We all live on this awesome planet called earth. Earth is a great place and life on planet earth is great for many, but difficult for some. We humans enjoy the features and various amounts of things earth has to offer, but will it last? Will our children and grand-kids live the same happy life we are living now? Will we even be able to see our grandchildren? Now I’ve got you thinking. Do we take the earth for granted?
Now you know that we are slowly destroying the earth, and you might be asking what can I do to help? Well, you can start by doing these little things that will have a huge impact on the earth. You can carpool or use public transportation, have a reduction in the use of fossil fuels, and conserve energy.
Studies show that most families in America have about 2 to 3 cars per household. When we put this to perspective, the average passenger vehicle produces about 5.2 metric tons of carbon dioxide, every year. These numbers can get worse every year, as cars age or owners do not properly maintain their vehicles. Also, for all these cars, you will need oil and gas for the car to run. As gas and oil prices are starting to rise, why not just use public transportation, or even carpool. It’s definitely cheaper to catch a bus then ride a car. For example, car owners have to pay for the car itself whether it is finance or lease, gas, oil changes or maintenance, insurance, license, and optionally CAA. The average American spends approximately $1,200 dollars per month just to maintain their cars. The maintenance price can differ depending on the type of car you have, the age of the car, or retail value. If you just get a bus pass you could get away with $100 dollars a month or $1,200 dollars a year. Though the numbers are the same at the end of the year, you have to remember that $1,200 dollars on a car is maintenance only.
Mining for fossil fuels might produce dozens of job opportunities, but it has a huge impact on the environment. The search for fossil fuels contributes to global warming and is non-renewable. Fossil fuels contain enormous amounts of carbon. When you burn the fuels for energy, it produces carbon dioxide and enters our atmosphere. As the use of fossil fuels might be cheap, yet again this is harming our environment. As we let the earth trap the greenhouse gases we produce, this gas reflects the heat from the sun, to the surface of the earth. The heat that is getting reflected to the surface would usually be released back into space. This effect is making it difficult for many animals to adapt to their habitats now, as climate is having a huge issue. A great example would be the polar bears. As sea ice melts, it is difficult for these mammals to hunt. The animal species can get endangered quickly if starvation occurs to many polar bears. Also, fossil fuels are being used faster than they can replenish, meaning that this is a non-renewable resource.
Finally, energy conservation must be seen to save this planet. Most of our energy or power is created from fossil fuels or natural gases. If we can reduce the amount of hours wasted on certain appliances, we can save more fossil fuels. There are dozens of little things you can change or do at home that can have a huge impact on the environment. If you start to conserve energy, not only do restore the planet but you save some money as well. Some things you can do at home to save energy include: changing incandescent lights to compact fluorescent lights, use Energy Star appliances, have a thermostat installed, cut down on hot water, and eat less meat.
Changing the light bulb to a fluorescent bulb can save you about 60 percent of energy. Energy Star appliances can help a lot as these appliances are more efficient, but still offer the capabilities of regular appliances. A thermostat can save you hundreds of dollars, as it will adjust temperatures depending on time of day. Also, thermostats can stop heating or cooling a home after it reaches the set point. As well, a lot of energy is put into heating water. If less hot water is used, the better. Finally, strange but true cutting down on meat can reduce the levels of methane. Next to carbon dioxide, methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas. Many herbivores such as cows produce large amounts of methane.
This is just a handful of things that you can do to save earth. With Canada only being 0.5 percent of the earth’s population, but producing nearly 2 percent of greenhouse gases, changes must and need to be seen. Think about future lives and start to cut down on fossil fuels, conserve as much energy as you can, and try to use bus transportation. You could even use renewable resources or carpool, but make sure you take you part today, to help keep this planet a healthy place to be.
Now you know that we are slowly destroying the earth, and you might be asking what can I do to help? Well, you can start by doing these little things that will have a huge impact on the earth. You can carpool or use public transportation, have a reduction in the use of fossil fuels, and conserve energy.
Studies show that most families in America have about 2 to 3 cars per household. When we put this to perspective, the average passenger vehicle produces about 5.2 metric tons of carbon dioxide, every year. These numbers can get worse every year, as cars age or owners do not properly maintain their vehicles. Also, for all these cars, you will need oil and gas for the car to run. As gas and oil prices are starting to rise, why not just use public transportation, or even carpool. It’s definitely cheaper to catch a bus then ride a car. For example, car owners have to pay for the car itself whether it is finance or lease, gas, oil changes or maintenance, insurance, license, and optionally CAA. The average American spends approximately $1,200 dollars per month just to maintain their cars. The maintenance price can differ depending on the type of car you have, the age of the car, or retail value. If you just get a bus pass you could get away with $100 dollars a month or $1,200 dollars a year. Though the numbers are the same at the end of the year, you have to remember that $1,200 dollars on a car is maintenance only.
Mining for fossil fuels might produce dozens of job opportunities, but it has a huge impact on the environment. The search for fossil fuels contributes to global warming and is non-renewable. Fossil fuels contain enormous amounts of carbon. When you burn the fuels for energy, it produces carbon dioxide and enters our atmosphere. As the use of fossil fuels might be cheap, yet again this is harming our environment. As we let the earth trap the greenhouse gases we produce, this gas reflects the heat from the sun, to the surface of the earth. The heat that is getting reflected to the surface would usually be released back into space. This effect is making it difficult for many animals to adapt to their habitats now, as climate is having a huge issue. A great example would be the polar bears. As sea ice melts, it is difficult for these mammals to hunt. The animal species can get endangered quickly if starvation occurs to many polar bears. Also, fossil fuels are being used faster than they can replenish, meaning that this is a non-renewable resource.
Finally, energy conservation must be seen to save this planet. Most of our energy or power is created from fossil fuels or natural gases. If we can reduce the amount of hours wasted on certain appliances, we can save more fossil fuels. There are dozens of little things you can change or do at home that can have a huge impact on the environment. If you start to conserve energy, not only do restore the planet but you save some money as well. Some things you can do at home to save energy include: changing incandescent lights to compact fluorescent lights, use Energy Star appliances, have a thermostat installed, cut down on hot water, and eat less meat.
Changing the light bulb to a fluorescent bulb can save you about 60 percent of energy. Energy Star appliances can help a lot as these appliances are more efficient, but still offer the capabilities of regular appliances. A thermostat can save you hundreds of dollars, as it will adjust temperatures depending on time of day. Also, thermostats can stop heating or cooling a home after it reaches the set point. As well, a lot of energy is put into heating water. If less hot water is used, the better. Finally, strange but true cutting down on meat can reduce the levels of methane. Next to carbon dioxide, methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas. Many herbivores such as cows produce large amounts of methane.
This is just a handful of things that you can do to save earth. With Canada only being 0.5 percent of the earth’s population, but producing nearly 2 percent of greenhouse gases, changes must and need to be seen. Think about future lives and start to cut down on fossil fuels, conserve as much energy as you can, and try to use bus transportation. You could even use renewable resources or carpool, but make sure you take you part today, to help keep this planet a healthy place to be.