My previous post was about world environment day, where the theme was kicking the CO2 habit. We all know the general examples, but do we know how much we can cut back on? Here are the tips straight from the UN on how to start!

1. Stop using an electric alarm clock! Using a wind-up clock instead saves 48 grams of CO2 a day.

2. Simply hanging clothes out to dry instead of using a tumble dryer is a whopping 2.3kg of CO2 saved each load!

3. For fellow travelers, it is said that world savings would be 2 million tonnes a year if every airline passenger cut the weight of baggage to below 20 kg and bought duty free goods on arrival! I’m guilty of over 20kg, but I still try and carry as little as possible.

4. Using a non-electric toothbrush is already 48 grams a day saved!

5. If you take a train to work instead of a car, you’ll save around 200 grams per kilometer.

6. Heating bread rolls in a toaster rather than in the oven for 15 minutes saves 170 grams of CO2 each time.

It’s time to kick that habit and practice some of these tips!

With global warming still in the fore and still a big issue, a lot of people are still uninformed properly about it! A lot of places are getting warm, forcing quite a number of people to head off to the beach or fan themselves endlessly. Many are still under the assumption that greenhouse gases, which contribute to making the planet warm, should really go. What they don’t know is that the primary purpose of those gases is to prevent heat from escaping into space, preventing the world from turning into one huge snowball! If they didn’t exist, we wouldn’t be able to live on this planet. This little article will tell you about the most powerful greenhouse gases in the world. Some may even surprise you.

1. Water vapor – Yes. Water. Right on top of the list. Water vapor contributes from 36% to 66% of the world’s greenhouse effect. It’s also the most abundant greenhouse gas! Concentrations of water vapor fluctuate throughout the world, and humans don’t affect it directly on a large scale. In addition, warm air caused by the greenhouse effect can carry more water vapor, amplifying the greenhouse effect further. However, humidity is constant. The net effect is overall positive, and also protects against the excess carbon dioxide.

2. Carbon Dioxide – Ah, the gas that many people blame for heating up the earth. It contributes 9% to 26% of the greenhouse effect depending on area. The world’s species and environmental cycles produce this gas naturally, up to twenty times that of what we contribute! Nature cycles the carbon dioxide through plants and weathering, but human production has speeded it up more than nature can account for. Majority of manmade carbon dioxide comes from burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

3. Methane – This gas causes 4% to 9% of the greenhouse effect. Human methane production mostly comes from livestock. By itself, it is an effective greenhouse gas, but it can transforms to water and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which makes it quite effective in warming the earth! If that isn’t enough, it also turns into ozone, which is another greenhouse gas! This is why the amount of methane around is has been more or less constant, and it is why its effect is considered small since many who measure it do not include what it turns into.

4. Ozone – This gas we all know and love as protector against the sun rays is also a greenhouse gas. It causes only 3% to 7% of the greenhouse effect. Ozone causes irritation to the respiratory system at ground level, but is normally very light at that level, choosing instead to concentrate higher up. However, the concentration of ozone at ground level is increasing, because of pollution! This is especially concentrated in populated areas. It decays quickly to normal oxygen.

Now that you know a little bit more about these gases, the question remains. What can we do? What we can, of course. How about you? What do you know about greenhouse gases?

Al Gore is doing the right thing: global warming is a glaring problem these days. It’s getting hotter year after year! The weather patterns are changing, ocean levels are rising, everything is spewing out destructive gases, and it’s already a disaster! We may soon find New York and a lot of places close to water several meters under that water. The government spends millions doing what they can, but we ordinary people can contribute in a small way. How? Do the following! Unless you and your family want to shop in the Big Apple wearing scuba gear, that is.

1. Car? What car? Try to avoid using it! Use buses or trams. Bicycles will do. You can always hike if it’s close by. Sometimes it’s dangerous not to be in a car, but at least you’ll be spending less and helping the environment at the same time! I ride my bicycle to places I need to go. It’s good exercise, keeps me slim, and is free of carbon monoxide! If you really have to, use cars and light vehicles instead of fuel-guzzling SUVs. You can also promote a carpool for your co-workers, to save gas and build camaraderie.

2. Save paper! Trees help absorb greenhouse gases. Millions of acres are lost every year. What can we do? Use both sides of the paper, of course. Use the back when possible, not take out a new sheet! Use reusable cloth bags or plastic bags when shopping, not paper bags which are easily thrown away. Saving a few pieces of paper isn’t much, but if more people do it, we can save a lot!

3. Turn off the lights! Many power plants still use coal and oil, which spew out harmful gases. Observe Earth Day. Use florescent and low-energy bulbs and turn them off when you don’t need them! Use that blow-dryer only when you need to! Try to buy energy-efficient appliances, which are usually labeled. Insulate your rooms so you use your heater less. If you go out for a while, like if you won a free trip or something, power down your house completely. Not only will you lower your bill, but you’ll help the environment out, too!

4. Vote wisely. If the guy running for the Senate emphasizes on environment-friendly measures, and he means well, vote for him! If he wins, he’ll help the environment. Try to avoid voting candidates who don’t have even a shred of concern about nature. Vote for those who care about the planet. Don’t just think about the planet though. If he’s only caring about the planet and nothing else, he probably doesn’t care about the planet anyway.

5. Spread the word! Tell everyone all the things above. Tell your friends, family, relatives, coworkers, and more. Post it on forums, message boards, and blogs. If even ten out of a hundred listen to you, and one of that ten actually does something, it makes a difference!

See? Saving the environment is easy, keeps you fit, and saves you money! It’s worth it. What environment-friendly tips can you share? Speak up!