For the individual home owner or general citizen of the earth, simple lifestyle changes are often the most effective ways to prevent global warming. With the facts on global warming now pointing firmly toward it being a reality rather than a myth, the importance of learning how to stop global warming is becoming more and more significant. On a personal level, consider these simple ways to prevent global warming that almost everyone can follow through with.
How To Stop Global Warming- Shop With Energy and Material Conservation in Mind
It sounds simple enough, but our world's thirst for energy and material "stuff," is what is driving global warming. In a recent climate study reported by the Los Angeles Times, samples of the polar icecap have proven that it was only since the dawn of the industrial revolution that the planet began to warm up after many thousand years of cooling off. To counteract this trend at a personal level here are some simple, low cost ways to prevent global warming.
- As light bulbs burn out replace them with low wattage compact fluorescent or even lower wattage LED light bulbs. The savings on an entire house full of light bulbs can be quite substantial.
- If a home's water heater is very old, or if purchasing a replacement water heater, go for the newer European style tankless water heaters. They only use energy when hot water is needed rather than having to constantly reheat stored water.
- When investing in new building materials or new buildings themselves, the best ways to prevent global warming are to shop for energy efficient building materials and methods. They may cost a little more up front, but often the environmental benefits are immediate and the financial and energy payback of the materials may kick in in just a few years.
- Buy local foods and products. Not only are locally produced foods fresher and often healthier, buying local reduces the need for fuel to ship the produce and other products from state to state.
- Simplify your life and consume less. Often purchases are made on impulse or because of personal wants rather than needs. Try to do with less. It will save money and help reduce greenhouse gases from being released during the manufacturing process.
- Play with the thermostat. Set a programmable thermostat as low as possible while remaining comfortable during the winter and as high as possible during the summer. If it suddenly seems uncomfortable just hit the button to make the unit kick in a little extra A/C for a few minutes rather than wasting it all day long.
- Using a and unplug electronics that are turned off. Most electronic devices now use power even when they are turned off. Anything with a remote control or any computer component with a clock or network card in it will draw power even when not in use. Unplug them or use a smart power strip that turns off power to these vampire peripherals.
- If an appliance is more than twenty years old consider replacing it with an Energy Star rated appliance rather than paying to have the old one fixed.
- Switch shower heads to newer low flow models that can still provide a satisfying shower experience.
- Try eating less meat! No, this is not a suggestion to become a vegetarian, but eating even one meal without meat each week can help. Cattle are one of the largest providers of greenhouse gas emissions!
- If shopping for something that does not use electricity buy it used! Buying used furniture and other items is a great way to save money and reduce the need for companies to manufacture more stuff.
These are just eleven of the hundreds of ways to prevent global warming at a personal level. In the end a personal sense of the importance of conservation, both in terms of money and in materials, will help turn the tide against the causes of global warming.
BNC101
Chad Criswell - Chad Criswell is a professional educator and freelance technology writer for numerous online and print publications throughout the United ...
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