Simple Methods to Reduce Global Warming

What are some of the measures we can take to reduce global warming?

Since there is already a great number of green house gases already trapped in the earth’s atmosphere the major effect of global warming can never really be completely eliminated. CFC’s stay in the atmosphere for literally hundreds of years, and therefore even if we were to stop all activities releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere there would still be a major heat load trapped in the earth’s atmosphere. Since we cannot possibly stop all of these activities we can take certain precautionary measures however, to help reduce the amount of CFC’s released in the atmosphere as adding can only make it worse.
Over the past few years, scientists have offered up some extreme measures — from carbon-capturing rocks to space nets — that could solve the crisis. Some focus on reducing or capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which trap the heat on Earth, while other solutions are aimed at cooling the planet by preventing some of the sun's rays from hitting its surface. However, individual choices can have an impact on global climate change. Reducing your family's heat-trapping emissions does not mean forgoing modern conveniences; it simply means making smart choices and using energy-efficient products, which may require an additional investment up front, but often pay you back in energy savings within a couple of years. Below are some of the simple lifestyle choices we can make along with some measures that can be implemented by the government to positively impact on global warming: * Your next car- When you buy your next car, look for the one with the best fuel economy in its class. Each gallon of gas you use is contributes 25 pounds of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere. Better gas mileage reduces global warming, but will also save you thousands of dollars in gasoline over the life of your vehicle. Compare the fuel economy of the cars you're considering to buy and look for newer hybrid engine cars

* Look for the Energy Star Label- When your are replacing your next set of appliances, look for the Energy Star label :

on new appliances (refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, etc). These items may cost a bit more initially, but the energy savings will pay back the extra investment within a couple of years. Household energy savings really can make a difference.

* Unplugging your extra fridge or freezer that may not be in use- One of the quickest ways to reduce your global warming impact is to unplug the extra refrigerator or freezer you rarely or do not use (excluding holidays and parties of course). This can reduce the average family's carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 10 percent.

* Light bulbs do help- If every household in the United States replaced one regular light bulb with an energy-saving model, we could reduce global warming pollution by more than 90 billion pounds over the life of the bulbs; the same as taking 6.3 million cars off the road. So, replace your incandescent bulbs with more efficient compact fluorescents, which now come in all shapes and sizes. You'll be doing your share to cut back on heat-trapping pollution and you'll save money on your electric bills and light bulbs.

* Plant a tree- You can also make a difference in your own backyard. Get a group in your neighborhood together and contact your local NEMA (National Environmental Management Agency) agent about planting trees on private property or on public land. In addition to storing carbon, trees planted in and around urban areas and residences can provide much-needed shade in the summer, reducing energy bills and fossil fuel use.

* Spray it away- a proposal known as stratospheric aerosol insertion suggests that chemicals — sulfur dioxide, in this case — sprayed into the Earth's nearest atmospheric levels could bind with other chemicals to reflect sunlight from the Earth. Helium balloons or high-flying planes could disperse the sulfur dioxide. The gas would oxidize and reflect back some (but not all) of the sunlight that would otherwise hit the planet's surface. Less sunlight hitting the surface means a cooler earth. The sulfur would be cheap; it's a common industrial pollutant. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, one kilogram of the stuff could offset the effect of hundreds of thousands of kilograms of carbon dioxide.