Earth Hour and How Anyone Can Make a Difference

Once a year, worldwide thousands of people all over the world turn of their lights for one hour. By doing this it would show how one person can make difference-most people will say, “whats the point, the only thing that can make a difference is large factories and businesses.” But this is WRONG, For example, by recycling just six cans you can save enough energy to run a TV nonstop for five days! It is estimated that the average person will use up to three times more energy by 2050. But its not all doom and gloom, new technologies are being introduced, for example, paint that is graffiti proof, but more importantly it can break down CO2. There is also a technology which turns rubbish into a compost which can double the growth of crops and also can hold CO2. Simple technologies like these can make a huge difference, but at the moment we need to look at simple things that an average person can do. So lets take a look at some simple, cheap and effective ways to help the environment first. There are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

One of the most useful, practical and cost effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint is…. STOP junk mail, most people know that everyday you receive adverts in the post and its extremely a noing. Avoid filling out cards that come with products because you’ll probably find that in the small print it will mention something about selling on information to third parties! Make sure that you request to stop any mail that you may be receiving from products or business that you maybe associated with or have bought products from. Always recycle all junk mail. And finally, if you have particular junk mail/newsletter you enjoy receiving check if they do a email service and also avoid sending letters and send emails instead. There are many ways to save energy. Invest in rechargeable batteries as they are much more energy effective. Did you know that to produce one normal battery it takes the equivalent of four batteries.

Make sure nothing is left on standby. Never leave your laptop/chargers plugged in as it is still trying to charge the laptop and energy is still being wasted. When turning of a TV, if you have a cable or satellite box, it is important that you turn it as well as your TV. Check your carbon number on line and if you didn’t participate earth hour then next year do two hours instead of one! Carbon dioxide is the most prominent greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. According to the Energy Information Administration, by the year 2030 we will be emitting close to 8,000 million metric tons of CO2. Some experts say it’s impossible to curb the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere and that we just have to find ways to dispose of the gas. One suggested method is to inject it into the ground before it gets a chance to reach the atmosphere. After the CO2 is separated from other emission gases, it can be buried in abandoned oil wells, saline reservoirs, and rocks. While this sounds great, scientists are not sure whether the injected gas will stay underground and what the long-term effects are, and the costs of separation and burying are still far too high to consider this technology as a practical short-term solution. Legend has it that the roofs, balconies, and terraces of the royal palace of Babylon were turned into gardens by the king’s order to cheer up one of his wives. Roof gardens help absorb heat, reduce the carbon dioxide impact by taking up Co2 and giving off oxygen, absorb storm water, and reduce summer air conditioning usage. Ultimately, the technique could lessen the “heat island” effect that occurs in urban centers. Butterflies and songbirds could also start frequenting urban garden roofs, and like the king’s wife, could even cheer up the inhabitants of the building. Here, a green roof is tested at Penn State.