Professional Documents
Culture Documents
. . . .136
(How You Can Help) Bronze Level - Save $ & the Planet . . . . . . 140 Silver Level - Spend Little, Save a Lot . . . . 146 Gold Level - Go Carbon-Neutral . . . . . . . . . 152
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
INTRODUCTION
Why this Book?
Why another book on global warming? Because, as youll soon find out, this ones really different. Because my two daughters inspired me to answer one of the biggest questions of our time: why is the weather changing and how can we stop it? It is written from the perspective of a father of a typical American family of four. And, while I wrote it for my daughters and other kids, it is appropriate for students of all ages. Even parents can learn a thing or two!
Our friends New Orl destroyed b eans home was comple y Hurricane tely Katrina.
destruction ane Katrinas Louisiana rric the photos of Hu Eyewitness ns. In the background is umanitarian h in New Orlea enduring image of the . Katrina ome, an Superd followed disaster that
by this family as they tried to rebuild their lives in an entirely new community, working new jobs, going to new schools, trying to make new friends. A brief salvage trip back to New Orleans confirmed that Katrina had wiped out everything they had owned; pictures from that visit documented in heartbreaking detail the complete destruction of their home and community. Sharing this experience was incredibly eye-opening for my family: we learned firsthand that natural disasters like hurricanes dont just happen in the movies and TV but are real-life catastrophes that take a lasting toll on real human beings with real lives and real families.
INTRODUCTION
Why this Book?
Second was the summer heat wave of 2006. As I started my research in July 2006, our community was hit with a terrible heat wave. Our home in normally cool and comfortable Northern California became a furnace, with the thermometer breaking 110 F! Things were much worse in central California, where temperatures hit 118F and the broiling weather was responsible for over 160 deaths. In fact the summer of 2006 broke many temperature records in both North America and Europe, with hundreds of people dying as a result of excessive heat. An even deadlier heat wave had struck Europe in the summer of 2003, causing the deaths of 35,000 people! As I soon learned, the increased incidence of these searing heat waves is another likely result of climate change. And in this case -- unlike Katrina -- my family experienced the discomfort and distress first-hand, as we were forced to stay indoors trying to remain cool and hydrated to avoid heat stroke. We started to take this climate change thing very
NASA satell ite showing ab image of Europe in the n ultimately c ormally high tempera summer of 2003 tures (in red laimed the liv ) warming w ill increase es of 35,000 people. that the frequen Global cy these dange rous heat w and intensity of aves.
personally indeed! Third was Al Gores An Inconvenient Truth. When I saw the movie with my family in that fateful summer of 2006, it proved to be our final wake-up call for what Gore calls the planetary emergency of global warming. Both the movie and the book that preceded it deliver some urgent news: if we dont act immediately to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, our future weather will consist of more and more Hurricane Katrinas, heat waves, floods, and other extreme meteorological events. And guess who really suffers the consequences if we dont act now? Its not todays moms and dads, but their children and their childrens children in fact all future generations will pay the price for our inaction. Thats why I started and finished this book: as a roadmap for my daughters and all the other kids out there; a practical book that gives the next generation the knowledge and tools to actually
INTRODUCTION
Why this Book?
forced to live with the decisions good and bad -- made by us, their parents and grandparents. If we make bad decisions about the environment today, our children will have to deal with even worse consequences later. In the case of global warming, these consequences are likely to be disastrous. So all of us parents owe it to their kids to get involved now, before its too late. This book helps families -- both kids and their parents make better decisions about the environment. Each family can do its best to live in harmony with our planet in a green, environmentally friendly way. Saving our planet can happen one family at a time! David R. Golding Palo Alto, California
do something about this global crisis. So what exactly can kids do about such a huge planetary emergency? Isnt this the kind of thing that parents and other grown-ups are supposed to fix? Arent kids supposed to be going to school and having fun with their friends? After all, children cant run for political office or even vote, for that matter. Since when did saving the planet become part of a kids job description? What youll learn in this book is that kids with the help of their families, schools, and communities can do a whole lot to stop global warming as they go about their daily lives. Its important that all of us -- old, young, middle-aged, or adolescent become part of the solution now. The climate crisis isnt waiting for kids to grow up: the planet is already living with global warmings early consequences and things will only get worse over time -- unless all of us take concerted action now. And parents, guess what: your kids will grow up remarkably fast. Theyll actually be running this planet before too long,
CAUSE
CONSEQUENCE
TION Letters with pages mark ed GREEN scribe a SO deLUTION to climate cha one of the a nge: ctions we ca n take, or se technologies t of we can use, to reduce glo al warming bE
SOLU
CAUS
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over 80% of the Fossil fuels coal, oil and natural gas provide cause of global worlds energy needs and constitute the primary prehistoric plant and warming. Formed over millions of years from the Earth via mines animal matter, these fuels are extracted from currently in the atmoand wells. Most of the planet-warming gases sphere came from burning fossil fuels.
famsil fuels. The gasoline in your oil, ily cars tank is made from crude petroleum. Some of also known as nces the electricity for your applia from and lighting probably comes plants. And theres coal-fired power e that a good chance that the furnac winter keeps your home warm in the l gas. This means is fueled by natura turn that every time you ride in a car, o stat on a light, or turn up the therm
Each alphabet section starts with a short summary, followed by a more detailed explanation of the topic. The color coding makes it easy for you to find specific pages in each category. Every page has at least one graphic that illustrates the topic in living color. You can also jump to any colorcoded letter by simply clicking on the iPad icon in the lower righthand corner of every page
term Fossil fuels are an odd-sounding gas, hyfor coal, crude oil and natural formed naturally drocarbons that have years inside the Earth over millions of l matfrom prehis toric plant and anima that your gasoter. While its possible a saber line may once have been part of much tooth tiger or other dinosaur, its from tiny mamore likely to have come isms that were buried in anrine organ
cient sea beds.
CO 2 spells troub le
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arChemists call fossil fuels hydroc almos t bons because they consis tent en atoms (H) and entirely of hydrog with carbon atoms (C). When mixed heated, oxygen (O2) from the air and arbons burn, producing these hydroc carbon energ y and hot gases including green dioxide (CO2), the most common the CO2 now causing house gas. Most from problems in our atmosphere came burning these hydroc arbons. your You may not know it, but you and of fosfamily are huge consumers
Gas (Bcm)
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over 60% na and l gas supply and from Chi Oil & natura needs. Dem of US energy ia is growing fast Ind
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e oil C r ud nc e otos): energy. O d o f ph te t row Americas transpore and rs it is olin e oil (fi % of Crud s over 40 e groundd into gas for our lie from th nver te ting oil . supp p e d co ea jets pum neries andvehicles, h e for our n to refisel for our nd kerose die omes, a h
C oal (sec one-quarond row of phot ates over ter of all US en os): C oal provid es er our ho one-half of th gy needs an about burns m mes and power e electricity th d generat lights uch less s our ap plia clea ing prop or tionat nly than oil an nces. C oal ely more d CO2 em gas, causissions.
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The Cold Facts icon flags a particularly important or startling fact or figure relating to the topic. The Star Power icon shows you how some of your favorite celebrities are involved. The Hotline icon offers useful suggestions for what you can do to help. The Connect icon shows you where to look on the Web for more information.
Combust Hydro Renewablible es 2.2% & Waste 10% Nuclear 6.3% Other 0.5% Coal 25.3% Oil 35.0%
What el se can your fa elec tric mily ity More th generated from do beyond co an 44 st nser ving renewab at local po wer com es in the US no le source s lik energy ? Buy gr pany or availabl e wind, w of fer e in yo use the solar an een power gr ur st at Depar tm een power to d geothe ing_ pow e: ht tp homeo er.shtm ent of rmal! ://w w w l .eere.en Energys Web wners. Call yo ur ergy.gov site to se /greenpo e wer/buy whats Visit the ing/buyGreen- e out how Web site yo at at the of ur family can pr ht tp://w w w. gr fice, an d in the omote renewab een- e.org/to fin penden produc ts t no le energy d ergy prov n- profit organi yo at home, zation th u buy. Greenider s an e an inde d user s. at certifi Look fo es rene r their gr wable en een logo .
by source World Enegry in 2005 Fossil fuels Choking on total 1,436 Mtoe
And dont miss the original cartoons on the fourth page of each section featuring two sisters, Aly (16 years old) & Zoe (13 years old), as well as Deuce, their German Shepherd dog. These A2Z characters are patterned after my own real-life family!
FOSSIL
F O S SI L F UEL S
What if you get tired of just reading about climate change and want to do something about it? Thats where Become a SuperCool Family comes in, to be found immediately after the alphabet pages. This section is loaded with practical tips and recommended actions to help your family dramatically reduce its carbon footprint the amount of atmosphere-warming gases emitted through daily actions.
Oh, and one last thing: dont forget to visit our Web site at: http://www.climatea2z.com. We look forward to seeing you on the Web!
It turns out that the Earths atmosphere the thin cushion of air between outer space and us acts as a gigantic greenhouse for the planet. Just like the examples of the car and the classroom, sunlight shines through the largely transparent atmosphere, warming the surface of the Earth, which radiates heat back into the air, warming the lower atmosphere. Its the mechanism that keeps the planet warm enough to support life. Because of the greenhouse effect, the Earths average temperature is a relatively balmy 57F (14C). Without greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, Earths average temperature would plunge to 0F (-18C), making much of the planet uninhabitable by humans!
Some of the suns radiation is re ected back into space by clouds and re ective surfaces like snow and ice.
3 1
Much of the suns rays pass through the atmosphere and are absorbed by the surface
Greenhouse E ect: Solar radiation that would have been re ected back to space is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The trapped heat warms the Earths surface and air.
fect
mperatu Average Te
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right temperature. More recently, however, excessive amounts of human-generated greenhouse gases are starting to cause the Earth to overheat. Global warming is a case of too much of a good thing, caused by the sharp increase in concentrations of greenhouse gases in the Earths atmosphere; its a problem that we humans have created during the past 250 years of industrial and agricultural development. The main culprits have been fossil fuels coal, oil, and natural gas that generate greenhouse gases when burned in power plants, cars, furnaces and machinery. (see F is for Fossil Fuels) The chart above illustrates the connection between higher concentrations of greenhouse gases and higher surface temperatures on Earth. The blue Earth thermometers show the change in average temperature from 1850 to present; the orange line shows the corresponding change in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2), the most prevalent greenhouse gas. As you can see,
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Earths average temperature increased by about 1.33F (0.75C) during this period while the amount of CO2 increased by over 35%. While 1F may not sound like much of a change, it turns out to be a big deal when it happens on a planetary scale, with significant consequences for Earths ecosystems. And things are getting worse: as greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise rapidly, scientists believe that Earths temperature could rise by 9F (5C) or more by the end of this century, with catastrophic consequences for all of us. Much more on this later; but first lets learn about those pesky greenhouse gases and where they come from.
Earth. Excluding water vapor, three gases account for over three-quarters of all global warming impact: carbon dioxide (56%); methane (16%); and nitrous oxide (5%).
dioxide (0.0380%), methane (2 parts per million), and nitrous oxide (0.5 parts per million). The other greenhouse gas not counted in this mix is water vapor (H2O), which can account for up to 5% of air volume, depending upon climate conditions. Unlike other greenhouse gases water vapor is not long-lived, but instead cycles in and out of the atmosphere frequently via evaporation and precipitation (rain, snow, etc.). Moreover, while water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas, its role in global warming is not well understood, as it is also responsible for cloud formation, which counters the greenhouse effect by reflecting sunlight away from the
Carbon Cycle
6
Deforestation & Other Land Use Changes
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Natural Balance
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Oceans 153,589
a result of deforestation and burning fossil fuels including coal, oil, gasoline and natural gas. We now push almost 9 billion tons of additional and harmful carbon equivalent to 35 billion tons of CO2 gas -- into the atmosphere every year!
Nowhere to go but up
The massive emissions from human activities have overwhelmed the atmospheres natural vacuum cleaners the ocean and forest carbon sinks. As a result, concentrations of all three of the major greenhouse gases have risen sharply since the 1800s, as the Industrial Revolution got underway, powered by burning fossil fuels first coal, then oil and natural gas. The hockey stick chart below left illustrates the shocking increases. Carbon dioxide (CO2) has risen from a preindustrial equilibrium of about 280 parts per million (ppm) to over 380 ppm today, primarily from burning fossil fuels for energy and from clearing forests to create cropland and pasture (see D is for Deforestation). Methane (CH4) levels have risen even faster, from about 600 parts per billion (ppb) to 1,774 ppb, primarily from landfill emissions and large-scale cultivation of livestock (see L is for Livestock & Landfill). Nitrous oxide (NO2) began its sharp rise a little later, spiking from 270 to 319 ppb, mainly from intensive fertilizer use in agriculture and adoption of gasoline- and diesel-powered engines in cars and trucks (see A is for Automobiles). All of these greenhouse gases are setting
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sphere, and in Arctic sea ice. Less ice and snow has begun to alter alpine and arctic ecosystems, threatening wildlife including the polar bear and arctic fox (see X is for eXtinction). Warmer alpine temperatures are also affecting mountain sports: many ski areas in Europe have recently struggled with inadequate snow coverage. Last but not least, there is evidence that melting ice and snow is contributing to rising sea levels (see S is for Sea-Level Rise).
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lives. The 2006 heat wave in North America set temperature records and killed hundreds of people. July 2006 was the warmest month ever recorded for much of Europe. The heat is definitely on!
Sea-Level Rise). Most of this rise can be attributed to warming seawater, since the ocean absorbs about 80% of the additional heat from global warming. As water molecules warm up, they expand, causing the overall volume of seawater in ocean basins to increase. In addition, as mentioned above, recent evidence suggests that melting glaciers and ice caps are small but growing contributors to the sea-level rise. Even more ominously, scientists believe that melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica could dramatically raise sea levels in the future if global warming is not held in check (see P is for Polar Warming).
The heat is on
And then theres our everyday climate: scientists have been able to confirm what many of us have already felt: our weather is getting warmer, with the number of hot spells increasing and the number of cold spells decreasing. Since 1995, the world has experienced 11 of the 12 warmest years on record. Most troubling has been the increased frequency of dangerous heat waves across the globe. The European heat wave in 2003 saw the highest summer temperatures recorded since the year 1500 and claimed thousands of
7. o in 200 an Dieg acres and in S wildfire ,000 battling destroyed 500 king wildfires hters ma Firefig of wildfires ange is series es. Climate ch and severe. A om equent 1,500 h more fr
The warmer climate is also increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events including hurricanes and heavy rainstorms. The average number of hurricanes in the North Atlantic near the US Gulf coast has increased since 1995 (see H is for Hurricanes). Warmer ocean waters are also increasing the destructive power of these tropical storms, as tragically demonstrated by Hurricane Katrina, which killed almost 2,000 people and destroyed much of New Orleans in August 2005. Similarly, severe rainstorms have grown more frequent, as evidenced by 2007 summer floods in the United Kingdom that caused $4 billion of damage, the result of the wettest threemonth period, May through June, ever recorded in Britain (see M is for Monsoons & Floods).
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Current Level = 430 ppm
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Just warming up
As we can see, global warming has al-
NASA image of Hurricane Katrina heading toward the US coast in 2005. Category 5 storms like Katrina are becoming more frequent due to climate change.
ready begun to hurt our planets ecosystems. Unfortunately, the climate is likely to get much warmer -- and much worse -- unless we sharply cut global emissions of greenhouse gases. Just how hot could it get by the end of this century? The chart above provides a range of answers depending on the future concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, measured in parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), a unit of measurement that converts the warming power of the various greenhouse gases into a single, comparable amount of CO2 gas. The current level is 430 ppm CO2e and it is expected to reach 550 ppm by 2035, which implies a total increase of about 3.6F (2C) over pre-industrial temperatures. Even more important, unless we start making sharp emissions reductions soon, greenhouse gas concentrations in this century will probably exceed 850 ppm almost double todays level. In this do nothing case where we do
A matter of degrees
Life on Earth has always been a matter of degrees. The ice-covered world of the last glacial age 20,000 years ago was only 9F (5C) cooler than todays planet. The last warming period caused by differences in Earths orbit was about 125,000 years ago; temperatures then were only 5-9F higher than today, but sea levels were probably 4-6 meters higher! It follows that every degree counts, with global impacts rising sharply as the worlds thermometer edges upward. The chart below highlights a number of the negative consequences of a rapidly warming world. In the case of another 3.6F (2C) increase in average temperature, all of the negative impacts described previously sea-level rise, extreme weather, wildfires will get much worse. But, as if this isnt bad enough, temperature increases beyond this point
Impact of Global Warming by 2100
Higher Temperatures = Bigger Impact Average Temperature in 2090-2099 vs. 1980-1999 (C) +1 +2 +3 +4 +5
Tropics and higher altitudes get wetter, lower altitudes get drier Hundreds of millions of people face shortages of clean water Up to 30% of species at risk of extinction Signi cant extinctions occur globally Widespread coral deaths occur globally
Gree nlan dM NA S eltin A im g: ern tip. age of area L G of g ight bl reenla reat ue c nd's es t ice l olor ind southoss icat es
0 Water
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Food
Global yields on cereal crops like wheat, corn & rice decline due to heat & drought
Coasts
Millions face annual ooding About 30% of coastal wetlands are lost
Health
Millions a ected by insect-borne and water-related diseases Millions threatened each year by severe storms, heat waves, ooding & drought
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Bleached c the Indian oral in the Maldiv es M Oc waters th ean. Warmer and oofushi reef in reaten co more acid ral reefs across th ic ocean e globe.
which inhibits shell growth. Destruction of coral and other shellfish threatens all other marine organisms that depend on reef ecosystems. Covering 70% of the Earths surface and absorbing 80% of excess heat and CO2, our oceans face titanic challenges on the front lines of climate change.
Wildlife in peril
Wildlife on both sea and land are facing a harsher world as a result of climate change (see X is for eXtinction). Warmer waters and melting sea ice are shrinking the hunting grounds of Arctic predators including the polar bear, Arctic fox, walrus and penguin. Alpine lakes and streams are drying up as mountain snow pack disappears, endangering freshwater fish like the trout. All sorts of animals, from birds and butterflies to grizzly bears, must work harder and travel farther to find food as warmer weather disrupts their fragile ecosystems. Warmer weather is allowing some invasive species of plants and animals to thrive in areas previously off limits, crowding out native species that are forced to move upslope or migrate to higher latitudes. The threat to wildlife is global: scientists estimate that up to 30%
they face a variety of new dangers from insect-borne diseases, violent storms, malnutrition from crop failures, and respiratory illnesses from poor air quality.
of all plant and animal species on Earth are at an increased risk of extinction because of climate change.
solar, biomass and geothermal, replacing existing power plants that use coal, oil and gas. We also need to help our planet clean its atmosphere by restoring Earths natural carbon sinks our oceans and rainforests. Finally we need to join with people across the world and commit to international agreements, including the successor to the Kyoto Protocol (see K is for Kyoto Protocol), that impose global limits on greenhouse gas emissions.
as well as your homes heating and cooling requirements. Even better, improved energy efficiency also lowers utility bills, saving your family money every month. Finally, youll discover that seemingly small actions by individuals or families can add up to huge carbon savings when they multiply across an entire community or country. Thats why YOU are so important in the battle against climate change (see Y is for YOU). It has been estimated that about one-fifth of all required emissions reductions can be achieved through simple energy efficiency measures like those contained in this book. Youll discover that -- with enough determination, effort and creativity -- you and your family can achieve zero net emissions in your daily lives (see Z is for Zero Emissions).
Don't be a gas-guzzler
Cars are the other big targets for emissions reductions, accounting for roughly one-half of a typical US households daily emissions (see A is for Automobiles).
A hybrid car or other low-emissions vehicle will greatly reduce your familys carbon footprint.
use will generate big carbon savings; for example, a 5-mile walk or bike ride will save 10 pounds of CO2 on each roundtrip. Families can cut automobile use even further by commuting to work or school via mass transit or carpooling. For your familys next automobile purchase consider a low-emissions or zero-emissions model such as a hybrid or all-electric vehicle. Also consider buying a flex-fuel car or truck that can burn E85 instead of gasoline. E85 is cleaner-burning biofuel containing 85% plant-based ethanol.
bon footprint than gasoline because it is made from plant feedstock that regrows and reabsorbs some of CO2 that was emitted when the car engine originally burned the E85. Biofuels take advantage of the planets natural carbon cycle to continuously recapture CO2 through plant photosynthesis (see B is for Biofuels). Just as bioethanol in E85 replaces gasoline, biodiesel from soybeans, oil palm and other crops is a lower-emission alternative to petroleum-based diesel fuel used by trucks and other transport. (See J is for Jets & Transport). And biofuels arent just for transportation: biomass from organic waste and garbage is being used to generate electricity as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels. Next-generation liquid biofuels are being developed from nonfood crops including wood chips, switch grass, jatropha seeds -- even algae and microbes (bacteria). These new biofuels promise even lower net carbon emissions without requiring valuable food crops as feedstock. By replacing gasoline, diesel and other liquid fossil fuels with low-carbon alternatives, these biofuels will play a critical role in fighting climate change.
Clean wind pow ply up to 20% er can supof Am energy by 20 ericas 30.
80% of the worlds energy comes from burning fossil fuels, and 43% of all electricity is generated from coal, the dirtiest hydrocarbon (see F is for Fossil Fuels). For the worlds two largest emitters, coalfired power plays an even larger role, accounting over 80% of total electricity generation in China and over 50% in the US. Fortunately, renewable sources particularly solar and wind -- have the potential to replace most or all of this dirty power in the future. A recent government study concluded that wind turbines could provide up to 20% of Americas electricity by 2030, reducing CO2 emissions by over 900 million tons each year. Solar powers future is also bright, as millions of photovoltaic panels have been installed on rooftops thanks to declining prices and generous government subsidies. In addition, large-scale concentrating solar power (CSP) plants that provide utilityscale electricity are being built in the southeastern US, southern Europe and the Middle East. The potential for solar power is huge: in theory, enough sunlight hits the Earth each hour that all of Americas energy needs could be supplied by
Nuclear p ower ge ates dan nerates no CO e gerous r adioac2 ivmissions but cre t e was te
Planting trees -- espec our planet abso ially in tropical zones --hel ps rb excess CO 2 in the air.
ous accidents in the past (see N is for Nuclear Power). Finally, the coal industry is working to develop Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS), which would reduce or eliminate emissions by pumping them deep underground or deep in the ocean. Unfortunately, while CCS has been used in oil and gas fields, it is still in the experimental stage for power generation. Until CCS has been proven to work on a large, commercial scale, there is unfortunately no such thing as clean coal.
an race , 1917. The hum ugh opaganda poster World War I pr al challenges thro against other glob climate change. has triumphed we can stop history. Together
been invested to comply with Kyotos quotas (see Q is for Quotas). Unfortunately, the United States, the worlds second largest emitter, did not ratify Kyoto and has not agreed to emissions limits (see U is for United States). In addition, the worlds largest and fastest-growing emitter, China, is not subject to any emissions limits under Kyoto because it is classified as a developing country (see C is for China). For these and other reasons, the world community needs to develop a successor treaty to Kyoto that imposes quotas on all major emitters. Negotiations for this new agreement are already underway, most recently at the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference that was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. Make sure that your family, your community and your country are all doing what they can in this world war against global warming.
Majestic green mountains feature large ice caps that release fresh water in summer months.
The village grows its own vegetables and fruit in a nearby field. The village center contains a small cluster of homes heated by coal- and wood-burning fireplaces. Gas and oil lamps provide lighting for street and homes, respectively. Horses and mules provide transport.
A large forest grows from the foothills of the mountains to the banks of the river.
A pristine river, fed by the mountain icecaps (#2) provides fresh water to the village for drinking, cooking, bathing, as well as irrigation for the pasture and fields. Cows, sheep and horses graze in lush pasture along the banks of a river. The cows and sheep provide milk, butter, cheese and meat to the village.
A bountiful ocean supports a thriving fishing industry, evidenced by the large number of fishing boats and whales.
Expansion of the city has completely wiped out the vegetable/fruit field.
Mountain icecaps have shrunken a lot due to warm summer temperatures and inconsistent precipitation during the year. The once-green
Much of the forest has been destroyed to create cropland. Trees are cut down and sent to paper mills. The remaining tree stumps and underbrush were burned. New crops were planted using chemical fertilizer.
The once-small village is now a city serviced by utilities providing electricity, gas and oil. Horses and mules have been replaced with gasoline-powered cars and trucks as transportation.
Only a few livestock remain in a small pasture area that has been reduced by a flooding river on one side and the electric power facilities on the other side. New city buildings require large amounts of electricity, requiring an expansion of the power plant. A large coalfield has been dug out of former pasture to fuel the power plants generators.
Shifting currents and over-fishing have depleted the waters of marine life. Subtle changes in ocean temperature and currents have occurred.
The once-tranquil river has flooded because of excessive melting of the mountain icecaps (#2). Pasture along the riverbank has been destroyed, reducing the number of horses, cows and sheep that can be supported by the land.
The mountain icecaps have completely disappeared. The slopes, only faintly visible through the smog, are now completely brown because the trees and vegetation died due to lack of water run-off.
Extreme weather events become more commonplace at Village-by-the-Sea, as illustrated by a tornado approaching the city.
The small pasture area was destroyed to make room for the new coalfield. The city no longer supports much farming and must import virtually all of its meat, dairy, and vegetable products.
The once-abundant forest has been completely destroyed to create more cropland. Lack of water for irrigation creates dust bowl conditions for the cropland.
The ocean environment has become unpredictable and often unfriendly. Warm surface temperatures feed storm fronts, increasing the occurrence of hurricanes and tsunamis. Warm gulf currents have become unpredictable, eliminating the fishing industry completely. Low-lying portions of the village have been flooded from the rising sea levels caused by melting polar icecaps.
The old coalfield was flooded from the rising sea level, forcing the utility to create a new coal facility that destroyed remaining pasture.
The once-strong river has slowed to a trickle in winter, and is dried up completely in the summer because it is no longer fed from mountain icecaps. This leads to a critical shortage of fresh water for the city, which is forced to divert from other sources inland. Cropland on the opposite side of the river suffers from drought conditions.
is for Automobiles
A is for Automobiles
CAUSE
Cars are the 2nd largest source of greenhouse gases in the U.S., creating almost 1.5 billion tons of CO2 every year. For every 6-pound gallon of gas a car burns, it releases about 19 pounds of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Big, low gas-mileage vehicles like SUVs and trucks do the most harm.
roads than anywhere else on the planet. This makes it easy to jump in the car and drive somewhere for almost any reason, however small. To save time or effort we often drive to school or to go shopping, when we could have easily walked. Thats why almost one-quarter of all US emissions of CO2 come from motor vehicles. In fact, US vehicles combine to emit more CO2 each year than all but 3 other countries TOTAL greenhouse gas emissions!
A burning issue
Cars burn gasoline, which is made from crude oil, a fossil fuel that is chock full of carbon atoms. When your family cars engine burns gasoline for power, the heat releases the carbon atoms into the air in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary global warming gas. The bigger your family car or truck, the bigger your engine. The bigger your engine, the more gasoline it burns. The more gasoline it burns, the more CO2 released into the atmosphere.
American Car-Nation
We love driving our cars. In America we have built more freeways, highways and
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But we still need cars to get to work, to go on vacation or to get to other places. We cant expect everyone to give up driving, but we also cant afford to let all these gassy vehicles get a free ride, either. So what can we do? Dont have your parents drive you anywhere you can walk -- take the bus or subway or bike instead. Youll save fuel, and you will put a little less pollution into the air. If you must drive somewhere, see if you can carpool with friends it makes the ride more fun and keeps that second car in the garage.
The Tesla Roadste r: an all-electric spor ts car that was introduced in 2009
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Emission Equation: 1 Chevy Suburban = 3 Toyota Priuses
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Did you know that the average American household with two mid-size cars emits more than 10 tons of greenhouse gases from driving each year? Cut a 20-mile car trip every week and reduce your emissions by 1,200 pounds each year plus your family will save big on gas costs too!
A is for Automobiles
Hollywood stars are going electric! Actor George Clooney was one of the first owners of the Tesla Roadster, an all-electric vehicle that accelerates faster than a Ferrari! And the Toyota Prius hybrid has many Hollywood fans including Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio.
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Are your parents planning to buy a new car? Ask them to consider a hybrid or other high-mileage vehicle. Hybrids combine a super-clean electric motor with a small gas engine to get great mileage and lower emissions. If buying a conventional car remember that small is beautiful!
How green are your family cars? Find out at the EPAs Web site: http://www.fueleconomy.com . Find your car by clicking on the Web links and learn about its gas mileage, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Share the results with your parents they may be surprised!
is for biofuels
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Cars and trucks can use biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel as a cleaner alternative to oil-based gasoline and diesel. The best biofuels are made from sustainable plant and organic sources including agricultural waste, wood chips, switch grass, and jatropha seeds. Today most biofuels are still made from food crops like corn, sugarcane, soybeans, and oil palm, raising serious environmental and economic questions. In the future, exciting new technologies promise to produce biofuels efficiently from nonfood sources.
With a tropical climate ideal for growing sugarcane, Brazil has become the worlds most efficient biofuel producer. Brazilian plants produce ethanol at an average cost of $1.10 per gallon and supply 40% of the countrys liquid fuel needs.
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The inedible seeds from the droughtresistant Jatropha curc as plant contain up to 40% oil that can be turned into biodiesel w hen crushed and processed. The re maining plant waste and residue can be burned as biomass to generate ele ctricity.
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Most of Americas biofuel is corn-based ethanol, which consumed over 2 billion bushels in 2006: about one-fifth of the entire US corn harvest.
garbage as biomass to produce electricity for power plants, eliminating fossil fuels and reducing the need for landfills and trash dumps.
ing your cereal bowl and filling your tank? By one calculation, using all of Americas corn to make ethanol would only replace 12% of the gasoline we use! What does that mean for our morning boxes of corn flakes? So far its meant higher prices: corn, soybeans and sugar all cost more, largely as a result of biofuel demand. Even more troubling: recent studies have questioned whether biofuels can be made from food crops including corn and soybeans on sustainable basis, without indirectly destroying fragile ecosystems such as rainforests that currently act as huge carbon sinks.
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Ethanol and biodiesel made from food crops such as corn, soybeans, and oil palm have become controversial. In February 2008 two studies published in Science magazine concluded that these crop-based biofuels actually increase CO2 emissions versus fossil fuels by causing deforestation and the destruction of other rich carbon sinks including peatlands, savannas and grasslands. As a sustainable alternative the studies endorsed biofuels made from organic waste or plants grown on non-arable land.
While on tour, rock stars including John Mayer, Dave Matthews, Sheryl Crow, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Willie Nelson travel on buses powered by biodiesel. Willie Nelson is so committed to biodiesel that he created his own brand called BioWillie!
Looking for a new family car? Gas-electric hybrids are a good choice, but ask your parents to also consider flex-fuel vehicles that can use both regular gasoline and E85, a mix of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. Learn more about flex fuel vehicles and E85 fuel by visiting the Web site of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition at http:// www.e85fuel.com/. Learn more about biofuels by reading Wikipedias excellent summary at: http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofuel. Want to understand more about the controversy over using food crops for biofuel? Read an interview with Nature Conservancy scientist Joe Fargione at the Nature.org Web site: http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/features/art23819.html.
biofuel s
is for CHiNA
China is the worlds largest source of greenhouse gases or will be the top emitter soon. By one estimate China passed the US in 2006 with 21.2% of all global CO2 emissions versus Americas 19.6%. Nearly 70% of Chinas power comes from coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, and Chinas coal use is growing fast
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phones and many other consumer products. Check out your own home: its a good bet that most of the gadgets and appliances that you find were made in China, the worlds factory.
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Chinas smog harms its own citizens as well as the planet: by one estimate, outdoor air pollution in China causes up to 400,000 deaths each year! And in southeastern China, acid rain from coal emissions causes damage to crops and buildings spanning 30 percent of the Chinese land mass.
CHiNA
Having experienced first-hand the devastation of the Indonesian tsunami in 2004, action movie star Jet Li formed the One Foundation in Beijing to provide future disaster relief, with special emphasis on young people. To learn more, go to the Web site: http://www.onefoundation.cn/html/en/introduction.htm
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Every time we buy a Chinese product particularly large, heavy items like bikes, computers, refrigerators, and furniture -- we are indirectly adding to Chinas greenhouse gas emissions. Think twice about that new purchase: do you really need it? Is a locally made product available?
Learn more about Chinas huge environmental challenges at an interactive Web site developed by the New York Times, called Chinas Environmental Crisis; found at: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/08/26/world/asia/20070826_CHINA_ GRAPHIC.html.
D is for Deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation the destruction and burning of the planets native forests and jungles accounts for 20% of all CO2 emissions, more than the combined emissions from all vehicles, airplanes and ships. About half of the worlds forests have already been destroyed, and another 1% is lost each year.
a burning issue
The World Bank estimates that 22 million acres of rainforest are burned every year, and these fires create about 20% of all global warming emissions. One expert estimates that, at the current rate of destruction, 40% of the Amazons rainforests will be destroyed by 2050. One recent example: a satellite photograph of Brazil showed over 76,000 separate fires burning in the Amazon. Half of the trees burned are used as fuel, to heat homes, cook food and power factories. In poor countries, wood is often the only fuel available.
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Waste p could aper from Am bu York t ild a 12 f erican of fi t wall o LA c from es every New year!
arctic Warming
greenhouse gas emissions, making Brazil the worlds fourth- or fifth-largest emitter, after China, the US, and Indonesia!
ings inside your home. We Americans love paper and wood products and, on average, each of us consumes 15 times as much wood as the average citizen of a developing country like India. Our per capita consumption of wood and paper products is over 1,500 pounds a year, which requires that 74 cubic feet of trees be cut down for every man, woman and child in the US annually!
Look for the green logo of the Forestry Steward ship Council (FSC) when ing building products an buyd furnishings. This assu res that the wood used harvested using sustaina was b
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That catalog you received in the mail might contain wood fiber from the Amazon: almost 4 million tons of junk mail is sent in the US every year. The average American uses 650 pounds of paper a year. At the office, Americans trash enough paper to build a 12-foot wall from Los Angeles to New York City each year!
Deforestation
Save the Amazon, buy Giseles flip-flops! Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bnchen is offering a line of sandals called The Ipanema Collection. Gisele will donate some of the sale proceeds to the Pure Xingu Water campaign; which works to preserve the headwaters of the Xingu River system in Brazils Amazon region, which has been decimated by deforestation.
Save the rainforest by recycling paper. Use both sides of printer paper before recycling. Purchase recycled paper for use on home printers and fax machines. For every ton of recycled paper purchased, 17 trees will be saved. Lots of water, energy and landfill space is saved too!
Learn how recycling helps our forests at the Clean Air Council Web site (http://www. cleanair.org/). Want to fight deforestation caused by your junk mail? Check out Precycle (http://precycle.tonic.com/), which helps consumers to get off catalog mailing lists and plant trees to reverse the damage!
bulbs, power strips and insulation can pay off big, saving you money in the long run while reducing emissions immediately. Conserving energy makes sense for the planet and makes cents for you too!
energy efficiency
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the road (28%) and all of the nations industry (32%). Homes and apartments account for 21% of total energy use in the US. This means that small energy savings in each household will add up to big energy savings for the country -- and huge emissions reductions for the planet. Almost two-thirds of the energy used by homes is for space and water heating, with lighting and appliances accounting for the remainder.
energy efficiency
among the lowest in the world. America can follow Denmarks example and tap into previously buried reserves through energy efficiency. A study by McKinsey Global Institute concluded that energy efficiency alone could enable Americans to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 1.3 billion tons each year and buy 11 million fewer barrels of oil each day!
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Over 1.5 billion old-style incandescent lightbulbs are sold in the US each year. Replacing these bulbs with efficient compact fluorescent lamps would save consumers over $12 billion on their annual electricity bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 750 million tons every year! Now thats a bright idea!
Check your local TV listings for Living with Ed, starring Oscar-winner Ed Begley and his wife Rachelle. They show how fun it can be to go green at home. To learn more, check out Eds Fixing the Planet blog at http://www.fixingtheplanet.com/, where he shows how to save money and help the environment by making small changes to your lifestyle.
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Save money and fight global warming! Replace 20 old light bulbs in your house with compact fluorescent ones and reduce your carbon emissions by 680 pounds each year! When shopping for new appliances look for the Energy Star logo: over its lifetime, a typical Energy Star dishwasher will save 600 pounds of CO2 versus a conventional unit. Visit the Energy Star Web site at http://www.energystar.gov/ to find out how your family can save energy, money and the planet. The site offers a variety of tools and calculators to help you analyze your familys energy use and potential savings. Dont buy a new appliance without visiting the Energy Star Web site first: youll save money and carbon emissions!
USE CA
Fossil fuels coal, oil and natural gas provide over 80% of the worlds energy needs and constitute the primary cause of global warming. Formed over millions of years from prehistoric plant and animal matter, these fuels are extracted from the Earth via mines and wells. Most of the planetwarming gases currently in the atmosphere came from burning fossil fuels.
co 2 spells trouble
Chemists call fossil fuels hydrocarbons because they consistent almost entirely of hydrogen atoms (H) and carbon atoms (C). When mixed with oxygen (O2) from the air and heated, these hydrocarbons burn, producing energy and hot gases including carbon dioxide (CO2), the most common greenhouse gas. Most of the CO2 now causing problems in our atmosphere came from burning these hydrocarbons.
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You may not notice it, but you and your family are huge consumers of fossil fuels every day. The gasoline in your family cars tank is made from crude oil, also known as petroleum. Some of the electricity for your appliances and lighting probably comes from coal-fired power plants. And theres a good chance that the furnace that keeps your home warm in the winter is fueled by natural gas or heating oil. This means that every time you ride in a car, turn on a light, or turn up the thermostat you are burning fossil fuels, creating greenhouse gas emissions.
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over plies round p eg oil su rude from th gasoline : C ped otos) and into of ph Once pum nverted homes, ow gy. d co rst r r our r oil (fi icas ene neries an ng oil fo e Crud Amer to refi , heati jets. of les ur ed 40% ransport our vehic ene for o t s it is iesel for kero dd an
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ing planned in the US. This means that Americas reliance on coal and resulting CO2 emissions -- will actually increase!
Statoil rigs in the Sleiper West field in the Norwegian North Sea . Statoil utilizes carbon capture and storage (CCS) to remove CO fro m the wells and inject it back into the underground formation. CCS2is a promising technology to reduce CO emissions from burning fossil 2 fuels.
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Fossil fuels account for over 80% of the worlds energy supply, and total demand is actually growing by almost 2% per year. As the second largest oil consumer after the US, China accounts for less than 9% of world demand right now, but its oil use has more than doubled every year for the last 10 years.
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When electric utility TXU announced plans to build 11 new coal-fired power plants in Texas, rock star Sheryl Crow and movie producer Laurie David launched a two-week concert tour across North Texas and the Gulf states to fight TXUs proposal while raising general awareness of global warming. TXUs owners subsequently agreed to scrub plans for 8 of the original plants.
Combustible Renewables Hydro & Waste 10% 2.2% Nuclear 6.3% Natural Gas 20.7% Oil 35.0%
st s: mo il fuel is oss ergy g on f hokin worlds en oal and C of the from oil, c s ced produ natural ga
2005 world energy consumption by source: Total equals 1,436 million tonnes of oil equivalent
What else can your family do beyond conserving energy? Buy green power electricity generated from renewable sources like wind, solar and geothermal! More than 44 states in the US now offer green power to homeowners. Call your local power company or use the Department of Energys Web site to see whats available in your state: http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/buying_power.shtml Visit the Green-e Web site at http://www.green-e.org/to find out how your family can promote renewable energy at home, at the office, and in the products you buy. Green-e an independent non-profit organization that certifies renewable energy providers and users. Look for their green logo.
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Greenhouse gases are the main cause of global warming. They absorb the suns energy and heat the Earths atmosphere. The 3 most common heat-trapping gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). About 60% of gas emissions come from burning fossil fuels, and remainder come from agricultural activities and deforestation.
the planet to overheat. Most greenhouse gases are nonvolatile, which means that once they enter the atmosphere, they remain there for a really long time, measured in the hundreds of years!
Transport 13%
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you probably remember the smell: thats methane! And if youve been near the town dump or sewage treatment plant, some of that pungent smell comes from methane too.
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ants and other industrial chemicals used as coolants, fire retardants, insulators and aerosols. For each ton of emissions, these fluorocarbons are thousands of times more harmful than carbon dioxide. Luckily, all of these gases are emitted in relatively small qualities, accounting for only 1% of the total greenhouse gas impact.
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Former Vice President Al Gore won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change. He shared the award with a United Nations research group, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
What are your familys greenhouse gas emissions each year? Find out using the Personal Emissions Calculator on the US Environmental Protection Agencys Web site: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html. The EPA calculator also offers suggestions for reducing emissions, and adjusts your total for taking these simple steps.
Visit the Alliance for Climate Protections Web site at http://www.climateprotect.org/ to see how you can personally contribute to the fight against global warming. Former Vice President and Nobel laureate Al Gore is the Alliances Chairman. The Alliances mission is to persuade people of the importance, urgency and feasibility of adopting and implementing effective and comprehensive solutions for the climate crisis.
is for HUrriCANEs
ENCE CONSEQU
Hurricanes and typhoons are tropical cyclones, huge storms that bring high winds and flooding rain, usually from warm tropical waters such as those found in the Caribbean and North Atlantic regions. Many scientists now believe that global warming - by increasing the sea temperatures that power these storms - is making these cyclones more frequent and intense.
of all, with sustained winds of 155 miles per hour or more. In the past, Category 5 storms were infrequent: between 1928 and 1992, there were 22 such hurricanes, an average of about one every 3 years. Recently, though, this has changed for the worse: since 1998, there have been 9 Category 5 storms in the Atlantic, or an average of one per year. Even worse, there were 4 such hurricanes in a single year, 2005, and 2 more in 2007! Many scientists believe that global warming is contributing to the increased frequency and severity of these tropical storms.
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Bands of thunderstorms
Hurricanes have caused huge humanitarian disasters. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch in Central America took the lives of over 10,000 people. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina killed over 1,880 people and virtually destroyed the city of New Orleans, causing over $80 billion in property damage. Since 2004, as the planet grew warmer, hurricanes have caused more than $170 billion of damage! In these terrible storms, people not only lose their homes but also their livelihood,
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NASA s atellite image o in the G f Hurric ulf of M ane Kat exico, A most po rina mo ugust 2 werful A ving tow 8, 2005 tlantic s ard the ing New . Katrin torms in US Orleans a becam recorded with wi e one of massive history, desprea the destruct virtually d floodin ion from destroy g from winds o its storm f 160 m surge an iles per d hour.
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50,000 feet high and measure over 125 miles across. While all hurricanes begin in the ocean, many of them are blown into land by trade winds.
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livelihood and sometimes most tragically their lives. And heres more troubling news: its likely that global warming is increasing sea surface temperatures causing future tropical cyclones to be even more powerful and destructive.
Sea surface temperatures have been rising since 1970, the first year when accurate measurements were taken from satellite imagery. Since 1994, these ocean temperatures have increased rapidly. During the same period, we have seen a significant increase in intense tropical cyclone activity in the North Atlantic, i.e. hurricanes. Some scientists believe that these two trends represent cause and effect, with warmer oceans creating stronger storms. Many of these scientists believe that global warming from human activity is the cause of this phenomenon. The IPCC, the United Nations scientific panel on climate change has endorsed these findings and predicts that global warming if not stopped -- will make future hurricanes more intense, with higher winds speeds and heavier rains.
Time to cool it
The best way to protect our planet from more super storms is to stop the global warming that is heating up our oceans. Remember, preventing something is a lot easier than trying to clean up the damage after it happens.
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Tropical cyclones form in many parts of the world but are called different names. In the US we call them hurricanes; in Asia theyre called typhoons; and elsewhere they are simply called cyclones or tropical storms. Hurricanes are so destructive because of their awesome power, releasing the heat equivalent of a 10-megaton nuclear bomb every 20 minutes!
Movie star Brad Pitt, in partnership with non-profit Global Green USA, is leading efforts to build affordable, sustainable housing in New Orleans as that city recovers from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. By one estimate, 50,000 of these green homes would save $38-56 million in yearly energy bills and eliminate over 500,000 tons of CO2 the equivalent of taking 100,000 cars off the road.
to, and you can acquire a serious tropical disease like malaria, West Nile virus, dengue fever, or yellow fever. Right now, more than 1 million people die each year from malaria, about three-quarters of them being African children. Perhaps 10 times this number will survive the initial infection but become chronically ill from malarias debilitating symptoms. In the US and Europe there is little risk from these diseases right now, but this could change over time as northern latitudes begin to warm.
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ing allows mosquitoes to range farther from the equator, the risk of exposure continues to increase.
HEALTH
Increasing burden from malnutrition, diarrhoeal, cardio-respiratory and infectious diseases Increased morbidity and mortality from heat waves, oods and droughts Changed distribution of some disease vectors Substantial burden of health services
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Africa is battling a malaria epidemic. The World Health Organization estimates that malaria is responsible for one in five childhood deaths in Africa. Every 30 seconds an African child dies from malaria. Global warming is making things worse, with infectious mosquitoes able to move to higher elevations that were once disease-free. Top celebrities have declared war on malaria, supporting a global non-profit effort called Malaria No More (http://www.malarianomore.org/). Visit the site to see videos and photos of David Beckham, Ashley Judd, and American Idols Simon Cowell, Ryan Seacrest and Melinda Doolittle.
Emissions from jets, ships, trains and trucks are a major cause of global warming. Jets currently produce only 2-3% of CO2 emissions but their climate-change impact is probably much larger because jet exhaust also contains other pollutants that form condensation trails (contrails) in the sky. Even worse, emissions from jets and transport are growing rapidly with the rise in world trade.
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trails) and cirrus clouds that serve to magnify global warming effects. And watch for more clouds on the horizon: jet emissions are expected to more than triple from current levels by the year 2050, making airlines one the fastest growing producers of global warming gases.
est countries in the world! And ships also release more sulfur dioxide the pollutant that causes acid rain than all of the worlds cars, trucks and buses combined.
shipwrecked!
Ships ahoy: some alarming news from the high seas! Ocean-going vessels account for a least 17% of global emissions of NOX greenhouse gases, and more than 25% of NOX emissions in coastal locations. In fact, the worlds fleet of more than 90,000 large freighter ships produced more greenhouse gases in 2001 than all but the six larg-
emissions as if each passenger drove a separate Flying versus driving: flying generates about the same 4x the emissions by flying instead of driving. car the same distance! A family of four will generate
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Flying somewhere for vacation? On average, a commercial airline flight generates about the same greenhouse emissions as if each passenger drove a separate car the same distance! A roundtrip flight from San Francisco to Disney World (Orlando) generates almost 2 tons of emissions per passenger; the same amount generated driving a fuel-efficient (28 mpg) car! Virgin Airlines owner has made a $3 billion pledge to fight global warming. British billionaire and entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson has committed to reinvest all profits from Virgin Atlantic Airways and Virgin Trains through 2016 into development of renewable energy sources such as biofuels. Virgin Atlantic also plans to begin trial use of biojet fuel in 2008 and improve its fleet fuel efficiency by 30% by 2020
Consider buying carbon offsets for your familys next vacation flight. Your money will fund projects that eliminate an equivalent amount of carbon (greenhouse gas) emissions that youll generate from your flight. Many online travel sites including Expedia and Travelocity provide you with the option of buying the correct amount of offsets at the time of your ticket purchase. Better yet: consider a vacation closer to home!
Calculate the greenhouse gas emissions, or carbon footprint of your familys next big trip. A number of excellent tools are available on the Web including a travel emissions calculator provided by Native Energy (http://www.nativeenergy.com/travel/), which provides estimates for travel by car, airplane, train or bus.
mate change is for all countries to work together, and thats what the Kyoto Protocol is all about. Each nation committed to the Kyoto Protocol has agreed to limit its 2012 emissions to a country-specific target set by the UNFCCC, the UN organization that administers and enforces the treaty.
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Russia and the Ukraine ratified the Kyoto Protocol but have surplus emissions credits, reflecting the collapse of the Soviet Union after 1990, the Kyoto baseline year. Both countries emissions are growing rapidly as their economies recover.
China ratified the Kyoto Protocol but, as a developing country, is not subject to emissions limits. Chinas emissions have skyrocketed as a result of its rapid growth. In 2007, China became the largest emitter in the world!
Kyoto Protocol
USA The US is the only industrial country that has NOT agreed to the Kyoto Protocol, despite being most responsible for the CO2 emissions currently in the atmosphere. The US will record an INCREASE in emissions in 2012.
INDIA India ratified the Kyoto Protocol but, as a developing country, is not subject to limits on its emissions. Indias emissions are growing rapidly as its economy develops, and it is expected to become the worlds 3rd largest emitter by around 2015, after China and the US.
INDONESIA Indonesia ratified the Kyoto Protocol but, as a developing country, is not subject to limits on its emissions. Indonesia is losing about 4% of its conservation land each year due deforestation, making it the 3rd largest emitter of greenhouse gases in 2007!
AUSTRALIA After a decade of supporting the US in opposition to the Kyoto Protocol, a new Australian government abruptly changed course and ratified the treaty in December 2007. As a newly industrialized country, Australia is allowed an 8% increase over its 1990 emissions.
Most countries of Latin America and Africa have ratified the Kyoto Protocol but, as developing nations, none is subject to emissions limits. Though some countries emissions are growing rapidly, particularly in South America, overall emissions in the region are comparatively small
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*Includes shares of USSR emissions proportional to Russias current share Source: Financial Times from UNDP data
Share of global CO2 emissions 1840-2004 (%) their economies must continue to develop rapidly to lift their vast populations out of poverty. Conversely, the developed countries of Europe and Japan are required to make significant cuts in their 1990 emissions levels by 2012. European countries have signed up for an 8% cut, and Japan is committed to a 6% reduction. The United States -- before it pulled out of the treaty -had agreed to a 7% reduction. These vastly different Kyoto targets stem from the fact that developed countries have created most of the climate-warming gases in the atmosphere today and consequently have the biggest reduction obligations.
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a distinguished international panel of scientists that has evaluated the risks and impact of climate change for about 30 years. Established in 1988 by two UN organizations the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) the IPCC has issued 4 important assessment reports between 1990 and 2007. Along with former Vice President Al Gore, the IPCC won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for its important contributions to raising awareness of the climate crisis. Excerpts of the IPCC assessment reports are freely available to the public via the Internet.
Kyoto Protocol
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The Kyoto Protocol was a great start but just a small step toward a global warming solution. Over 80% of the worlds current emissions are not subject to binding limits under Kyoto and overall emissions are increasing each year. The US (20% of emissions) has rejected the treaty. China (another 20% of emissions) was exempted from limits because it is a developing country. The treaty that succeeds Kyoto must cover more emissions and set tighter limits. Did you see the Live Earth concerts? On July 7, 2007 many of rock musics biggest stars performed in 12 different cities across the world, including Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Kyoto, Shanghai, London, Washington and believe it or not Antarctica! Live Earth was organized by former Vice President Al Gore to kick off a 3-year, global initiative to combat climate change. You can still buy the concert CD: proceeds go to fight global warming!
Kyoto Protocol
Do you believe that the US should join other nations to set binding international limits on greenhouse gas emissions, as begun with the Kyoto Protocol? Do you support emissions caps for your own town or city? If the answer is yes, talk to your parents about how you and they can get involved. Heres one way to start: support politicians who are committed to fighting climate change at the local, state and national levels. Want to learn more about the Kyoto Protocol and negotiations for a successor treaty? Visit the official Web site of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to download the actual treaty and other reference documents: http://unfccc.int.
CAUSE
Livestock and landfill are the two largest emitters of methane, the potent greenhouse gas that is much more damaging than the same amount of CO2. Livestock are also the largest emitters of nitrous oxide (N2O) and are indirectly responsible for much of the worlds deforestation, as tropical rainforests are cleared to create pastures and plant feedstock crops like soybeans and corn.
pork sausage, hamburger, lamb chops and chicken nuggets that provide the protein in many of our diets. Unfortunately it turns out that our animal neighbors also have a huge global warming impact.
estimated e planet. One study g less meat helps th Eatin se gas emissions et reduces greenhou that a vegetarian di per year. by 1.5 metric tons
a clear-cut problem
Livestock also create about 9% of all CO2 emissions, primarily by causing defores-
lion bout 1.5 bil is home to a nitrous oxide planet asture. Our ne and grazing in p f falo, and their metha f global warming. Cows r cause o omestic bu cattle and d their manure are a majo om emissions fr
Landfills com t a landfill. ha ns, overing tras ane emissio Bulldozers c largest source of meth aste. cas g organic w prise Ameri decomposin y generated b
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duction already uses 30% of the planets land surface and continues to grow.
arctIc WarmING
ly way to re arth-friend y, E methg is an eas s reducing Compostin waste, thu d garden dfills. use food an ns from lan ane emissio
tation. Much of the worlds tropical rainforests are being destroyed to create new pastureland for cattle grazing, or to plant crops used as animal feed, such as soybeans and corn. Until they are cut down, rainforest trees are natural carbon sinks for the planet, absorbing CO2 and emitting oxygen via photosynthesis. Our planet gets a double-whammy when forests are clear-cut for livestock, first losing the trees natural carbon sink, then adding lots of gassy cattle! Livestock pro-
less is more
Be sure to recycle your paper products: keeping them out of garbage dumps is one of the best ways to reduce landfill methane emissions. Start a compost bin to recycle organic garbage such as lawn clippings and food waste. In addition to recycling, try to reuse paper products: use both sides of your printer paper; reuse paper grocery bags instead of immediately recycling them; or better yet, bring your own reusable grocery bags to the supermarket!
A single co w global war s methane emissio ming impa n ct as the a s have the same of a fuel-e nnual CO2 f ficient ca emissions r like the H onda Fit.
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A typical cow produces the equivalent of 5 tons of CO2 every year, primarily from methane emitted from its manure. This is roughly the same amount of emissions generated by fuel-efficient (20 mpg) car driven 12,000 miles annually! There are currently 1.5 billion cattle and domestic buffalo on the planet thats a lot of cow patties!
Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney is a committed, longtime vegetarian. Citing the huge impact of livestock on global warming, Sir Paul has asked people to alter their diets by eating less meat. A 2005 University of Chicago study confirms Sir Pauls views, finding that a vegetarian diet reduces a persons annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1.5 metric tons, the equivalent of switching cars from a Chevy Suburban to a Toyota Camry!
How can you reduce your familys contribution to landfill methane emissions? Start a compost pile! Composting is easy to do and good for the planet, converting food and yard waste into rich fertilizer for your garden or potted plants. Learn more at the How To Compost Web site: http://www.howtocompost.org/info/info_composting.asp.
Want more details on livestocks impact on global warming? Download a copy of Livestocks Long Shadow, a report by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (http://www.fao.org/). A pdf version of the report is available free of charge at the following link: http://www.virtualcentre.org/en/library/key_pub/longshad/ A0701E00.htm
CONSEQUENCE
Monsoons are wet, seasonal wind systems that bring torrential rainfall and heavy flooding to India and other south Asian countries. Global warming is making these heavy rainstorms more frequent and more intense. Climate change is also causing more rain and less snow in mountain areas, increasing seasonal flood danger for many of the worlds rivers that are fed by alpine snowmelt.
2005, Mumbai, Indias commercial capital, received 37 inches (over 3 feet) of rain in 24 hours, shutting down the city and killing 400 people. Every year, about 20 million acres in India are subject to flood damage, affecting over 4 million people. Unfortunately, global warming is making things worse: Indian scientists have found that since 1950 monsoon rains in their country have increasingly come as downpours rather than showers, increasing the incidence of deadly flooding.
Tilicho a Mountains, Lake high in the Himalay Located rsting s now at risk of bu of many glacier lake is one ming. used by global war cessive snowmelt ca due to ex
opdors and sh season: ven ss in soon during mon n for busine uram, India p smiling and stay ope ing can turn Kanchip nsoon flood nage to kee keepers ma eets. Unfortunately mo ng the 2007 season. uri str the flooded 00 Asians were killed d ins more intense. 2,0 on ra deadly: over king monso rming is ma Global wa
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Survey study concluded that more rain and less snow is now falling in western mountains, increasing the risk of flooding. Mountain snowcaps act as reservoirs, collecting snow in the winter that gradually melts in the warmer weather of spring and summer. As the planet warms up, more rain and less snow will fall in these mountain reservoirs, causing more flooding in the winter and spring and, ironically, drought in the summers.
and millions of people could experience flooding each year during monsoon season. If global warming is not halted, over 30 million people could live at risk of coastal flooding by the year 2080!
Stormy weather ah ead: excerpt from 2007 United Natio IPCC report predic ns ting more floods an d storms from glob warming as tempe al ratures rise up to 5 C (9 F)
Increased damage from oods and storms
The Himalayas the high mountains between China and India are already facing huge flooding risks due to climate change. At least 44 glacier lakes in Nepal and Bhutan are now in danger of bursting, as warmer weather steadily defrosts mountain icepacks, overfilling natural reservoirs with icy water. UN scientists have expressed concern that these floods could endanger tens of thousands of lives. The danger is real: in 1994, the Luggye Tsho lake in Bhutan burst its banks, sending 10 million cubic meters of water down the mountain and killing 21 people. And of course, when all the mountain glaciers have melted, there will be no water to feed the 3 major river systems that originate in the Himalayas. Its time to put global warming on ice, before its too late!
COASTS
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About 39% of global coastal wetlands lost Millions more people could experience coastal ooding each year
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CONSEQ UENCE
Put away the skis and get out the rain boots! Since the 1950s average temperatures in the 11 mountain states of the western US have increased by 1C (roughly 2F), reducing snowfall by an average of 20% while increasing rainfall. A similar pattern of warmer weather, more rain and less snow has been identified for New England states over the same half-century period. In the summer of 2007 the United Kingdom was hit with massive flooding from torrential rainfall, causing 3 billion ($6 billion) of losses and damaging 55,000 homes. To aid flood victims supermodel and London resident Naomi Campbell, organized a Fashion for Relief benefit catwalk show with appearances by other fashion stars including Kate Moss, Elle Macpherson, Jade Jagger, and actors Christian Slater and Faye Dunaway. Over 250,000 ($500,000) was raised in the event.
MAIN STREET
Want to help monsoon victims in Asia? Visit the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Web site to see how you can contribute: http://crs.org/. After massive flooding during the 2007 monsoon season, CRS committed $5 million to aid more than 30 million displaced people in need of food and basic supplies across India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Do you live in a flood zone? Is your family prepared? Many communities in the US are subject to flooding: find out if your neighborhood could be at risk. Visit the Web site of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to learn more: http:// www.fema.gov/areyouready/flood.shtm.
One-sixth of the worlds electricity comes from nuclear reactors that are free of carbon emissions. Though nuclear stations emit no greenhouse gases, their radioactive fuel and toxic waste create other serious risks to the planet. Despite these safety issues, we remain dependent on nuclear power until more renewable energy alternatives become available.
a nuclear world
Many countries originally built nuclear plants to lessen their dependence on imported fossil fuels. More recently, some environmentalists have begun to support nuclear power as clean source of electricity without greenhouse gas emissions. Today about 440 nuclear power plants around the planet generate onesixth of the worlds electricity. Almost 80% of Frances electricity comes from atomic power; Swedens share is almost 50%; and Germany and Japan are each at about 30% nuclear. In the US, 20% of our electricity comes from 104 nuclear plants scattered around the country. China has aggressive plans to add over 30 new nuclear stations to its current network of 11 atomic power plants.
accidents happen
Unfortunately nuclear power has a history of accidents, including the famous 1979 incident at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. By far the most catastrophic accident was the 1986 Chernobyl reactor explosion in the Ukraine. This nuclear
A nuclear power plant in the French countryside. France generates 78% of its electricity (the highest percentage of any country) from 59 nuclear plants.
ite eactor s nobyl r her iation n near C e. Rad us rning sig orbidden Zon Wa dangero !F s Stop reactor remain ent. read cid ear the r the ac levels n ars afte ye over 20
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Cher histo nobyl Re ry ac 50 p . In 198 tor #4, 6, a eople ser Ukraine from d radia irectly, a ies of exp , site of the w nd up tionlosio mil r o Cher lions of p elated ill to 4,000 ns and fi rst nucle re in ness noby ar ac eople other es th l c react region w were exp . As the s may ha e reactor ident in as ev toxic or is osed ve su killed ac p still n t b ot in uated af o radioac lume spre sequentl over y habit t t able er the ac ive fallou ad over E died ciden due t t. Mu urop e, o the t, c high and the h of the area level n s of radia ear the tion.
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industry has been plagued with accidents and public safety concerns.
reposi: site of proposed Mountain, Nevada Yucca Nevada resiive waste. Many ry for US radioact toxic to permanently bury oppose the plan to dents ntain. waste in the mou
NU c le ar PoWer
meltdown killed over 50 people directly, and up to 4,000 others may have subsequently died from radiation-related illnesses. Millions more were exposed to radioactive fallout as winds carried toxic material throughout Europe and even to eastern North America. Chernobyls impact continues to be felt today: a recent study traced birth defects in Sweden to radioactive particles inhaled by pregnant women after the accident. More recently, in July 2007, a strong earthquake in Japan triggered a radiation leak in the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station the worlds largest -- forcing it to shut down indefinitely. Since 2003, Japans nuclear
A disk of highly enriched uranium processed at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. A little goes a long way: one pound of uranium can theoretically produce as much electricity as 750 tons of coal!
CONSEQ UENCE
Risky but clean: Americas 104 nuclear power stations generate about 20% of the countrys electricity and -- compared to the alternative of coal-fired power prevent the annual release of 700 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, the equivalent of keeping 100 million automobiles off the road each year.
Theyre back! In 1979, after the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island, rock stars Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne and Graham Nash organized the famous No Nukes! concerts at New Yorks Madison Square Garden. In 2007, the three musicians reunited in Washington, D.C. to present a 120,000-signature petition to Congress that opposes the construction of new nuclear plants.
NU c le ar PoWer
Does your family live near a nuclear power plant? If so, whats its safety record? Is a nuclear plant being planned for your community? Get involved by visiting the Web site of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) at: http://www.nrc.gov/. The NRC is the federal agency responsible for nuclear plant safety and approves new plant construction. By law the NRC must make its hearings open to the public, and many of its documents are also publicly available.
Want to learn more about nuclear power? Visit the Nuclear Basics 101 page of the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) Web site: http://www.eia.doe.gov/basics/ nuclear_basics.html. Youll learn about nuclear fission, how this atomic process is harnessed to generate electricity, and where reactors in the US are located.
ENCE CONSEQU
Warmer ocean waters are spurring the destruction of coral reefs that support a rich variety of marine life. New evidence also suggests that climate change is limiting the capacity of the worlds southern oceans to absorb CO2, leading to higher greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Finally, global warming threatens a vital ocean current system that helps regulate the weather in Europe and North America.
oceans in peril
Over 70% of our planet is covered by water, primarily by the 5 major ocean regions: the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian, the Southern and the Arctic. The greenhouse gases heating our atmosphere recognize no boundaries: by one estimate the worlds oceans will bear 90% of climate changes ultimate impact. Recent studies have found that, during the last 50 years, tropical ocean temperatures have been rising, most likely as a result of global warming. In addition to affecting weather patterns, these warmer seas have begun to disrupt fragile marine ecosystems, endangering a broad spectrum of sea life. oce aN cHaNGes
a whale of a journey
Warmer Arctic waters appear to be harming the Pacific gray whale, which feeds on amphipods, tiny shrimp and crustaceans that thrive in the frigid waters below the Arctic ice sheets off the Alaskan coast. As the Alaskan waters have warmed up, the
Gray whale trapped in the ice in the Bering Sea. A joint American-Russian effort ultimately saved 2 out of 3 trapped whales. Global warming is endangering Pacific gray whales by forcing them to travel farther north for food.
Anth ia Sea, s fish sw of f t imm indic h ate t e Sinai P ing near he st coral to co enin chan ral death art of ble sula. Wh reef in t g h . a i of th e have ac Warmer ching, w te tips on e Red hich e wo wate celer coral o ated r last 4 rlds c coral s caused ften lead o 0 ye s by ble ars, w ral reefs ith a have p aching: a climate noth er 1% erished d bout half dying uring each the year.
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rrier Reef, which stralias Great Ba Aerial view of Au an the UK and Ireland combined. er th e covers an area larg d cause bleaching of almost all th al warming coul Glob in 50 years. Reef s coral with
by all natural carbon sinks including forests, soil and other bodies of water. These natural carbon sinks are important, as they absorb about half of all CO2 created by human activity.
oce aN cHaNGes
supply of amphipods has declined as they have moved farther northward in pursuit of colder waters. This has forced the gray whales to travel farther and work harder to find food during their annual 6,250-mile migration from Mexico to Alaska. Scientists have recently found that 10% of all Pacific gray whales are now undernourished, evidence that a warmer ocean may not be able to support the current gray whale population.
an absorbing problem
Global warming is also reducing the ability of the ocean to absorb CO2, serving to increase atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. Warmer sea surface temperatures create windy maritime conditions, causing more churning of ocean water, bringing up CO2-rich water from the deep to the surface where the gas is released into the atmosphere. A recent study found that our planets southern oceans became about 30% less efficient at absorbing CO2. This is very bad news for the planet, since these southern ocean regions currently sponge up about 15% of all CO2 absorbed
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CONSEQ UENCE
Global warming is threatening Australias Great Barrier Reef, a network of over 2,900 interconnected reefs around nearly 1,000 islands, extending over 1,200 miles in the southern Pacific Ocean. One study predicts that the worlds largest reef system will lose 95% Beachfront:living & Deuce standing on a as a result of bleaching caused by climate change! of its Aly, Zoe coral by 2050 Grim
beach, looking at two signs, with surprised and sad expressions. The ocean water near the shore is a yucky greenish-red versus the beautiful blue color further out. The two wooden signs stuck in the beach sand read No Clamming RED TIDE and Swimmer Caution Algae Bloom.
Youve read this book, now watch the movie! Look for the high-definition PBS series Ocean Adventures in your local TV listings, or purchase the DVD at: http://www.pbs. org/kqed/oceanadventures/index.html. Starring Jean-Michel Cousteau (son of legendary oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau) and narrated by actor/ocean-activist Pierce Brosnan, Ocean Adventures takes viewers around the world on a series of dazzling and dangerous undersea adventures!
oce aN cHaNGes
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n Swimmer Cautio
Algae Bloom
Ready to do your part to save our oceans? Visit the Oceana Web site at: http://oceana.org/international-home-nao/. Oceana is a non-profit organization operating on three continents that is dedicated to protecting and restoring the worlds oceans. Join prominent scientists, activists, and actors including Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Pierce Brosnan, and Sam Waterston by making a donation or participating in targeted email campaigns.
Want to learn more about our planets amazing ocean ecosystem? Visit the education National Ocean Service (NOS) Web site of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/welcome.html. Youll find a variety of learning tools on corals, currents, tides & water levels, as well as interactive stories designed especially for students.
Global warming is causing polar ice sheets to melt, raising sea levels and jeopardizing the Arctics unique ecosystem. The Arctic has been warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet, triggering widespread melting of sea ice that endangers native species including the polar bear and Pacific walrus. As warmer Arctic weather melts reflective polar ice, the open ocean absorbs more solar radiation, further heating the atmosphere and aggravating climate change.
meltdown has already begun, thanks to global warming. Using satellite imagery scientists have found that, since 1980, the Arctic region has lost about 10% of its permanent sea ice every decade. The ice is melting because Arctic temperatures have risen by an average of 2C (3.6F) over the past 50 years, twice as fast as the world average. Many scientists believe that the Arctic is warming faster because of the albedo effect: ice sheets in the Arctic serve as reflective caps that bounce most of the Suns rays back into space, keeping the planet cooler; when this ice cover melts, the open ocean absorbs 80% more solar radiation, accelerating warming in the region.
A calvi ng from th glacier at Spits glacier a e North Pole. L bergen, 600 m a r il sheets a e falling into th rge chunks of t es he re disap e sea. T pearing he Arcti to globa at an alarming cs ice l warmi rate due ng.
Pol ar WarmING
, n Strait Hinlope r that e ice in th fea r on sea ole. Scientists a result r bea as pola hP Female near the Nort pear by 2020 f todays , p o Norway ea ice will disa g two-thirds e to lack du usin er s summ l warming, ca of f by 2050 ie a of glob lar bears to d to food. po ss of acce 22,000
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longer sufficient to replace melting summer ice. As the ice melts, so does the permafrost underneath soil that had been previously frozen solid. Organic material in the defrosting soil begins to decompose, like landfill, releasing more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In addition, thawing permafrost contributes to the albedo effect, just like melting sea ice.
Polar bears depend on summer sea ice to hunt seals, their main food source. These proud predators are becoming endangered as global warming destroys their habitat. A recent study concluded that two-thirds of the worlds 22,000 polar bears would disappear by 2050! Not only polar bears are threatened: recently thousands of Pacific walruses above the Arctic Circle were killed in a stampede triggered by receding sea ice, which the walruses require for rest.
Unlike already-floating sea ice, meltwaters from Greenlands glaciers will raise sea levels when they pour into the ocean. And were talking about a whole lot of water: Greenlands ice sheet contains about the same amount of water as the Gulf of Mexico! A large amount of water is also stored in the ice sheets of Antarctica, in the South Pole. Some scientists are beginning worry that global warming could eventually cause both the northern and southern polar ice sheets to completely melt, causing sea levels to rise by 6 feet or more! By comparison, sea levels rose less than 1 foot in the last century. For the planets polar regions its definitely time to cool it, before its too late!
Pol ar WarmING
Not-so-permafrost
Its not just sea ice thats melting. The vast, frozen Danish territory of Greenland is beginning to thaw, as winter snows are no
80% White objects, like ice, re ect most of the heat from the sun back into space The sea absorbs most of the heat from the sun. 80% After ice above the sea has melted, the temperature rises 10%
g the nshine , keepin color reflects su from ct: ices white ield the surface The Albedo Ef fe can no longer sh As ice melts, it surface cooler.
Because the ocean is getting warmer, more ice is melting, leaving less ice to re ect the suns heat 80%
10%
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CONSEQ UENCE
Scientists estimate that a similar period of Arctic warming happened about 125,000 years ago and resulted in sea levels 12-16 feet higher than todays! The warming impact of the greenhouse effect is accelerating: temperatures in the seas and surrounding lands of the Arctic region have increased by as much as 1C (2F) in the last decade.
Movie star Orlando Bloom joined a 3-week expedition to Antarctica to help his cousin, photographer Sebastian Copeland, take shots for the book Antarctica: The Global Warning, part of Copelands charitable work with the Global Green Initiative (http:// www.globalgreen.org/). Fellow stars Salma Hayek and Jake Gyllenhaal met up with their friend Bloom when the expedition reached northern Canada.
Want to help save the polar bears? Visit the Polar Bear S.O.S. Web site sponsored by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC): http://www.polarbearsos.org/. This useful and informative site includes a downloadable Polar Action Guide especially for kids, and also provides opportunities to donate and join email campaigns.
Want to learn more about shrinking Arctic sea ice? Visit a special interactive section of the New York Times Web site entitled Sea Ice in Retreat: http://www.nytimes. com/interactive/2007/10/01/science/20071002_ARCTIC_GRAPHIC.html. Use the interactive sliders on the site to view the changes in sea ice coverage from 2003-2007.
SOLU TION
Quotas and caps are fixed limits on total greenhouse gas emissions, one of the best ways for countries, cities, and communities to join together to fight global warming. The best example is the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement that set emissions caps for the worlds developed nations. The European Union has set even more strict limits for its member countries. In the absence of a nationwide cap in America, many individual States in the US have joined together to create regional emissions limits.
ating more than twice this level of annual emissions more than 7.5 billion tons and the volume is growing, not shrinking! The only way out of this man-made mess is to drastically reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere each year.
ve Leads: ion ha Europe uropean Un on metric lli eE .08 bi 8s of th nation issions at 2 riod of 200 to pe yo The 27 ir CO 2 Em r e 5-yea et its K ped th ear for the urope to me emissons cap eE er y 12 tons p is will enabl o reduce 20 . t h t T els 2012. l commitmen us 1990 lev o vers Protoc by 8%
Old refrigerators and freezers are major source of CFCs andthe Montreal Protocol requires them to be disposed of properly.
The Montreal Protocol banned aerosol sprays containing CFCs. CFCs are also very potent greenhouse gases!
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Des Moines
ARIZONA
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Detroit Chicago Columbus Washington ILLINOIS Indianapolis WEST OHIO VIRGINIA Springfield INDIANA Charleston Richmond Jefferson City Frankfort KENTUCKY Raleigh MISSOURI Nashville Columbia TENNESSEE ARKANSAS Little Rock Atlanta ALABAMA MISSISSIPPI LOUISIANA Jackson Baton Rouge Montgomery
Trading Scheme (EU-ETS). The stakes are high: any EU member-country that fails to meet its NAP will incur significant fines and penalties from the European Commission, the EUs enforcement agency.
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t abandoned federal governmen green) and Although the US (in ol, over 16 States the Kyoto Protoc proved local limits on greenap 1,000 cities have use gases. ho
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International treaties like the Kyoto Protocol can work! The best example is the Montreal Protocol, which saved our planets ozone layer by dramatically reducing global emissions of harmful chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone-depleting chemicals. Signed in 1987 and adopted by 191 countries, the Montreal Protocol will end up saving millions of people from skin cancer and countless billions of dollars in healthcare costs. Montreal is also helping Kyoto, as CFCs are also greenhouse gases! Want to save the planet and be Global Cool? Join celebrities Sienna Miller, Josh Hartnett, Orlando Bloom and KT Tunstall at Global Cool, a non-profit organization dedicated to cutting 10 billion tons of CO2 over the next decade! Visit the site at: http://www.globalcool.org/ to learn more and see how you can help.
Has your city or town committed to Kyoto Protocol emissions limits? Despite no federal commitment, more than 1,000 US mayors have signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which commits their cities to Kyoto targets and support of national greenhouse gas legislation. Find out if your city has signed up the Mayors Climate Protection Center site: http://usmayors.org/climateprotection/ ClimateChange.asp. If you dont see your city write to your mayor and ask why not!
Want to learn more about current government efforts to cap greenhouse gas emissions? Go to the Web site of the Pew Center for Global Climate Change at http:// www.pewclimate.org/what_s_being_done. Stay on top of the latest policy developments from the international community, the US Congress, State governments and regional initiatives.
SOLUTION
Our most powerful weapons against global warming are renewable energy sources: hydro, wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, wave/tidal, and other new green technologies. Because they tap the endless supply of power from the Sun and the Earths natural energy sources, these renewables are never depleted. Most importantly, renewable sources fight global warming by producing clean power without greenhouse gas emissions.
er plant thermal) pow f a CSP (solar ing Energy Systems. ing o Artists render System from Stirl ncentrate the Dish using Solar se reflective materials to co electricity. u into CSP systems to converting the energy Department e US prior future: th suns rays as an exciting will generate olar thermal h ates that new CSP plants 0. S m 02 of Energy esti an 7,000 megawatts by 2 ore th m
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electricity, and in Spain, where it accounts for 9% of the total. In the US, wind power installations grew by 45% in 2007, adding over 5,000 megawatts, or fully one-third of all new generating capacity.
Perhaps the most exciting renewable energy source is solar power, which comes in two forms: photovoltaic (PV) cells that use semiconductor material to convert sunlight directly into electricity; and concentrating solar power (CSP) systems also called solar thermal systems use mirrors that focus the Suns heat to drive large steam turbines. More than 3,000 megawatts of new CSP capacity are now being built in the US. PV systems have been costly, but government incentives have driven rapid growth. Now lower-cost solar PV products are beginning to hit the market, making the sun an even brighter source of future power!
Winds of change
Spotted any of those high-tech wind turbines? Wind power is growing fast, with over 74,000 megawatts of power installed worldwide through 2006. While still a tiny fraction of the overall world supply, wind has become an important power source in Denmark, where it provides 20% of all
t dam and the worlds larges tal cost of rges Dam, China: nmen Three Go human and enviro ctric system. The s, displacing millions of people, hydroele en enormou ion and this project has be bitats, and causing mountain eros dropower. life ha the limits of hy destroying wild ionary example of landslides. A caut
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Did you know that more solar energy hits the Earth in one hour than the entire world consumes in one year? All of Americas energy needs could theoretically be supplied by a 250-mile square of solar panels sited in the sunny southwest. Six of these solar squares, sited in the right places, could theoretically power the entire world. While todays solar technologies are too expensive to make this practical, costs are coming down fast, and the Sun is sure to play a huge role in the worlds future energy mix. In 2003, film star Edward Norton and solar panel maker BP Solar teamed up to create the Solar Neighbors Program: every time an invited celebrity purchases a BP solar system for their home, BP donates a similar system to be installed on a low-income familys home in South Central Los Angeles. By 2007 over 25 systems had been donated by celebrities including Ed Begley, Jr., Don Cheadle, Danny DeVito and Rhea Pearlman, Roland Emmerich, Larry Hagman, Daryl Hannah, Matchbox 20, Edward Norton, Carlos Santana, Alicia Silverstone, and Robin Williams. Visit the Solar Neighbors site for more info: http://www. bp.com/genericsection.do?categoryId=9018926&contentId=7034321
reNeWable eNerGy
Ready to go solar at home? Talk to your parents about putting solar panels on the roof. Photovoltaic (PV) systems have become more affordable, thanks to federal and state subsidies. Financing is also often available to cover upfront installation costs. Your parents can sign up for a free solar evaluation at the SunPower Web site: http://www.sunpowercorp.com/. Study renewable energy technologies in more depth by visiting a special Web site created by the US Department of Energy (DOE): http://www.eere.energy.gov/. The site includes extensive educational materials, including fun videos, for grades K-12, and also sponsors student internships involving volunteer work at the DOEs Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
One of global warnings worst consequences is rising sea levels caused by melting polar ice and mountain glaciers that will pour massive amounts of fresh water into the ocean. This sealevel rise is expected to cause widespread coastal flooding by the end of this century and, in some cases, higher ocean tides will engulf and destroy entire island communities.
Unwelcome icebreaker
Have you ever plopped too much ice into a glass of water, causing it to overflow? Thats whats starting to happen to our planet on a global scale, as ice shelves in Greenland and Antarctica begin to split apart (calve) and fall into the ocean. In addition to these unwelcome ice breakers, increased volumes of fresh water are pouring into the seas from melting glaciers in the polar and high-mountain regions including the Himalayas. The resulting flow will not be a drop in the bucket: the UNs IPCC scientific panel predicted that global warming will melt se a-level rIse
enough ice to raise sea levels by 1-2 feet during this century. Other scientists believe that the UN estimate is too low by at least a foot because polar ice particularly in western Antarctica -- seems to be melting much faster than expected.
Island in the Maldives. A 3-foot sea-level rise will make most of this 1,200-island chain in the Indian Ocean uninhabitable, displacing thousands of residents.
Islands in jeopardy
And then there are island communities: people with no place to go if the ocean
BEFORE
AFTER
ft) and d Africa before (le South America an a level. Red color indiView of North & se er (3-foot) rise in Gulf of Mexico ter (right) a 1-met af astal areas in the ). ooding of co NOAA simulations cates extensive fl th Americas (from ts of bo and eastern coas
se a-level rIse
BEFORE
AFTER
-meter after (right) a 1 before (left) and extensive flooding Australia tes View of Asia & Red color indica uinea, rise in sea level. donesia, New G (3-foot) ing Malaysia, In s includ China and India. of island nation astal regions of ell as the co and Japan, as w (NOAA simulations).
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and wells. By one estimate, a rise of 18 inches or more in the San Francisco Bay would push salty water deep into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, potentially contaminating fresh water supplies for 23 million Californians.
arctica (the et s ice is in Ant 90% of the plan (North Pole), Greenlands Over the Arctic orlds South Pole). In , and all of the w ld another 10% s account for less ice sheets ho rs and icecap remaining glacie total ice mass. than 1% of the
se a-level rIse
swallows their homes. For some island nations, rising seas are more than inconvenient they are catastrophic. For the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, and the Marshall Islands in the Pacific, a 3-foot rise in ocean levels would flood three-quarters of the islands dry land. Trouble has already visited the Maldives: a 2004 tsunami forced the evacuation of 13 islands; and, in 2006, 80 of the Maldives 1,200 islands experienced damaging tidal surges. Seawater flooding not only destroys property, it can also contaminate fresh water reservoirs
If all the planets ice melted, sea levels would rise by 80 meters (262 feet)! Fortunately, most of the worlds ice sheets remain frozen solid in East Antarctica.
not melting
West Antarctica
Greenland
26.3 Mkm3
3.3 Mkm3
8.1 meters (26 ft.)
2.6 Mkm3
6.6 meters (21 ft.)
0.2 Mkm3
CONSEQ UENCE
Dont turn off that Polar freezer! If all the ice sheets melted in Antarctica and Greenland, the worlds oceans would rise by an astounding 80 meters (262 feet)! This compares to the approximate half-meter (18-inch) rise caused by the melting of all other glaciers and ice fields on the planet. Fortunately, most of this Polar ice will not melt for a long time, despite the relentless assault of global warming. However, as we have seen, even small increases in sea levels create huge problems for the planet. Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder not only loves to surf in his spare time, but also is passionate about fighting climate change and protecting the worlds oceans. In recognition of his role as an ocean advocate and generous fundraiser, Eddie was named 2007 Environmentalist of the Year at the Watermans Ball charity fundraiser sponsored by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association.
No V e on B hicles each
Track rising sea-levels and other fingerprints of climate change on an interactive global map entitled Global Warming: Early Warning Signs, at http://www.climatehotmap.org/. This site is jointly produced by a number of advocacy groups including Environmental Defense, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NDRC), the Sierra Club, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. Visit these groups Web sites to see how you can get involved!
What happens to our cities as sea levels rise? How high can the ocean go before your community will be affected? Find out by visiting the Flood Maps Web site, which superimposes NASA satellite imagery on Google Maps: http://flood.firetree.net/. This site allows you to select different parts of the world and different sea-level rises from 0-14 meters (0-46 feet). Use the zoom function to see the flooding detail.
Is for trees
lIvestocK & l aNDfIll
SOLU TION
Trees and their forest ecosystems are an important part of the solution to global warming. Trees are significant carbon sinks, absorbing large amounts of CO2 as they grow via photosynthesis. Trees also provide shade to our homes and office buildings, reducing cooling requirements, thereby lowering power use and greenhouse gas emissions. Trees are also an exciting source of biofuels such as treethanol (cellulosic ethanol).
nual emissions of a fuel-efficient car like the Toyota Corolla. And, if every family in America planted just one tree, this could reduce CO2 emissions by 1 billion pounds (500,000 tons) every year! You may not hear any buzzing or whirring, but all those trees are working hard to clean our air!
trees
Carbon Cycle
123.3 60 Vegetarian 1.6 610 0,5 5,5 Fossil Fuels & Cement Production 4,000
Atmosphere 750
Soils 1,580
CO2
60
trees
ing tree can single, grow A ase ing fighter. year and rele Global warm f of CO 2 each 0 pounds . An acre o man beings bsorb over 3 a et rt 2 hu en to suppo ough to of fs nough oxyg s of CO 2, en e ton e sorb up to 6 nt car like th trees can ab a fuel-ef ficie rica planted e missions of the annual e family in Am by 1 bilnd, if every lla. A emissions Toyota Coro reduce CO 2 ar! e, this could ns) every ye just one tre (500,000 to lion pounds
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ical and tation in the trop ers: trees and vege America, Africa and Global cool rests of Latin , subtropical rainfo et s best defenses e among the plan e most reflective heast Asia ar Sout g th t CO2 and creatin absorbing the mos counteract global warming. cloud cover to
reduces air conditioning use in homes and office buildings by as much as 30%. Switching off air conditioners reduces electricity usage, allowing power plants to burn less fossil fuel, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Even better, trees are in fact natural air conditioners: on a hot day, the water evaporation from a single large tree can produce a cooling effect equivalent to that of 10 room-size air conditioners.
of trees including willows and poplars are being cultivated in farms to provide biofuel feedstock. Special bio-engineered enzymes break down the cellulose to liberate the sugars that are then distilled into ethanol. Unlike ethanol distilled from corn and other edible feedstock, treethanol does not divert food crops into energy production. Cellulosic ethanol should also be much more energy-efficient, with an energy balance of up to 16, i.e. treethanol yields up to 16 times the energy required to make it. By contrast, sugar cane-based ethanol has an energy balance of 8.3, and corn-based ethanol comes in at only 1.3.
Powered by "treethanol"
Trees can also be a renewable source of biofuels like treethanol, a nickname for cellulosic ethanol that is made from fibrous material that comprises the bulk of trees and grasses. Fast-growing species
trees
WOOD CHIPS
HEAT+ ENZYMES
HYDROGENATION
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Not all trees are created equal. Near the equator, tropical rainforests are doubly important to the planet. First, they store copious amounts of carbon from their rapid growth. Second, the hot, tropical climate elevates evaporation through leaves, creating cooling water vapor and reflective clouds. By contrast, trees can actually have a net warming effect in cold, snowy climates, by absorbing more sunlight than unforested snow-cover. Thats why tropical rainforests are the best place to plant trees! A growing list of rockers have chosen to offset their carbon emissions from touring and producing CDs by planting trees in locations across the world including: Coldplay (India & Mexico); Rolling Stones (Scotland); Dido (Mozambique); Pink Floyd (Mexico) and KT Tunstall (Scotland).
Plant a tree! Join the Global ReLeaf campaign of American Forests, whose goal is to plant 100 million trees by 2020. Visit the Web site at http://www.americanforests. org/ to learn more about challenges faced by Americas forests and how you can help. Every dollar that you contribute goes toward planting trees!
trees
Want to learn more about the worlds forests? Go the GreenFacts Web site at http:// www.greenfacts.org/en/forests/. GreenFacts does an excellent job of summarizing the latest scientific consensus report published by the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Go to the FAO Web site for a copy of the source document: http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/a0400e/a0400e00.htm.
CAUSE
Coal 49%
US Electricity Sources - 2006
comes s electricity of America . More fraction hydropower Only a small s including ssil able source and other fo from renew s from coal e to change. irds still com . This needs than two-th bal warning use glo fuels that ca
rease s to inc worker pe and Asia. erican in Euro ing Am e end ster urg rmies fighting ground. By th of II po ar a ck World W to support the acks in the ba for almost half in n th es t ted io k product g line of smo ctories accoun massive grow s! S fa e lon aw a Note th ar in 1945, U xt 20 years s e gas emission w ne us enho of the output! The and gre l ll globa ican industry a Amer
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UNIteD states
Kyoto no-show
Sadly, the US never ratified the Kyoto Protocol, citing the lack of binding emissions targets for developing countries like China, India and Indonesia. Today, America is the only major industrialized country that is not party to this United Nations treaty. The US government has historically opposed efforts to cap carbon emissions in favor of clean technology solutions that lower the carbon intensity of the economy by improving energy efficiency. Many economists and public officials disagree with this approach, arguing that emissions can only be reduced through hard quotas (caps) or even direct taxation of carbon emitted.
states of change
In the absence of action by the federal (national) US government, Americas indiOn average, each American generates over 24 tons of greenhouse gases each year. This is nearly twice the average for industrialized countries (14.1 tons) and over 7 times the average for developing countries (3.3 tons)
CO2e / person
vidual States have stepped up to join the fight against global warming. Six western States led by California have created the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) to limit emissions in the region. Similarly, 7 eastern States led by New York created the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) that establishes emissions quotas with a cap-and-trade system similar to that of the European Union. To date over 30 States and 1,000 cities in the US have approved measures to combat global warming. Over 40 States have energy efficiency standards for new building and construction. Over 17 have enacted mandates for renewable power and incentives for ethanol biofuels. The States have begun the fight against climate change: can the federal government be far behind?
CO2e / person
24.5 tons
CO2e / person
10.4 tons
CO2e / person
8.7 tons
3.9 tons
CO2e / person
1.9 tons
USA
Japan
France
China
India
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With so many automobiles on the road, America must lead the world in car fuel efficiency, right? Wrong! With a current standard of 27.5 miles per gallon (mpg), the US recently set a target of 35 mpg for new cars sold in 2020. That future US level is already surpassed today by Japan and Europe whose new cars currently average 40 mpg!
UNIteD states
Actors Woody Harrelson and Edward Norton Jr. are both big supporters of Focus the Nation, a non-profit dedicated to educating young Americans (mainly university students) on global warming solutions. Over 1,750 educational institutions have signed up for teach-ins and other activities. Find out more at http://www.focusthenation.org/.
The United States is the only industrial country in the world that has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions!
Do you support a national law that limits US greenhouse gas emissions? Learn more about current State and federal legislation to fight global warming at the Web site of the Natural Resources Defense Council: http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/. Visit the NRDC Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action/to find out how you can become an activist. Doing more research on Americas role in global warming? Dont miss the Web site of the US Energy Information Administration at http://www.eia.doe.gov/environment. html. The EIA compiles the definitive statistics on the nations energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Data are available in file formats including Microsoft Excel and Adobe Acrobat.
SOLU TION
Voluntary offsets allow you to reduce your carbon footprint by paying to eliminate greenhouse gases generated elsewhere. They are a good way to offset emissions that cannot be reduced directly, e.g. airline flights. However, voluntary offsets should be used only as a supplement not a substitute to your direct efforts to reduce carbon emissions. In addition, be sure to buy only the highest-quality offsets available.
Youre turning off and unplugging appliances and home electronics after use. Youve even replaced most of your incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient fluorescent ones. And, to top it all off, you convinced your parents buy a hybrid car and pay a small premium to purchase renewable electricity from your local power company. Congratulations: by significantly reducing carbon emissions, you and your family are making a real difference in the fight against global warming! That feels pretty good, doesnt it?
ality its are the highest qu Standard carbon cred Gold dard credailable. All Gold Stan voluntary of fsets av are genero Protocol rules, and its comply with Kyot iency energy or energy ef fic ated from renewable nefits. able development be projects with sustain
volUNtary offsets
Plans Family Flight & Calculates Emissions (San Fran. to L.A. for 4)
$29.13
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E ne Renewable carbon offsets but ar to allow are simil only. They electricity reen, are for to buyg your family ctricity even if your ele offer renewable ny doesnt wer compa sets: the RECs local po carbon off om s work like eneration projects fr tion. REC that op ricity g t will l fund elect mass) tha you buy wil urces (wind, solar, bio grid. Learn so ric renewable of the countrys elect become part eEnergys Web site: tiv more at Na ativeenergy.com. ://w w w.n http
Be careful if a provider is selling CO2 credits at a very low price per ton, or does not describe in detail the carbon-saving project that will be funded by your purchase. Most importantly, be sure that the carbon credits you purchase adhere to a recognized quality standard. There is only one carbon standard that this book can recommend without any reservation: The Gold Standard, which applies the same certification process used in the Kyoto Protocol. The Gold Standard is endorsed by over 49 non-governmental organizations worldwide, including the World Wildlife Fund, and is administered by a nonprofit foundation based in Switzerland. If you are unable to find Gold Standard offsets, look for credits certified with the Voluntary Carbon Standard, a new standard endorsed by a number of non-profit and for-profit organizations active in the carbon markets.
volUNtary offsets
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Selling voluntary carbon offsets has become a big industry, with many businesses hoping to profit from consumers desire to fight global warming. Over $90 million of offsets were sold in 2006, and volume may reach $4 billion by 2010! Unfortunately, many of the carbon credits sold to date have been of questionable quality. As a consumer, do your own research to make sure that you buy only the highest quality, certified offsets from a reputable provider.
Back to the future! In 2006 the Dave Matthews Band bought 18,000 tons of CO2 credits to offset all of the bands emissions since 1991, when they first started touring. The band worked with two highly regarded groups, NativeEnergy and Cool Air-Clean Planet, to purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) that provided funding for Native American-owned wind farms in the Great Plains. Visit the NativeEnergy Web site to learn more: http://www.nativeenergy.com/.
Ready to buy some offsets for those unavoidable carbon emissions in your life? Look for Gold Standard certified credits that are available online from a number of reputable providers including Climate Friendly (https://climatefriendly.com/). Gold Standard credits are generated exclusively from renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, guaranteeing a positive impact on the environment. Learn more at the Gold Standard site: http://www.cdmgoldstandard.org/.
volUNtary offsets
Become an expert on voluntary carbon offsets. Download two research reports that evaluate various carbon credit providers. In 2006, non-profit Clean Air Cool Planet published its Consumers Guide to Retail Carbon Offset Providers, available at http:// www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/ConsumersGuidetoCarbonOffsets.pdf. More recently, in 2007, the Tufts Climate Initiative published Voluntary Offsets for Air-Travel Carbon Emissions, available at http://www.tufts.edu/tie/tci/pdf/TCI_Carbon_Offsets_Paper_April-2-07.pdf.
CONSEQUENCE
. In late rn California es in Southe ore hing hom ia burned m Fire approac ern Californ mes and res in South d 2,000 ho 2007 wildfi of the es, destroye 00 acr aking it one than 500,0 damages, m ears. $1 billion in ters in 25 y caused over atural disas n most costly
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cally by 2035 as a result of global warming. This could have disastrous consequences for the 1.3 billion people who depend on 7 major rivers fed by the Himalayas: the Ganges (India); the Indus (Pakistan); the Brahmaputra (Bangladesh); the Mekong (Southeast Asia); the Irrawaddy (Myanmar); and the Yellow and Yangzi rivers of China.
CONSEQ UENCE
After Antarctica, Africa has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of any continent, yet it will be among the hardest hit by climate change especially drought. The UNs IPCC science panel concluded that Africas food production would be severely compromised by global warming, with an estimated 232,000 square miles of crop land becoming unusable desert. Thats an area larger than the States of California and Florida combined! Fired up! In January 2008, country music star Garth Brooks traveled to Los Angeles to perform 5 concerts in 2 days to raise money for the Southern California 2008 Fire Intervention Relief Effort (F.I.R.E). The money raised will go to help victims of the 2007 wildfires that burned more than 500,000 acres, destroyed 2,000 homes and caused over $1 billion in damages, making it one of the most costly natural disasters in 25 years.
No Fish
Boat Rentals
ing
Only you can prevent wildfires! Humans caused about 83% of the 96,000+ US wildfires in 2006 -- through carelessness and arson (deliberate fire-starting). The US Forest Service introduced Smokey Bear in 1944 to teach people how destructive forest fires can be and how to prevent them. Smokeys message is even more important today, as we endure the hot, dry summers fostered by global warming. Visit Smokeys Web site at http://www.smokeybear.com/ to learn more and see how you can get involved.
Learn more about the impact of drought and wildfires on fish and wildlife by reading a report by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) entitled Fueling the Fire, available for download at http://www.nwf.org/globalwarming/pdfs/FuelingTheFire.pdf. Visit the NWF Web site (http://www.nwf.org/globalwarming/) to see how you help save the animals by battling climate change.
Is for eXtINctIoN
lIvestocK & l aNDfIll
CO NS EQ UE NC E
Up to 30% of all animal and plant species are threatened with extinction as Earths climate changes. At most risk are the planets most unique and vulnerable ecosystems: the Polar Regions, high mountain environments, and ocean habitats. Because our ecosystems are all interdependent, most species will feel the effects of global warming.
?????
the Quino checkerspot butterfly, prized by collectors in California and Mexico for the colorful checkerboard pattern of brown, red and yellow spots on its wings. Then theres the Western tanager, a migratory songbird with beautiful red, yellow and black feathers, and a distinctive hoarse cry. Or how about the bull trout found in cold, high mountain lakes and rivers of the American West, famous with anglers for being tough to land? Or what about the amazing Arctic fox, which has adapted to survive the sub-freezing temperatures of Arctic winters and is the only member of the dog family whose fur can change color. On the other side of the world lives the king penguin, a proud, deep-diving predator the feeds off fish and squid in the freezing depths of Antarcticas northern shores. These animals are all very different, but they have one thing in common: their survival is in peril as global warming threatens their natural habits.
e X tINctIoN
?????
Animals and plants are migrating closer to the Poles to escape global warming. What happens when they cant go any further?
Globally endangered
Climate change has begun to have a serious, irreversible impact on our planets ecosystems. The UNs IPCC scientific panel estimates that up to 30% of plant
Before
Antarctica: King penguins in ce food redu warmer waters sh and squid. population of fi
e X tINctIoN
ice lting sea eria: me ds, forcing x in Sib Arctic fo g hunting groun . in is shrink migration north
e: cold alpine lakes and Bull trout in Oregon lak as snow pack melts. rivers are disappearing
xico: hot, erfly, Me abitat. butt nd h ckerspot uino che is killing scrubla Q her dry weat
Western tanager in Oreg on: migration is disrupted as warmer weather alters insect lifecycle.
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fate as its much larger cousin the polar bear: melting sea ice is shrinking hunting grounds, reducing populations and forcing migration further toward the North Pole. And, in the South Pole, the king penguin is threatened as the Indian Ocean warms up around Antarctica, reducing the population of cold-water fish and squid that adult kings feed on.
imal and plant Over 16,000 an reatened, and ady th species are alre aking things al warming is m glob worse.
and animal species are at risk of extinction if global temperatures rise another 1.5-2.5C (2.7-4.5F). A prior comprehensive research survey was even more pessimistic, predicting that more than one million species could be driven toward extinction by 2050 if global warming wasnt stopped! So its no surprise to hear that the Quino checkerspot butterfly is disappearing from southern Mexico as hot, dry weather steadily destroys the scrubland that its larvae depend on. And the Western tanager often finds an unwelcome surprise during its migration: no bugs to feed on as warmer weather alters insect lifecycles. Those feisty bull trout are discovering that their habitat is literally melting away as the mountain snowpack disappears, causing lakes and rivers to dry up. The Arctic fox is suffering the same
osystem ing Destroys the Ec How Global Warm
e X tINctIoN
Beetles eventually kill trees, eliminating pine nuts as source of food for grizzly bears
CONSEQ UENCE
Movin on up. Both animals and plants are moving to cooler climates in response to global warming. Thats the conclusion of an influential 2003 University of Texas study of 1,700 different species of birds, butterflies and alpine herbs in North America and Europe. They found that since 1950, these species were shifting northward at an average rate of 3.8 miles per decade, and retreating to higher altitudes at an average rate of 20 feet per decade!
e X tINctIoN
Emperor penguins have starred in a couple of award-winning films about the environment and global warming. Australian-produced Happy Feet featured a colony of animated penguins with the voices of famous actors including Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams and Hugh Jackman. It won the Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Animated Feature. The French documentary, March of the Penguins, traces the arduous journeys of real-life penguins in Antarctica. The movie took more than 1 year to shoot and won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Check out both of these films!
By one estimate, as many as 150 species are going extinct every day! Find out what local species are at risk in your community by using the WildFinder search tool on the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), where you can find the status of 26,000 different species by name or place: http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildfinder/. Become an activist on behalf of wildlife and wild places by joining the WWFs Conservation Action Network: http://wwf.worldwildlife.org/site/PageServer?pagename=can_home.
What species are most at risk? Where are the worlds danger spots? Find the answers on dazzling color-coded maps at the WorldMapper Web site: http://www.worldmapper.org/display.php?selected=269. The Species at Risk map (#269) graphically shows you where the worlds 16,000+ threated species are most at risk. Download a color poster version of the chart at http://www.worldmapper.org/posters/worldmapper_map269_ver5.pdf.
Is for yoU
lIvestocK & l aNDfIll
SOLU TION
History has shown us that one individual can change the world! You, your family, and your friends can play a big role in battling climate change. Start by reducing your personal carbon footprint, and then take what youve learned to help your school, neighborhood, town and country fight global warming.
Parks, who had the courage to fight racism on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955, launching a generation of civil rights activists including Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. So, if you ever find yourself wondering if just one person can make a difference in the fight against global warming, think of these remarkable heroes: you CAN make a difference!
yoU: at home
Of course the climate change battle begins at home. You can reduce your personal carbon footprint by 1 ton or more of CO2 per year at little or no cost, simply by taking simple steps described in this book. For a family of four these savings grow to 4 tons of CO2 per year, and for all Americans the CO2 reductions would total about 300 million tons! Thats about 4% of all US greenhouse gas emissions that could be eliminated with little time, trouble or money!
yoU
Sierra Club founder John Muir (right) with US President Theodore Roosevelt at Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park, 1906. One person CAN make a difference: Muir convinced Roosevelt to put Yosemite under federal protection.
yoU: at school
Take what you learn at home and apply it at school. Does your school have a student committee or club focused on
nda poster US propaga mous r in iveter: a fa oward Mille Rosie the R y artist J. H db pWar II create tory worker, Rosie ca from World fac e message l wartime it, sending th same 42. A typica 19 g spir he rican fightin if ference. T red the Ame tu ld make a d itizen cou al warming. that every c against glob r the battle holds true fo
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r of fers a ce! Young protesto stration N make a differen on You CA 67 dem police during a 19 ests played a flower to military . Student prot m War against the Vietna le in ending that war. significant ro
climate change or the environment? If so, see how you can get involved; if an organization doesnt yet exist, considering creating one with your friends. Many schools have already been able to reduce their carbon footprint significantly through organized efforts among faculty, students and parents. Does your school curriculum include coursework on global warming? If not, ask why not, as its important for all students to understand the science of climate change and its implications for our planet.
the US emission reduction targets of the Kyoto Protocol (7% reduction from 1990 emissions level). The agreement also requires cities to support state and federal laws to enforce the Kyoto targets and establish a national emission trading system. In addition, find out what concrete steps your city is taking right now to reduce its carbon footprint: this information is usually available on your citys Web site or through your community newspaper. If youre not satisfied with your communitys efforts, get involved!
=
1 ton CO2 Reduced per person X 300 million people =
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According to one study, Americans could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 64 million tons each year simply by walking just 30 minutes each day instead of driving! The same study pointed out that the average person would also lose 13 pounds in a year. Its the best of both worlds: stay in shape while saving the planet!
Former Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore donated all of his Nobel Prize Money about $750,000 -- to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a non-profit group that he co-founded. The Alliance has launched a high-profile publicity campaign to persuade the American people and people elsewhere in the world of the importance and urgency of adopting and implementing effective and comprehensive solutions for climate change. Find out more at: http://www.climateprotect.org/.
Help your school in the fight against climate change. Check out the Classroom section of the Stop Global Warming Web site at: http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/sgw_ classroom.asp. Youll find many helpful suggestions and tips on how you can raise awareness at school and mobilize students, faculty and parents to take action on global warming.
While global warming is the most serious natural threat weve ever faced, its important to understand that we have successfully battled other serious environmental challenges including deforestation, endangered species, air and water pollution, and toxic waste. Learn more about the 150-year history of the environmental movement in America at Ecotopia.orgs Ecology Hall of Fame Web site: http:// www.ecotopia.org/ehof/timeline.html. Get inspired!
yoU
Each of us becomes part of the solution when we minimize our daily carbon emissions. Our long-term goal: become carbon neutral, by reducing our net emissions to zero. While we cant become carbon neutral overnight, there are many simple steps we can take right now to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint. Over the longer term, exciting new green technologies promise to move us close to zero
ates direct emissions by burning heating oil, natural gas or propane to provide heat and hot water. You also create emissions indirectly by using electricity for air conditioning, lighting, appliances and electronic equipment. While electric power creates no direct emissions at home, it creates emissions elsewhere: most utility power plants burn fossil fuels -- mainly coal, the dirtiest fuel of all. All told, about 1 out of every 6 tons of US CO2 emissions come from homes like yours! Fortunately, there are now ways for you and your family to make a big dent in or even eliminate your homes carbon footprint.
moving to zero
Of course the easiest and cheapest way to lower your home emissions is by reducing energy consumption: turn down the thermostats for your furnace and water heater; take short showers (not baths); turn off lights and electronic equipment when not in use; replace burnt-out incandescent lights with fluorescent ones; run dishwashers and laundry units only when they are full, using cold water cycles; and use fans instead of air conditioners.
Hydrogen-powered
All-Electric
100% Bio-fueled
In early 2008 the US Department of Energy and the State of Hawaii announced the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, a program to generate 70% of Hawaiis energy needs from renewable sources by 2030, cutting the Islands crude oil consumption by 72%
In 2003 Iceland began testing hydrogen vehicles in its drive to zero-out fossil fuel consumption by 2050. Already over 70% of Icelands energy comes from renewable sources, primarily geothermal (53%) and hydropower (17%). Almost 90% of Icelandic homes are heated by geothermal energy.
In 1996, the southern Swedish city of Vxj declared its intention to become fossil fuel free. By 2006 Vxj had cut its per capita carbon emissions by 30% through increased use of renewables and aggressive conservation measures. Nicknamed the greenest city in Europe, Vxj renewed its commitment in 2006 by vowing to cut emissions by a further 50% by 2010 and 70% by 2025 (vs. 1993 levels).
Since 2005, the Japanese government has o ered large incentives to homeowners who purchase zero-emissions home fuel cells that generate heat and electricity by converting natural gas into clean water vapor. The government hopes to have 1.2 million systems installed in Japanese homes by 2010.
Iceland
UK
Sweden
Japan
Hawaii
Israel
Abu Dhabi
In January 2006, the village of Ashton Hayes in northwest England announced its intention to become the rst carbon-neutral village in the UK by dramatically improving energy e ciency and switching to renewable power sources. The results for 2007 were encouraging: emissions declined by 20%!
In early 2008, the Israeli government announced its support of a new plan to sell and service all-electric vehichles through a joint venture by automaker Renault-Nissan and start-up Project Better Place. Renault plans to deliver its 100% electric vehicles in 2011, after Project Better Place has built recharging stations throughout the country. Israeli citizens will receive tax incentives to purchase the zero-emissions vehicles.
Middle Eastern city-state Abu-Dhabi plans to build the worlds rst carbon-neutral city, Masdar City. Abu-Dhabi plans to invest $22 billion to build a car-free city that will be home to 50,000 residents by 2016. Masdar City will generate all its power from renewable sources such as solar and wind, and will use 75% less electricity than conventional cities through high energy e ciency.
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ral areas, some homes can do the same thing with a wind turbine in the backyard! In Japan, some homeowners can now install fuel-cell units that provide both heat and electricity by converting natural gas into harmless water vapor.
These are simple steps that will not only dramatically shrink your familys carbon footprint but also save money on your utility bills. But if you really want to zero out home emissions you need to power up with zero-carbon energy sources including solar, wind and fuel cells.
Zero emIssIoNs
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Some cities are already driving toward zero carbon by eliminating the fossil fuels that power their cars, trucks and buses. In 1996 the southern Swedish city of Vxj declared its intention to become fossil fuel free. Icelands capital city of Reykjavik began testing hydrogen vehicles in 2003 as a step toward eliminating fossil fuel consumption by 2050. And in the boldest move yet, Abu Dhabi plans to invest $22 billion to build Masdar City, the worlds first carbon-neutral city that will be completely car-free while housing 50,000 residents by 2016.
Hollywood films are going carbon-neutral! After producing the movie version of Al Gores An Inconvenient Truth, executives at Paramount Vantage decided that all of their internally produced films would be carbon-neutral, including their most recent Academy Award winner, There Will Be Blood. Carbon emissions from film production are offset with renewable energy offsets purchased from Native Energy.
Zero emIssIoNs
Want to get really serious about going carbon neutral? Look into forming or joining a CRAG (Carbon Rationing Action Group), a support group for your neighborhood, school or town that holds all members to strict limits on carbon emissions. The CRAG movement began in the UK and has spread to the US and Canada. To learn more about CRAGs visit the carbonrationing.org Web site: http://www.carbonrationing.org.uk/ Develop an in-depth understanding of Americas carbon footprint by visiting the Web site of the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), which keeps the official energy and emissions statistics of the US Government. Youll find an online version of the Emissions of Greenhouse Gases Report at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ ggrpt/.
2
The tips that follow are divided into three different groups -- Bronze, Silver, and Gold -- based on the amount of upfront spending required. The actions in the Bronze checklist are all easy and zero-cost; in fact your family will instantly start saving money as soon as youre done! The actions in the Silver checklist require some modest upfront spending but most of them will pay for themselves through the energy savings they generate. The Gold-level actions require larger upfront investments, and are appropriate when your family is considering a major purchase decision such as buying a new car,
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replacing appliances, or remodeling the house. Regardless of your familys budget youll see that you can have a huge impact on carbon emissions by following these tips!
Setting a baseline
We will measure the impact of our carbon-saving actions against the direct emissions of a typical American family of 4. By direct emissions we mean the emissions that are under the direct control of family members, including home heating
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actions on the Gold checklist, as the total carbon savings from insulation and new windows would in reality total significantly below 20,000 pounds, the total annual emissions from the gas furnace system. The Bronze checklist also includes savings from eating less meat, even though the familys direct emissions do not capture the embedded carbon in food and other products that they buy. But dont get too hung up on the details: the savings figures on the checklists are simply ballpark estimates; your familys actual results will vary, but they will definitely be big!
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Before savings, our typical family of 4 flies a total of 4,200 air miles and generates 5,000 pounds of CO2 each year.
it reaches your kitchen, that hamburger, steak or bacon has generated many times its weight in greenhouse gases. By one estimate, a single cheeseburger generates over 6 pounds of equivalent CO2 emissions! Another recent study concluded that, on average, the typical meat-rich American diet generates 3,000 pounds more CO2 emissions per year than a vegan (meat-free) diet. It follows that an easy and effective way to cut your familys carbon footprint is to simply eat less meat.
Actions
Eat less meat. Make 25% of family meals meat-free (vegetarian) (Calculation assumes 4 persons) Recycle all paper, plastic, glass and metal containers Limit showers to 8 minutes or less, saving hot water (Calculation for 4 persons) Turn down the thermostat in winter. During cold months lower your heaters thermostat by 5F for 8 hours at night (while sleeping), and 10F for 8 hours during the day (while away) Reduce household waste by 10%: buy in bulk; avoid products with excessive packaging Minimize fireplace use; keep damper closed when not in use. Use a clothesline. In good weather, air-dry your familys laundry instead of using a clothes dryer Turn down your hot water heater. Set your hot water heater thermostat to 120F or lower Take fewer baths and more showers to save hot water (Calculation for 4 persons) Turn up the thermostat in summer. During hot months, set your air conditioners thermostat to 75F or higher Grow your own fruits and vegetables. Plant your own organic garden fertilized by compost from kitchen waste Put your computer(s) to sleep. Set computer(s) to sleep after 10 minutes of inactivity Power down. Unplug electronic equipment when not in use, to cut standby power use Run dishwasher with full loads only. Use energy-saver settings and dont use heat-dry feature. Reduce junk mail. Contact direct marketing firms to opt out of junk mail Drive smart. Reduce highway-driving speed and avoid sudden stops and starts. (Calculation assumes 1,500 lbs. CO2 saved per car). Fly less. Stay closer to home and reduce your annual air-miles (Calculation assumes reduction of 500 miles each, 2,000 total for 4 persons) Use public transit instead of driving. If you must drive, carpool. (Calculation assumes 700 lbs. CO2 saved per car). Drive less. Bike or walk to school instead of driving (Calculation assumes 700 lbs. CO2 saved per car). Keep car tires properly inflated. (Calculation assumes 250 lbs. CO2 saved per car).
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Get creative: add more pasta, vegetable and bean dishes to the weekly menu: eating 25% less meat will reduce emissions by 3,000 pounds for an average American family of 4. And, since meat is the most expensive item on your grocery list, your family will also save money while helping the environment! Drive smart. The family car is a major source of carbon emissions. As we learned in A is for Automobiles, the bigger your car, the lower your gas mileage and the higher your emissions. But you dont have to buy a new, more fuel-efficient car to make a difference: even the largest vehicle can be driven in a way that can dramatically reduce emissions. One of the best ways to improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions is to reduce your freeway driving speed. By one estimate, slowing down from 75 miles per hour (mph) to 65 mph on the highway can save 1,500 pounds per year for the average vehicle (3,000 pounds for 2 cars); and the savings are even larger for heavier vehicles like SUVs. Want to save even more? Keeping tires properly inflated can significantly boost gas mileage by reducing drag save up 250 pounds per vehicle, or 500
pounds for 2 cars each year. Lastly, ask your parents to drive gently, avoiding sudden starts and stops: not only does it improve gas mileage but its safer for pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers! Fly less. As we found in J is for Jets & Transport, air travel can easily become one of the largest sources of carbon emissions for your family. A roundtrip trip across the US for a family of 4 generates over 22,000 pounds of equivalent CO2 emissions, almost one-third of our typical American familys total emissions for the entire year! Take your vacations closer to home; youll reduce carbon emissions while avoiding expensive airfares and hassles at the airport. For any trip less than 500 miles each way, consider driving versus flying. Because planes burn the most fuel on take-off, short haul flights generate more emissions per air mile than longer ones. A family of 4 will save up to 4,000 pounds of carbon emissions by making the roundtrip in a car instead of a plane. Or how about this: have your family agree to reduce air travel by 500 miles per person each year; that adds up to less money for airline tickets and about 2,200 pounds of avoided carbon emissions!
cycle all paper, plastic, glass and metal containers? Do you avoid buying products with excessive packaging that will end up in the garbage? As we learned in L is for Livestock & Landfill, recycling and minimizing household waste reduces the size of landfill and prevents the build-up of damaging methane emissions from decaying trash. Cutting household waste by just 10% -- by buying in bulk and avoiding products with excessive packaging can save about 1,000 pounds per year for a family of 4. Recycling can have an even bigger impact, as renewed products made from recycled materials generate far less carbon emissions than new ones by avoiding the need to acquire and process new raw materials. For example, recycling newspapers saves trees that would have otherwise been cut down to create fresh newsprint. Similarly, bottles and cans made from recycled plastics and aluminum use less energy and generate fewer emissions than brand-new containers. By making recycling a simple weekly habit, a typical family of 4 can save about 1,700 pounds of CO2 each year. Save an additional 90 pounds of CO2 every year a couple of trees by having
or less: youll Limit showers to 8 minutes s & water. save lots of energy, emission
your family opt out of junk mail such as unwanted calendars and solicitations. Use less hot water. It may be hard to believe, but that hot water heater tucked away in your homes basement or closet is a major source of carbon emissions. Thats because it takes a lot of energy to heat up water and keep it hot until its used. This energy comes from electricity, natural gas, or heating oil, depending on your type of heater, and your hot water is consequently the source of serious carbon emissions either at the electric power plant, or through the exhaust vent in your roof. As we learned in E is for Energy Efficiency, the average American home offers many easy opportunities to cut energy use and emissions, and water heating is a prime target. After space heating and electricity use, water heating is the third largest energy consumer in the average home, accounting for roughly one-sixth of total household energy use and carbon emissions. This means that you can create big savings by making small changes in your familys hot water habits. Limiting showers to 8 minutes or less can save 1,400 pounds per year for a family of 4. Eliminating baths in favor of showers can save another 400 pounds.
Running the dishwasher with full loads reduces hot water use and saves another 200 pounds. Last but not least, ask your parents to turn down the water heater thermostat to 120F, saving another 550 pounds by keeping the water slightly cooler but still comfortable. Turn down the thermostat. As we learned in E is for Energy Efficiency, buildings including our homes -- are the single largest sources of carbon emissions, creating more greenhouse gases each year than either the transportation or manufacturing sectors. In fact, for most homes, space heating is the single largest source of carbon emissions. The easiest way to reduce emissions from heating is to turn down the thermostat during winter months. When the weathers cold outside, wear a comfortable sweater inside and set your thermostat between 66-68F: youll save 600-1,300 pounds of CO2 annually versus a setting of 70F, only 2-4F higher. Use a programmable thermostat to save even more energy and emissions by having it automatically lower the temperature by 5F when everyones sleeping, then warm things back up in the morning. Similarly, program your thermostat to lower the temperature by 10F during the day, when nobodys home, then warm things back up in
Cut carbon emissions and air pollution by minimizing fireplace use. Reduce drafts (and heating bills) by keeping the damper closed when not using.
the evening. Your family will reduce emissions by over 1,300 pounds each year by using these smart thermostat settings. Finally, a note on fireplaces: if you have one, use it sparingly, and close the damper tightly after every use. A wood-burning fireplace is a very inefficient heat source compared to a furnace, as most of the warmth escapes up the chimney. Keeping the damper open after use is equivalent to leaving a window open! Moreover, traditional fireplaces generate lots of CO2 and other pollutants. Youll save up to 900 pounds of CO2 each year by not using your fireplace and keeping the damper tightly shut at all times. Drive less. We already saw how smarter
Leave the car at home: save money and reduce emissions by using mass transit.
driving and proper car maintenance can reduce carbon emissions dramatically, but what about the other obvious step: driving less? Not surprisingly, one of the best ways to cut CO2 emissions is to get out of the family car(s) and use other forms of transportation. Your mother or father can avoid up to 700 pounds of CO2 emissions each year by leaving the car in the garage and commuting to work using public transportation via bus, trolley, train, or subway. If both parents use mass transit, those savings can double to 1,400 pounds. If public transport is not an option in your neighborhood, carpooling cuts emissions by onehalf or more. You can also do your part by walking or riding a bike to school and your extracurricular activities. Save about 500 pounds of CO2 each year by traveling on your own leg-power it will also help you stay in shape! Power down. The second biggest source of emissions in your home is the electricity that powers your appliances, televisions, computers, and air conditioners. You may wonder where these emissions come from, since electricity seems completely clean and completely invisible whenever you plug into a socket and flip the on switch. What you dont see are the big, dirty power plants at the other end of the transmission line; in fact, as we learned in E is for Energy Efficiency, electricity generation creates about 40% of all carbon emissions, mainly from coal-fired plants. Your family can help reduce these power plant emissions and save money on the monthly utility bill -- by taking simple steps to cut electricity use.
eletricnics continue to draw TVs and other electro while in standby mode. ns ity and create emissio of f the power strip after switch Pull the plug or every use.
Does your home have an electric clothes drier? In good weather, use a clothesline to air-dry your laundry instead. Youll save up to 700 pounds of CO2 emissions each year, and your clothes will smell naturally fresh! If you use air conditioning during hot weather, set the thermostat to 75F or higher: youll save big on your electric bill and reduce annual carbon emissions by about 360 pounds. Lastly, take a close look at your homes computers and electronics including TVs, videogame consoles, and stereo equipment. Make sure that your computer is set to sleep after 10 minutes or less of inactivity youll save up to 250 pounds of CO2 emissions each year. Dont let your TV and other electronics drain power in standby, as this mode continues to draw lots of power even after youve press the off switch. Instead, plug all electronics into a power strip that you can switch off after use. This easy step can reduce annual carbon emissions by about 240 pounds.
even more? Want to save ext) evel sectio (n in the Silver-L more tips
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fossil fuels, mainly coal, to generate power. After fossil fuels, nuclear power is the next largest source of electricity, accounting for about 20% of total generating capacity in the US. Though splitting uranium atoms generates no carbon emissions, we learned in N is for Nuclear Power that atomic reactors have been plagued by dangerous accidents and generate significant quantities of toxic nuclear waste. This means
For your homes electrical needs, buy green power from wind, solar and other renewable sources.
Actions
Buy green power: electricity generated from renewable sources. Insulate your attic: reduce thermal loss through your roof. Weatherize your home: add weather stripping and caulking to doors and leaky windowsills. Install ceiling fans; reduce air conditioning use during summer months. A ceiling fan can make a room feel 6-7F cooler! Use CFL lighting: Replace 5 conventional incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient 25-watt compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Plant 5 trees to shade your home and absorb CO2. (Calculation assumes 100 lbs CO2 saved per tree) Tune up your furnace: have it serviced professionally once a year. Tune up your air conditioner(s): clean air filters as directed and service unit(s) once a year. Install low-flow showerheads to reduce hot water usage. Wrap your water heater. If your water heater is more than 10 years old, wrap it with an insulating jacket (newer models are already wellinsulated). Replace your old TV with a an LCD model (plasma and old cathoderay TVs use more power). Have car(s) serviced regularly: keep engine tuned (Calculation assumes 500 lbs. CO2 saved per car). Check car air filter(s) monthly, replace when dirty (Calculation assumes 500 lbs. CO2 saved per car). Take the train or bus. Traveling less than 500 miles? Short flights are carbon-intensive; trains and buses have lower emissions and may even save time.
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that every time you flip an on switch in your home, youre probably adding more CO2 into the atmosphere or creating more radioactive waste. Fortunately, theres something that you can do to change this: buy green power for your familys electricity needs. Green power is electricity generated from zero-carbon, sustainable energy sources including hydro, geothermal, wind, and solar. Check with your local electric provider to see if it offers a green power program to consumers like you. Look for the Green-e logo that certifies that the electricity youre buying comes from renewable sources. You should expect your monthly electricity bill to go up slightly, as green power costs more than electricity generated from fossil fuels and nuclear. If your power company doesnt offer a green program you can still convert your familys electricity into green power indirectly by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). By purchasing RECs, your family is subsidizing the generation of more-expensive green power in another community. Although a different family in a different part of the country uses this green power, the net carbon reduction is the same as if this was zero-carbon electricity used by your family. The carbon savings from green power can be huge: about 20,000 pounds of CO2 per year for our typical family of 4! Insulate your home. How old is your home? The older it is, the more drafty its likely to be, which forces your furnace to work harder to keep things warm in colder weather. The harder your furnace works, the more
Insulate your attic for big sav ings in cooling costs and carbon em heating/ issions.
fuel it burns, sending more CO2 emissions out of your homes roof vent. It follows that a better insulated home will generate significantly less carbon emissions by allowing your furnace to stay off for longer periods. Even if your home is old and drafty, there are a couple of steps that dont cost much and quickly pay for themselves by lowering your familys monthly heating bill. The easiest thing to do is add insulation to your homes attic space, which can dramatically reduce heat loss through the roof and save up to 15% on your heating bill. This project can by done at a modest cost by your parents if they enjoy doing their own home improvements, and could reduce your familys carbon footprint by up to 2,000 pounds of CO2 per year. Another low-cost, high-impact project is weatherizing windows and doors: sealing air leaks with weather stripping, caulking material and window film. This doCut your heating/cooling bills and carbon emissions by sealing air leaks in windows and doors.
s by having your Save on gas and cut emission . car serviced regularly
it-yourself project uses inexpensive materials and requires no special training, yet the savings can be big: about 1,000 pounds of CO2 reductions per year! Service your car(s). The Bronze checklist showed us that big CO2 and dollar savings can be achieved simply by driving smarter and driving less. The carbon reductions get even larger in the Silver checklist by spending modest amounts to keep your family car(s) well-maintained. Follow your car manufacturers guidelines and have your family vehicles serviced regularly by certified auto mechanics. Keeping the engine tuned can save about 500 pounds of CO2 per car per year. Once a month, during fill-ups at the service station, have your engines air filter checked. Replacing filters before they become dirty and blocked improves engine efficiency and can save another 500 pounds of CO2 per car per year. Spend a little to keep your car(s) in tip-top
shape: not only will you cut carbon emissions by 1,000 pounds or more; youll also end up saving money from better gas mileage and fewer breakdowns. Go EZ on A/C. Do you run air conditioning in your home to keep cool during hot summer days? If so, youre using a lot of electricity and indirectly generating significant CO2 emissions. As we learned in the Bronze section, you can easily reduce your electric bill and your carbon emissions simply by turning up the thermostat by 5-10F, reducing the cooling load on your A/C. Dont turn your home into an icebox during the summer: your family can be perfectly comfortable with an inside temperature of 75-80F.
Install a ceiling fan to reduce or eliminate yo ur tioning needs, saving electricity and carbon air condiemissions.
Check your cars air filter monthly and ch ange when dirty. Youll sa ve a lot on gas and em issions.
Install ceiling fans and youll be able to set the thermostat even higher: a rooms temperature will feel up to 6F cooler when a fan is circulating the air briskly. Save up to 700 pounds of CO2 emissions each year by using fans to reduce your A/Cs cooling load. Save even more by keeping your A/C system in tip-top condition and running at maximum efficiency. Have your air conditioning system service professionally at least once each year, to clean the air filters and check the coolant, compressor and fans. This simple maintenance can reduce your A/Cs carbon emissions by up to 400
energy-saving compact Replace old light bulbs with ve big on electricity fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Sa and carbon emissions.
pounds annually.
One of the easiest and most effective ways to cut carbon emissions in your home is to replace conventional incandescent light bulbs with new compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). For every bulb you replace, youll reduce carbon emissions by about 100 pounds per year. The savings are large because incandescent bulbs are extremely inefficient, converting only 5% of the power used into light, with the remaining 95% wasted as heat (thats why conventional light bulbs get so hot when theyre on). By comparison, a CFL generating the same amount of light will use less than one-quarter of the power consumed by an incandescent bulb. Walk around your home and count the number of lights: the number of bulbs -- and the potential carbon savings -- may surprise you. Replace 5 bulbs and save 500 pounds each year. Replace 20 bulbs and reduce your annual carbon emissions by 1 ton! Making the switch to fluorescent lamps will initially cost a bit more money, as CFLs are more expensive than incandescent bulbs. Over time however, your family will actually save
money because CFLs last 10-15 times longer, and will reduce your electric bill every month. Now thats a bright idea! Give your heaters a break. Space heating and water heating combine to generate more carbon emissions than anything else in your home. It should therefore come as no surprise that small investments to reduce your familys heating needs can have a big payoff in terms of both money and carbon. A good place to start is getting your furnace serviced by a professional at least once a year, to ensure that your space heating runs at maximum efficiency, with no obstructions and clean filters. Though this annual service call will cost some money, youll save up to 450 pounds of CO2 per year, and will likely reduce your familys bill for gas or fuel oil. Next, give your hot water heater a break by installing low-flow showerheads in every bathroom. By replacing older, higher-volume showerheads, these low-flow units dramatically cut the amount of water used while still providing for a very comfortable shower experience. This modest investment in hardware can save your family about 350 pounds of CO2 per year while reducing your utility bill. Finally,
Install low-flow show erheads: youll lower he costs and carbon em issions, and save wat ating er too.
bundle up your water heater if its more than 10 years old: purchase an insulating jacket from any hardware store. This added insulation helps keep water in the tank warm, allowing the heater to stay off for longer periods, saving up to 250 pounds of CO2 per year. Newer water heaters are already well insulated and do not need these extra jackets. Plant shade trees. As we learned in T is for Trees, forests are on the front lines in our planets fight against climate change. And were not just talking about exotic rainforests in South America the urban trees in every American city play a critical role in absorbing CO2, purifying our air, and cooling our homes and streets. You can do your part by planting shade trees in your yard or other open space with access to sunlight and water. A shade tree can reduce carbon emissions by about 100 pounds each year: a well-placed trees canopy of leaves can cast a cooling shadow, greatly reducing the need for air conditioning in summer months, saving about 70 pounds of CO2; a growing tree will also absorb another 30 pounds of CO2 each year through photosynthesis. Plant 5 trees, and you can save about 500 pounds of CO2 each year.
Be aware, however, that trees purchased at a nursery can be expensive, particularly larger ones. To save money, look for special programs in your community, often sponsored by electric utilities or environmental groups trees are sometimes available to eligible homeowners at little or no cost. And, if nothing else can be found at a reasonable cost, you can always plant saplings (small young trees), recognizing that sizeable carbon savings will be some years off. Use airplane alternatives. Will you be traveling less than 500 miles round-trip? Consider using a public transit alternative to flying, such as a train, bus or ferry. Short flights actually generate the most emissions per air mile because take-offs burn lots of fuel. Thats why a non-stop flight generates fewer emissions than an itinerary to the same final destination that makes one or two stops along the way. And as we learned in J is for Jets & Transport, virtually every other form of mass transit is more carbon efficient that flying. So think twice before you book that shuttle flight for trips such as: Boston to New York; New York to Washington DC; Pittsburgh to Philadelphia; Houston to Dallas; Portland to Seattle; or Seattle to Vancouver. When planning to travel, check for available train or bus links to your destination. Though a jet seems faster, you may actually save time by taking a train or bus, avoiding air travels hassles and delays, and arriving in centrally located stations versus far-flung airports. You can save big using trains, buses and other airplane alternatives: up to 400 pounds of prevented CO2 emissions
Go carbon-neutral!
The Silver checklist showed us how some small upfront investments can pay off big, lowering monthly energy bills and greatly reducing carbon emissions. But what if your family wants to do even more? Exactly how low can you go in reducing your carbon footprint? As youll find out in this Goldlevel section, your family can get to zero actually become carbon-neutral if you can afford to make some large purchases of zero- and low-emissions technologies. The tips in the Gold section will be most useful when your family is considering a big purchase decision such as a major home renovation, buying a new car, or replacing an old appliance. Although many of the Gold-level actions involve large upfront expenditures, they will reward your family with proportionately large carbon savings.
Gold-level actions can reduce your household carbon emissions by about two-thirds, potentially allowing your family to go carbon-neutral when these actions combined with those from the previous Bronze and Silver sections!
Genera emissio te zeron for your electricity installin home by g sola on the r r panels oof.
Actions
Install solar panels. Generate electricity for your home by installing solar panels on your roof. Replace your furnace with a (geothermal) heat pump system. Replace your water heater with a solar water heating system, using your old heater as a backup. Have a pool? Install solar heating for that too. Install insulated windows. Remodeling? Replace old single-pane windows with insulated Energy Star-qualified double-pane models. Replace your water heater with an EnergyStar-qualified unit. Better yet switch to a tankless unit that heats water on demand. Replace your furnace with a new EnergyStar-qualified unit. HOME Insulate your heating/cooling duct system. Have your system inspected and repaired by professionals. Remodeling? Add insulation in-between wall spaces. Replace your central air conditioner with an Energy Starqualified system. Replace your room conditioner(s) with Energy Star-qualified units(s). (Savings per unit replaced) Replace your dishwasher with a new EnergyStar-qualified unit. Replace your refrigerator with a new EnergyStar-qualified unit. (Be sure to properly recycle your old fridge to avoid CFC emissions) Replace your clothes washer with a new EnergyStar-qualified unit. Buy a low-emissions car. Purchase a low-emissions vehicle, e.g. a hybrid or flex-fuel. Better yet, buy a zero-emissions, allelectric car.
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homes roof or another area with direct sun exposure, these PV panels employ semiconductor material that converts sunlight directly into electricity. With sufficient panels installed and a reasonably sunny climate, a solar PV system can supply most of your homes electricity needs. In fact many solar PV-equipped homes are able to run their electric meter backwards during sunny days, selling excess electricity to the local utility, then purchasing power back when its needed during cloudy days or at night. Because of the expense and construction work involved, installing solar PV is often included as part of a major renovation or while your homes roof is being repaired or replaced. Installing solar panels is not a doit-yourself project for your parents or their friends these systems must be installed by skilled professionals at considerable expense. To defray the large upfront costs, many states provide tax credits to residents who install approved solar PV systems. Financing is also often available through your solar installer or even your local bank. Once installed, your solar PV system will reward you with 100% emissions-free electricity for many years to come with very little required maintenance (other than keeping the panels clean). And the savings are big: an average-size solar PV system located on the US west coast will reduce carbon emissions by about 9,000 pounds each year. Can the same thing be done with wind power? The answer is a qualified yes: residential wind turbines are currently available, but make sense only under special circumstances. First, you must live in a region with a high average wind speed, ideally in the South-
Wind power can provide zero-carb on electricity to rural homes with suf ficient land. To run efficiently the wind turbine must be mount ed on a high tower.
west, Midwest or Northeast US. Second, you must have enough land (and tolerant neighbors) to accommodate an 80-120 foot tower for the turbine! Thats why virtually all wind turbines are installed in farm and rural areas. Buy a low-emissions car. As we learned in A is for Automobiles, cars are the single largest source carbon emissions for most American families outside the home. In the case of our typical family of 4, their two cars combine to generate a whopping 30,600 pounds of CO2 each year -- over 40% of their total carbon footprint! As we saw in the Bronze and Silver sections, sig-
a low-emissions mily car, consider rius. For the next fa yota P hybrid like the To
nificant carbon savings can be achieved through simple steps including driving less, driving smarter, and better maintenance. But if your family really wants to go for the gold you should consider a low-emissions or zero-emissions vehicle for your next car purchase. Low-emissions options include both hybrids and flex-fuel vehicles, and a wide variety of models are currently available from major car manufacturers. FlexFuel vehicles sport a logo as shown above, which means that they can use E85 fuel (85% ethanol) instead of gasoline: when burned, ethanol has lower net carbon emissions than gasoline. Hybrid vehicles combine a gas engine with an electric motor to achieve much better gas mileage. Look for an h in the cars model number or hybrid logo like Toyotas, as seen here. Zero-emissions alternatives include plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles, with the future promise of hydrogen powered cars (still experimental). The first zero-emissions cars became commercially available in 2008 and 2009 from start-up car automakers, so your family should expect to pay more for these high-tech cars. Plug-in hybrids are modified vehicles that carry additional batteries and can be plugged in to an ordinary electric socket to be charged; this allows the plug-in hybrid to be powered by the electric motor for long distances without the assistance of the gasoline engine. All-electric vehicles dispense with a gasoline engine entirely and are powered exclusively by an electric motor whose batteries
All-electric, zero-emissions cars like the Think City will be available for purchase in the US in 2011.
are either recharged or replaced with fresh battery packs. As you can see, a wide variety of low-emissions and zero-emissions option will be available for your familys next car purchase. Whether you play it safe with a tried-and-true hybrid or go high-tech with a first-to-market, all-electric vehicle, your familys carbon emissions will go way down. In the case of our typical family of 4, replacing their 2006 Toyota Camry with a 2008 Toyota Prius hybrid would lower average annual CO2 emissions from 14,600 pounds to 8,000 pounds, a savings of 6,400 pounds. Even better, make future plans to buy an all-electric vehicle from Tesla Motors, Think Global or Fisker Automotive. Assuming that you charge your new car with green power, your family would eliminate all automotive carbon emissions a reduction of about 15,000 pounds of CO2 per car per year! Replace your furnace. Home heating is usually the number one source of carbon emissions in the home. That makes your
heating system a prime target for improvement. Is your homes furnace more than 15 years old? Does it require servicing and repair more than once a year? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, your family should consider replacing your old heater with a new model that takes advantage of cutting-edge, fuel-saving technologies. The fuel efficiency of furnaces has improved dramatically during the past decade, enabling your family to recoup the initial cost of replacement through ongoing savings on monthly utility bills. And of course, lower energy bills mean lower carbon emissions. When picking a new furnace be sure to select an Energy Star-qualified unit that has an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of 90% or higher; youll save up to 15% on your energy bill every month and re-
Replacing you r efficient geoth furnace? Consider a superermal heat pu mp to dramati cally cut carbo n emissions.
duce your carbon emissions by up to 2,800 pounds per year. Want to go even further? Consider purchasing a heat pump rather than a conventional furnace. Heat pumps exploit the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, using advanced technology to convert this natural temperature difference into radiant heating or cooling for your home. Heat pumps are much more efficient than conventional furnaces because they leverage your homes natural environment. An electric Air-Source Heat Pump (ASHP) is over 20% more energy-efficient than a conventional furnace, and can save your family over 4,000 pounds of CO2 each year. Want even more savings? Go for the gold by purchasing a geothermal heat pump! Unlike a conventional ASHP unit that relies on fluctuating outside air temperatures, the geothermal heat pump uses the steady temperature of the earth just a few feet below the ground and consequently runs much more efficiently and quietly. Because it is about 30% more efficient than a ASHP unit, a geothermal heat pump can reduce your familys carbon emissions by up to 6,000 pounds per year. Geothermal systems do, however, cost more than conventional air-sourced heat pumps and have higher installation costs since they require some trenching and duct work. Because of these higher costs, a geothermal system is most appropriate during a major home remodel or construction of a new house. Regardless of your choice of heating system, be sure to choose an Energy Star certified furnace or heat pump to ensure high energy efficiency and low carbon emissions.
ankless On-demand, t small are water heaters energy n but save big o ns. emissio and
ingly large chunk of your familys utility bill about 15% of the total -- is spent on heating water for showers and baths, the clothes washer, and dish washing. This is because conventional water heaters are inherently inefficient, using an electric or gas heater to keep a large tank of water hot all the time, even though your familys use of hot water is actually quite brief and infrequent. As a result, your water heater is generally the third largest source of carbon emissions in your home, after space heating and electricity use. We already learned about some free and low-cost ways to cut your water heating bill in the Bronze and Silver sections: turn down the heaters thermostat; take short showers instead of baths; run the dishwasher with full loads only; install low-flow showerheads; and install an insulating jacket for older heaters. Youll rack up some significant savings by
following these simple tips, but what if your family wants to do even more? To start, check the age of your current water heater: though most units last for 10-15 years, consider replacing any unit thats more than 7 years old with a new, high-efficiency model that will use 10-20% less energy and save up to 1,000 pounds of CO2 each year. Want even more savings? Go hightech with a tankless, on-demand water heater. These systems, long popular in Europe, have no large storage tanks but instead use intense heat to instantaneously deliver hot water when the faucet is turned on. These tankless heaters are 45-60% more efficient than conventional storagebased units because they do not waste energy keeping a large quantity of water hot at all times; instead the water is heated just seconds before it is used. The energy savings add up to big carbon savings: save up to 3,000 pounds of CO2 each year with a tankless water heater. Want to really go for the Gold? Your family should consider a solar water heating system if you live in a sunny part of the country. These solar sysSolar Collectors
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Live in a sunny cl im heater for your ho ate? Consider a solar hot water me and/or pool: youll save big on energy bills and carbon emission s.
Insulate and seal your heating/cooling ducts for big savings in energy and carbon emissions.
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tems use rooftop panels to warm a special fluid mix that is used to preheat water before it enters the storage tank of a conventional hot water heater. Because the water enters the tank already hot, little or no additional heating is required before use, saving up to 80% on gas or electric costs. A professionally installed solar water heater in a warm climate can supply virtually all of your familys hot water needs with zero emissions, saving over 5,000 pounds of CO2 each year! If youre lucky enough to have a pool, consider a solar heating system for this too youll save a boatload on your utility bill and your carbon emissions! Super-insulate your home. Does your
home get drafty in the winter and sweltering in the summer? Youre not alone: most homes have lots of leaks from poorly sealed doors and windows, inadequately insulated walls and attics, and unwrapped ducts and vents. All these leaks make your heater and air conditioner work much harder than they should to maintain a comfortable temperature inside, wasting energy and creating unnecessary carbon emissions. We already learned about some easy, low-cost ways to weatherize your home in the Silver section, but theres a lot more that your family can do, especially as part of a major remodeling project. A good way to start is by insulating the duct system that delivers warm air from the furnace or cold air from the central air conditioner to the various rooms in your home. A maze of tubes and vents that snakes underneath your homes flooring or within your attic space, a typical duct system is often full of leaks from corrosion, loose connections, and poor seals. In addition, uninsulated ducts exposed to the elements work at cross-purposes to your furnace or A/C unit, cooling down warmed air and warming up cooled air as it travels, wasting more energy and emissions. These leaks and lack of insulation can add up to huge losses: an old, poorly maintained duct system can waste over 20% of the total air heated by a furnace. Find out whether your ducting is shipshape by having a reputable heating, air conditioning & ventilation (HVAC) firm inspect your homes system. Its likely that theyll recommend repairs and additional insulation that could
LOW-E GLASS Special coatings reflect infrared light, keeping heat inside in winter and outside in summer. They also reflect damagin ultravioet light, which helps protect interrior furnishing from fading. IMPROVED FRAME MATERIALS Wood composites, vinyl, and fiberglass frames reduce heat transfer and transfer and help insulate better. MULTIPLE PANES Two panes of glass, with an air or gas-filled space in the middle, insulate much better than a single pane of glass. Some ENERGY STAR-qualified windows include three or panes for even greater energy efficincy, increases impact resistance, and sound insulation GAS FILLS Some energy-efficient windows have argon, krypto, or other gases between the panes. These ororless, colorless, non-toxic gases insulate better than regular air. WARM EDGE SPACERS A spacer keeps a windows glass panes the sorrect distance apart. Todays warm edge spacers made made of steel, foam, fiberglass, or vinyl reduce heat flow and prevent condensation.
heating/ s to save big on sulating window sions. Look for Energy Install in carbon emis cooling bills and logo when buying. Star
dramatically cut your heating and cooling bill, saving up to 2,500 pounds of CO2 emissions each year. Next on the list: windows. If your home is more than 30 years old, its likely to have uninsulated, single-pane windows as opposed to double-pane models that utilize a sandwich of two sheets of glass to provide much better thermal and sound insulation. It turns out that windows even when closed are the single largest source of heating and cooling losses in most homes, accounting for up to 40% energy used in the case of poorly sealed, uninsulated windows. Thats why window replacement is one of the best home remodeling projects your family can undertake. Youll cut your monthly utility bill and reduce carbon emissions by up to 5,000 pounds per year. Look for the Energy Star logo to ensure that you are buying windows with high efficiency ratings. Lastly, consider
adding additional insulation in your homes walls, particularly in connection with other renovation projects. Poorly insulated walls radiate heat or cold outside, rather than retaining it inside where its needed, making your heater or air conditioner work harder than it should. An added layer of insulation in the walls can lower your heating and cooling bills by up to 15% and reduce car-
lls to cut heating/coolBlow insulation into your wa ions. ing costs and carbon emiss
with Energy StarReplace old air conditioners electric bill and qualified units to lower your carbon emissions.
bon emissions by 2,000 pounds per year. Replace your air conditioner. If you live in a warm climate or have hot summers its likely that air conditioning accounts for a big chunk of your homes total electricity use. Previous tips in this section have shown you how to reduce your homes cooling load by keeping youre A/C units well-maintained and insulating your home, to keep cool air indoors for a longer time. If you still want to do more, take a look at your homes current air conditioning system. Is it more than 12 years old? Is it noisy while running, and in need of service and repair more than once a year? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, it may be time to replace your existing air conditioning unit(s) with an Energy Star certified system. Home air conditioners come in two basic forms: central and room-based. Central air conditioning blows cold air from a single, large A/C unit throughout the home using the same duct system as your furnace or heater. Room air conditioners are small units designed to cool only a single room and are generally vented through a window or exhaust pipe
in the wall. The carbon reductions from an A/C upgrade can add up. Your family will save about 300 pounds of CO2 per year for each room air conditioner that you replace with an Energy Star certified model thats designed to be least 10% more efficient. In the case of central A/C your family will save about 900 pounds of CO2 each year by replacing your old central unit with a new Energy Star model with a high seasonal efficiency rating (SEER) of 14 or more. Replace your appliances. Is your family in the market for a new dishwasher, refrigerator or clothes washer? You can save a significant amount of carbon emissions by shopping wisely, looking for the Energy Star logo that ensures maximum energy efficiency. Dishwashers are the top energyusers in the kitchen, consuming both hot water for cleaning and electricity for drying. We already learned some energy- and carbon-saving tips that help reduce your dishwashers energy use, including running only full loads and turning off the heat-dry
chine and dishwasher Replace your old washing ma r-qualified mody Sta with energy-efficient, Energ and hot water costs els. Youll save on electricity ions. while reducing carbon emiss
feature to let dishes air-dry instead. To go further, replace that old dishwasher with a new Energy Star qualified model; your family will save more than $30 in utility costs and avoid about 200 pounds of CO2 emissions each year. Next up: that old refrigerator in the kitchen, and maybe that second one in the garage. If your fridge was manufactured before 1993, it probably consumes more than twice as much electricity as a new Energy Star qualified
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Reduce your upfront costs by taking advantage of state and utility green incentives such as appliance rebates, tax credits on solar panels, and free shade trees.
CFCs
you buy a new Energy Recycle your old fridge when worst greenhouse gases Star model. CFCs are the of by professionals. of all and must be disposed
model. On average, a new refrigerator will reduce your homes annual carbon emissions by about 100 pounds every year. Save even more by unplugging that old fridge in the garage or basement and recycling to avoid releasing hugely damaging CFC refrigerants into the atmosphere. Second refrigerators are rarely needed and will only add to your power bill and carbon emissions. Power companies in some states even offer free recycling programs as well
rebates on the purchase of more efficient new units. Learn more about the Energy Star Recycle My Old Fridge Campaign at http://www.recyclemyoldfridge.com. Lastly, be sure to follow the Energy Star logo when shopping for a new clothes washer. Your family will save about 40 pounds of CO2 per year by choosing a super-efficient washer that skimps on both energy and water without sacrificing cleaning performance. And, in case you were wondering, Energy Star does not rate clothes dryers because there is little difference in energy use and carbon emissions -- among different models. But dont forget about that clothesline as an alternative!
SolarCity and the SolarCity logo are registered trademarks reproduced courtesy of the company.
or installers like S ur neighbors: sola communities that Talk to yo g discounts to larCity of fer bi r panels as a group. buy sola
David R. Golding lives with his wife and two daughters in Northern California. When not writing about environmental and energy issues, David is a private financier focused on early-stage clean technology companies. His prior professional experience encompasses 25 years in Silicon Valley as a venture capitalist, investment banker, and entrepreneur focused on high-technology. David earned an MBA with Honors from the Harvard Business School and an A.B. cum laude in Applied Mathematics from Harvard College, where his senior thesis was on the Clean Air Act. He also served as a legislative assistant in the United States Congress and completed coursework for an M.A. in Energy Policy at George Washington University under a fellowship. David also attended the California Institute of Technology for his freshman and sophomore years prior to transferring to Harvard.