Global War(n)ming ...

Guys, I think it is something which we educated folks should take it very seriously and we are absolutely ignorant and lethargic about the whole threatening issue of Global Warming. I saw a program in National Geographic two days back and it literally shook me and the facts and projections they are showing is very alarming and worrying. There is one GWC (Global Warming Consortium) which is sitting at the edge of Alaska and they are monitoring the rate at which those ICEY layers break and melt and if their projections are right, the entire world would be ice-less by 2115, I know none of us would be alive at that time, but let’s not give our next generation a bad planet to live, let’s all be very cautious in taking every step towards avoiding this catastrophic future that is staring at us and giving us an evil grin. Sheets and sheets of ice fossils are breaking every day and statistics say 3 cubic square meter of ice is melting in 1 hour every day, just imagine the rate guys ...

What actually is the concerning factor of Global Warming is, it is not the fact that certain parts of the globe receiving very high temperature or high rainfall, the scientific reason for this is, ICE is a white colored substance which is spread across 40% of our globe, what happens is, it directly reflects the sun's heat back to the space as they were white in color, what is happening currently is, those icy structures are changing colors and they are going dull, as a result of that the sun's heat is not reflected back to the space and it is indeed absorbed into earth and hence resulting in excess heat. Another very important use of having those ice glaciers in our planet is to maintain our eco system, surprised ? Yes, most of the sea life that are there today are mainly driven by the currents that are generated by these ice glaciers so if the ice continues to melt then we cannot have those lovely creatures with us.

Our planet's average temperature has increased from 26 degrees centigrade to 31 degree centigrade, which is a very alarming situation and if this trend continues, then the average temperature would scale up to un-imaginable heights, so let’s all be very responsible and give our 100 percent to stop global warming and save our beautiful mother earth. I have started to say a strict NO NO to plastic bags and I am very particular about that and I know that is just a start, but what are all the other indirect ways by which we can contribute from our side to stop global warming, here are some valuable tips

1. Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. We recommend you purchase your CFL bulbs at 1000bulbs.com, they have great deals on both screw-in and plug-in light bulbs.

2. Install a programmable thermostat
Programmable thermostats will automatically lower the heat or air conditioning at night and raise them again in the morning. They can save you $100 a year on your energy bill.

3. Move your thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer
Almost half of the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and cooling. You could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment.

4. Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases
Look for the Energy Star label on new appliances to choose the most energy efficient products available.

5. Do not leave appliances on standby
Use the "on/off" function on the machine itself. A TV set that's switched on for 3 hours a day (the average time Europeans spend watching TV) and in standby mode during the remaining 21 hours uses about 40% of its energy in standby mode.

6. Defrost old fridges and freezers regularly
Even better is to replace them with newer models, which all have automatic defrost cycles and are generally up to two times more energy-efficient than their predecessors.

7. Don't let heat escape from your house over a long period
When airing your house, open the windows for only a few minutes. If you leave a small opening all day long, the energy needed to keep it warm inside during six cold months (10ºC or less outside temperature) would result in almost 1 ton of CO2 emissions.

8. Cover your pots while cooking
Doing so can save a lot of the energy needed for preparing the dish. Even better are pressure cookers and steamers: they can save around 70%!

9. Use the washing machine or dishwasher only when they are full
If you need to use it when it is half full, then use the half-load or economy setting. There is also no need to set the temperatures high. Nowadays detergents are so efficient that they get your clothes and dishes clean at low temperatures.

10. Take a shower instead of a bath
A shower takes up to four times less energy than a bath. To maximize the energy saving, avoid power showers and use low-flow showerheads, which are cheap and provide the same comfort.

11. Recycle your organic waste
Around 3% of the greenhouse gas emissions through the methane are released by decomposing bio-degradable waste. By recycling organic waste or composting it if you have a garden, you can help eliminate this problem! Just make sure that you compost it properly, so it decomposes with sufficient oxygen, otherwise your compost will cause methane emissions and smell foul.

12. Reuse your shopping bag
When shopping, it saves energy and waste to use a reusable bag instead of accepting a disposable one in each shop. Waste not only discharges CO2 and methane into the atmosphere, it can also pollute the air, groundwater and soil.

13. Plant a tree
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by 10 to 15%. The Arbor Day Foundation has information on planting and provides trees you can plant with membership.

14. Switch to green power
In many areas, you can switch to energy generated by clean, renewable sources such as wind and solar. In some of these, you can even get refunds by government if you choose to switch to a clean energy producer, and you can also earn money by selling the energy you produce and don't use for yourself.

15. Buy fresh foods instead of frozen
Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce.

16. Eat less meat
Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with every breath.

17. Reduce the number of miles you drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever possible
Avoiding just 10 miles of driving every week would eliminate about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year! Look for transit options in your area.

18. Start a carpool with your coworkers or classmates
Sharing a ride with someone just 2 days a week will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 1,590 pounds a year.

If we don't do all these, then those cute looking polar bears will not have a home to live and they will have to do balancing acts just like the picture I have posted for this blog.