these groups:
Climate Change: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ClimateCon…
Solar energy: http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=sol…
Home energy solutions http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/homee…
Freecycle http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=fre…

Watch a video I made about global warming:
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=5c…

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

There are many little things we can do that will collectively make a substantial impact to combating global warming. At the home, if we keep appliances or electronics that is not used unplugged, we will be saving electricity. Switching out lightbulbs for the energy efficient ones definitely help. Replacing old appliances for energystar ones will make a great impact. More drastic changes like switching from electric to propane wherever possible, or installing solar panels on the roof, would help even more. At work, we have motion detection lights after hours so that we don't waste energy. As well, the HVAC system is powered down in non-critical areas during the weekends and holidays to conserve.

On the macro-scale as a society, we need to invest more in alternative energy sources such as:
- wind and solar energy generation
- improved battery technologies, which will lead to new applications for batteries
(Case in point: The Saturn EV-1 was originally supposed to use new battery technology that would have given it a range of 300-400 mi/charge, but GM did not invest in battery technology between the concept car (Impact) and the production of EV-1. Can you imagine how many of us would be driving EV-1 or other electric vehicles now had they made the early investment?)
- alternative fuel for aircrafts, which is a great source of greenhouse gas emissions as well

Source(s):

I studied aerospace engineering because I wanted to develop vehicles that would be more efficient and more eco-friendly.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

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Answer 2

Wrap water heater with a water heater blanket.

Source(s):

Al Gore suggested it

Answer 3

Work from home at least one day a week. You can avoid the commute and leave your car at home. Technology today can enable you to work remote like you were at the office. Make sure you select software you can trust. GoToMyPC is the industry leading online service. You can get it for just yourself or you can tell your IT department to buy it for your company.

Source(s):

www.gotomypc.com

Answer 4

One easy thing to do is to recycle. By recycling it means the plastics, glass, and paper won't end up outside in a dump somewhere to rot. You will be sending the resources to a place where it will be prepared to be used again. Also, front load washing machines use less water than the top load washers. If you add the tide cold water detergent, you will be saving water and energy at the same time!

Answer 5

Things we can do NOW.
Install more Nuclear generating power plants.
with cooling basin before discharging cooling water.

Stop being a throw away society.

Fuel cells to power autos

Source(s):

These are not Blue sky ideals
THIS IS COMMON SENSE!!!!!!

Answer 6

One of the easiest and most overlooked avenue would be recycling everything possible. The expense and energy used, not to mention resources to manufacture new products from raw materials instead of recycled ones could fill a football stadium in less than one minute. If the "local" garbage pickup company would sell their trash to recyclers who actually pick through the garbage for reusable items then I would gladly pay an extra fee per month, as I am sure others would as well. This would be a very simple bandaid, but would help immensely and immediately, and would help save the landfills as well

Answer 7

Face the fact that we are coming out of an ice age and have been for " according to evolutionary theory" millions of years. The pollution and related contaminates may be speeding this up a bit, but it is not reasonable to think they are the only cause. The ice did melt before cars! It would be nice for us all to cut back on the fuels we use but it will not have a huge affect.

Answer 8

Considering global warming is a naturally occuring event not caused by man, there is nothing we can or should do. Why is it that the left is obsessed with the extinction of the human race? If it isn't global warming it's SARS, or bird flu, or ecoli outbreaks. There are far greater threats to humanity that are caused by man. Especially the grower rift between cultures that are leading to religious and cultural wars at an alarming rate worldwide. Perhaps this is where our focus should be.

Answer 9

http://www.globalwarmingisafarce.com/

'Nuff said. So called "global warming" is not "the most threatening environmental problem" or "humanity's greatest challenge". Wasting countless millions of dollars in a vain attempt to circumvent nature's cycles--hoping to "lower" the earth's temperature less than one degree is utter poppycock. Why don't the alarmists "save" electricity by turning off their computers and widescreen TFT monitors and try getting their ridiculous message out with pencil and recycled paper?

It wasn't all that long ago so-called "scientists" were concerned about global COOLING. Guess the "science" was wrong then...as it is now.

Source(s):

http://www.junkscience.com/

Answer 10

I think that an open discussion, possibly in the current Yahoo message board format, Is a more productive way to discuss things like this than what appears to be the "new" format that this exercise is trying to sell

Answer 11

Its nice to see this issue addressed. Is it not safe to say that we (as a country) are over populated? OK, yes we are and that is an issue that just as well needs to be addressed. The more people we have equals more who are contributing to this disastrous effect. AND, I know we're all about "free America" but hasn't it come to a time where we need to save America? When China realized where their country was going they stopped it, why can't we? There is too much immigration and there are too many children being born to families who can't even afford them. If we are required to get a driver's license to assure everyones safety before hitting the road why can't there be similar regulations to parenting? And, why are we allowing immigration? I'm not saying I'm prejudice because I'm not, but we have enough problems in our own country that would need to be fixed before we should have allowed this. Whatever though, stop so much immigration and make regulations on becoming a parent. If one child is born into a family that can't afford it, then don't give them money for the second one!

Answer 12

One simple and effective way to mitigate your contribution to global warming is to offset your carbon emissions. Many non profit organizations offer the service of offsetting your carbon by purchasing carbon credits from the Chicago Climate Exchange. In Colorado, for example, you can offset your carbon through a program called Drive Neutral. The website is www.driveneutralcolorado.org. You simply type in information that calculates your personal "carbon footprint", and your financial contribution goes towards buying carbon credits, planting trees, and furthering the implementation of carbon free energy technologies, such as wind power.

Answer 13

Some ideas:

- A shift in renewable resources (i.e. wind, solar, biomass, etc.) for energy sources and incentives for employers for their use.

-Create and promote more energy efficient appliances including light bulbs, but also better housing insulation. Green building should be more widely used along with smaller house sizes.

-Make recycling more readily available and more convenient for people, wherever trash cans are there should also be recycling containers, non-recyclable items such as styrofoam should be discouraged. Sustainability is key. It needs to become part of our culture.

-Incentives for better and improved public transportation should also be considered, along with a push for hybrid vehicles. Walking and biking are also great alternatives.

-Company parties for Earth Day including donation of trees or everyone taking a day to plant some trees. This is important and doesn't take long, I've planted many trees and there is a lot of satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment from that.

-More public awareness (education) is essential and everyone needs to do their part.

Answer 14

TOGETHER WE ARE A FORCE

If most of us believe that 'someone else will solve this one', then it's already too late.

Here's what you can do (it's important to note that these actions not only save the world, they save you money and make you smarter!):

1. Once you've seen "An Inconvenient Truth", pass it on... it would be most beneficial to spread the word to corporate leaders so that not just personal behavior but corporate procedure undergoes positive change. Pass the DVD around at work and encourage a mass viewing through your HR department if you have one.

2. Change your regular bulbs to compact fluorescent ones.

3. Drive less: walk, bike, carpool, or take metro transit.

4. Recycle more: before you throw it out, consider donating it to a friend, a relative, a homeless person, or THE GOODWILL.

5. Use less hot water: take shorter or cooler showers, switch to a low-flow showerhead, and wash your clothes in cold or warm water only.

6. Avoid products with a lot of packaging and try to avoiding products with a negative impact all together (ex. conflict diamonds or junk food): together, we the consumers have ultimate power over everything in America... if we choose not to buy it, corporations will stop making it. This way it's easy to see that money doesn't run the world, we do. Our demands shape the marketplace.

7. Adjust your thermostat: turn it down just 2 degrees in winter and up 2 in summer for a huge CO2 savings; try a digital thermostat to regulate temperature at all times of the day.

8. Plant a tree: now imagine if we made it a custom that every time a baby was born, to celebrate the occasion, we planted a tree. In time, (s)he would inherit the tree and take care of it, thus learning responsibility and partnership. This way each future person's life would be inexorably woven into the fabric of the Earth.

9. Turn off electronic devices when not using them (TV, DVD, stereo, computer). Unplug them when at all possible (i.e. your cell phone chargers when you’re not using it).

10. Be a part of the solution at ClimateCrisis.net

Thank you Mr. Leonardo Dicaprio for asking such a useful question. Thank you Mr. John Kerry for answering it, thus adding to its clout. Thank you Mr. Gore and everyone involved in the making of "An Inconvenient Truth."

Source(s):

"An Inconvenient Truth" (DVD) Inside cover.

Answer 15

Here are some things I suggest:

-Learn how to make your own soap for laundry, household cleaning, and even for regular showers...petroleum products are used in a number of commercial detergents that don't need to be there and they're not good for us or the environment.

-If you can't be bothered to make your own soap buy soap that is vegetable based instead of petroleum based (Seventh Generation is a good one).

-Grow more of your own fruits and veggies - the amount of fuel that is used to import and export food is astounding...do your best to try to do it yourself.

-Try and work on a diet that is more vegetarian based...better for your health and the planet.

- Drive less, walk more - walk to the grocery store each day and pick up a few things - this will limit how much you can walk home with hence you'll have to think about what you really "need" .

-If you are driving and stop at the drive thru - for goodness sake make a rule...if there is a line up of more than 2 cars...park your car and walk in...There is nothing worse than watching a car idle away uselessly for 10mins in the drive thru.

-Similarly, if you are shoveling snow off the car - it doesn't need to idle for 10 mins while you clear it off...2 mins is sufficient and finally, if you're waiting for someone in a car...turn the car off if you're waiting longer than 25 seconds

-It's never a bad idea to check the exhaust on your vehicle and to check your vehicles emissions...be concerned about how much you pollute and if your car is burning oil do us a favor and haul it off the road.

-Of course like so many others have said, change light bulbs to energy efficient ones, put a sweater on and turn the heat down, RECYCLE, and compost.

Thanks.

L

Source(s):

DAVID SUZUKI - LOOK HIM UP

Answer 16

use fluorescent light bulbs instead of regular ones, they save energy

Answer 17

I wish people that soput this "Man made" global warming BS would look back at the history books! Look up something called the "Maunder Minimum"(Midieval Warming period) and "Little Ice Age"! Both took place before SUVs, CFCs, or even the industrial revolution! During the Maunder Minimum, we had temps so high that the Vikings were growing crops in Iceland! The temps were as high as today! I guess those nasty Vikings were driving hummers? During the period known as the little ice age, people in northern Europe froze and starved to death because they couldn't grow crops! These swings in tempatures happen all the time. We have only had a thermometer up the planet's butt for a few hundred years. Only the last 150 years with any accuracy at all. Let's not rush into the "Man made" disaster mode without looking at the facts. The facts are that there is a lot of money to be made from scaring people with this BS. Research money and books and even Al Gore's movie! Follow the money and not the temps and you'll find the truth!

Source(s):

Quickest place to look these facts up is Wikipedia but there are other places that talk about the topics.

Answer 18

Years ago I changed all my incandescent light bulbs over to Compact Flourescent Bulbs. A 13Watt bulb is the equivalent of a 60Watt incandenscent bulb, consequently saving on electricity. I was quite surprised and pleased not only with the savings on our electricity bill but the aspect of something so simple making a difference in lower power consumption makes you at least feel like you're doing something.
The expense of changing over isn't that costly either. Costco usually has specials on these bulbs. The bulbs last several years which make them very cost effective.
The next step is to unplug appliances when not in use. Appliances drain small amounts of energy even when not is use. If everyone would take these simple steps it would add up to significant reduction in total carbon consumption.

Answer 19

Go to this link. If everyone in America had one of these, it would drastically cut down on car emissions that help cause global warming.

http://www.wam-a-bam.com/hydrockickbank.html?hop=overcv1

Source(s):

My Grandfather told me about this. I did a Yahoo search. I found this website.

Answer 20

methane is one green house gas which gets easily generated. it is useful when properly used else it is a problem. methane generally gets produced from human or animal waste this can be converted this opportunity into business too by producing energy to light street light or housing cololy for ex pool all the water at one place use churner and allow for generation of methane generally it takes 15 to 21 days initially and then it is an ongoing process this water which after fermentaion can be taken out treated with acid say industrial H C L and then nuetralise the same so that most of the harmful germs would have got killed and then use the water to generate electricity using mini turbine etc or use it for construction, washing, gardening and other secondry application. there by one can recycle water and also take advantage of available pollutant
plastics can be used as kitchen or terrace garden or can be consumed by polyethylene blended bitumen laminate manufacturers
e-waste can be used after pulvarising them without trying to extract gold etc thing from them and can be used in sunken portions inside bathroom or toilets for there is no/little scope for variation of temprature or u v contact so there will be no or little emmission and hence safe place other advantage is now the present practice is to fill cynder which is purchased for a price where as e-waste will fetch you money if one lifts it and disposes saftely.
debris from construction site is another pollutant which can be used for similar application where by transporting debris from working site to solid waste dump yard will be eliminated vis-a-vis less vehicular movements and also dust getting mixed in atmosphere.

Answer 21

HOW ABOUT NOTHING...NOTHING AT ALL....MAYBE IT'S JUST A NATURAL OCCURRENCE...IE ICE AGE....ETC...ITS JUST A SCARE TACTIC DREAMED UP BY AL GORE AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEFT RADICALS...DO NOTHING AND THE LIBERALS WILL PASS A LAW OR TAX US OUT OF IT...

Answer 22

Micro Combined Heat & Power

Source(s):

www.climate-energy.com

Answer 23

Right now, I just don't care. If the human race gets the short end of the stick, so be it. If we manage to curb global warming, fine.

Answer 24

to reduce energy costs period, but especially on the west coast, have businesses be responsible enough to turn out their lights or limit only 1 being on at night.

talk to Gov. of S. Dakota about how to reduce fossil fuels going into the air by routing them back into the earth which, in turn, pumps more petroleum toward the surface.

Source(s):

1.) myself
2.) Gov. of S. Dakota

Answer 25

Buildings, including or homes, are destroying or home? And you want to know, (creatively) what I can do about it simply .. .. Hmm, I think irony and mischief will find a way to help each other as they have in the past and we can just all be "cool." I just don't see it, earthwise, as is much of a threat as I see, say, evil. Evility. Is that a word, lol? The fact that people choose as a lifestyle to be killers and thieves and anti-productive toward our innate civility is sickening. Reminds me of you in Joe Dirt.... "This where you wanna be when Jesus comes back?" j/k

Thanks for asking... I'll continue.

Considering the poles are ice capped, a little warmth might be a nice rinse. A warm cycle like an ice age that rinses Earth's tattered face and freshens up her baby blues. Is Leonardo DeCaprio, is this you? I wanna assume it is... Honestly I think big Oil is gay and we should use more modern forms of power and heat. Solar. Hydraulics. Something old and new fused. Springs, and Coswell Cogs you know... Ever see a movie about the future? They don't seem to need oil there, everything's grey. I am amusing myself. Am I getting off the subject? Okay, if it really becomes a big problem, they'll, you do remember them, right? Yeah, "they" will have us change our energy sources appropriately.
What else? I need a job. I like to write. I can be more serious at times. Bye.

Answer 26

The absolute lack of tangible evidence for global warming, as perceived by us Americans, myself included up to nearly a year ago represents the first and most prominent battle in this fight. Only as united in mass numbers can each and every person make a difference. Using more efficient appliances, lightbulbs, one less errand in the car per week, planting a tree or preserving an existing one, and recycling are all very very important steps that 90% of us need to make a priority to acheive success. While 7-10% are the only ones participating in more than half of the ways mentioned above, sadly those efforts will never overcome what the rest of the world does to the contrary.

We're dying for a progress report from a trusted source so people can see that what they do makes a difference in our local, very real world. A public accounting, and not a government panel research piece, is what is necessary to mobilize these efforts. One household can produce a profound effect in the results on their own block or in their own neighborhood. Believe me. A means for measuring this needs to be developed. When the Jones family puts their recycle bins on the curb, the Smiths are more likely to do it as well. The same goes for planting of trees and other things. When that impact is publicly noted from one neighborhood to another, we have a united cause that we're all a part of.

Not so much of an education campaign but an involvement campaign is what will be necessary. Education campaigns are only gaining the passive attention of the public, and are muddled in the sea of political bias, evidence from other parts of the world and difference of opinion in the way these facts are presented. We can do better than that. Imagine local news reporting that communities "A,B and D" paid lower electric and heating bills, planted 8 more trees and recycled 20% more last month as compared with communities "C and F" right next door. You're involved whether you like it or not, and will seek the education to know what this is all about once you've seen it enough times to make you curious. Public awareness will develop on its own without specifically urging people, begging people to pay attention to what Leo and Al and all the others have to say.

Lastly, these efforts have the capability to save EVERY American money. These practices lower our utility bills, save us money at the gas pump, and in other ways put money right back in our pockets. On the scale of mass population, these economic incentives will make our economy stronger if we're all participating. Money in our pockets grows our businesses and saves for college and increases our standard of living.

I have the plan. Who's with me? Lets get it done !!

Answer 27

It doesn't matter because the Lord will make a new heaven and earth. Jesus is coming soon, the question is, is He coming for you?

Source(s):

The Bible Revelation 21:1-8

Answer 28

HI
LEO!
I LOVE YOU!
YER SOOOOOOOOO HOTT!=]

Answer 29

If we can stop the The Coloreds from bathing in river and streambeds, that would help!

Answer 30

I've started eating my own farts to save the planet- you should too.

Answer 31

Always leave the fridge door open.