What Can I Do About Global Warming?

You’ve read the news
reports. You’ve seen Al Gore’s movie, An Inconvenient Truth. You’ve heard the politicians debate. Global
warming is a real problem, and it does seem as though we humans are
significantly responsible.

You hear about your
“carbon footprint.” People are supposed to reduce their carbon
footprints to help alleviate global warming.

But you’re worried
about keeping your job and paying your bills and maybe your mother is getting
elderly and needs care. You’ve got a lot on your mind! You want to do your part
but you’re not ready to sell your car and ride a bicycle to work (although the
exercise would help trim the waistline…).

What’s a Diva to
do?

First of all, what’s
a “carbon footprint”? Experts offer various definitions. The Centre
for Sustainability Accounting (CenSA) offers this: “The carbon footprint
is a measure of the exclusive total amount of carbon dioxide emissions that is
directly and indirectly caused by an activity or is accumulated over the life
stages of a product.” British Petroleum (BP) offers a version that is a
bit more down-to-earth: “The carbon footprint is the amount of carbon
dioxide emitted due to your daily activities — from washing a load of laundry
to driving a carload of kids to school.”

So how do you
create less carbon? Here are
some practical suggestions:

1. The first step you
can take is to calculate your carbon footprint. How? There are many websites that offer this
service–just Google “calculate carbon footprint.” Choose one. The
program will take you through the various aspects of your daily life, including
your home, your car, and your vacations.

2. You might be
surprised at the results. The calculator will show you your total carbon
footprint, and where you rank nationally. This will vary by region; for
instance, if you live in the Northeast and heat your home with oil, expect to
be shocked by how much carbon your home heating system is producing.

3. The website will
provide solutions. For your home, these might include:

Replace inefficient
appliances.

Install effective
loft insulation.

Switch to
low-energy light bulbs.

Install cavity wall
insulation.

Recycle grey water.

At home, keep in mind
the four R’s: Reduce, Re-use, Repair and Recycle. Bring your own shopping bags to the
supermarket. Donate old items to charity; many charities not only sell old
clothes, but also accept other household items including books, music CDs, and
videos. Don’t throw something away just because it’s broken; try to get it
repaired, which uses less energy than the energy used to make a new one. If
your community offers curbside recycling, take advantage of it. Composting is
both helpful and beneficial because you are also creating a free source of
compost for your garden.

On the road, you can
make a difference by improving your driving habits.

For local travel
consider leaving the car at home and either walk, cycle, or use public
transportation.

Keep your vehicle
properly serviced.

Avoid carrying
unnecessary weight.

Avoid sudden
acceleration, engine revving, and sudden braking. These driving habits can use
up to 30% more fuel and increase wear and tear on the vehicle.

Avoid using
air-conditioning whenever possible. BUT, on the highway, it is better to use
the AC than to open the windows. Cars are aerodynamic, and the drag caused by
open windows decreases fuel economy.

Switch the engine
off if you are likely to be stationary for more than two minutes.

People in the United
States use a lot of energy–nearly a million dollars worth each minute, 24
hours a day, every day of the year. With less than five percent of the world’s
population, Americans consume about one fourth of the world’s energy resources.
Energy consumption is a growing problem both at home and around the world, and with the
right knowledge you can make a difference.