Our main concern at the moment friends is not those ever increasing gas fuel costs but the virtually irreversible changes in the environment due to our carbon footprint being left on this planet which is causing global warming. We may be different in many respects but when the effects start to be felt, we will all come under attack from a new enemy. A large number of cases of life threatening conditions such as skin cancer, lung cancer, and other respiratory diseases into the millions will be the result of 40 years of global warming.
You need to be aware of your own personal carbon footprint, which refers to the impact you have on the environment - both positive and negative - and make choices that are good for the earth instead of detrimental. For example, if you plant a tree a day, you'll offset about 720 kg of carbon over the tree's life. But if you take a plane from San Francisco to Los Angeles, you'll put almost 800 kg of carbon back into the environment, which definitely isn't good.
On average a Non Alien produces an amazing 22 tons of co2 emissions each and every year. Now let's compare that with the rest of the civilized world, who have managed to reduce their co2 emissions to just 6 tons per person per year. I am not suggesting that we have to give up our car culture but you need to be made aware of some of the things that you can do to reduce your carbon footprint: -
Tip #1: Go local. Virtually everything we buy has a "carbon cost" connected to is based on things like transportation distance and the amount of energy that goes into manufacturing. Try to buy locally made products and produce. According to a 2001 U.S. Department of Agriculture study, most fruits and vegetables are shipped 1500 miles or more from farm to kitchen, which is incredible wasteful, and more than a little ironic if you are trying to do the right thing by buying organic .
Tip #2: Dress appropriately. When I say appropriately, I don't mean what to wear if we are going out to the theater. I mean in our own home. Just adjust your thermostat according to the season and wear less or more clothing as the case might be. This is not a lot to ask of anybody and you could even help in contributing 2,000 pounds of co2 less each year into our fragile environment. You will also feel the difference in your pocket as high savings in energy costs are guaranteed. But the main reason for doing this is to help our environment get back on track, so don't forget it.
Tip #3: New for old: I don't know whether you have seen those new energy-efficient CFL light bulbs that you can buy nowadays. Well they do cost a bit more than normal light bulbs and changing only 3 would result in energy savings per American home of $60 per year and as a planet this would result in a trillion pounds of CO2 not being emitted into the atmosphere. You should also try and upgrade appliances and computers to Energy Star rated machines, and remember to turn off the lights as you leave a room.
Tip #4: Keep it clean. A 500% increase in global warming can be the result of owning a poorly maintained car as well as it costing more to run. Have your car regularly serviced and checked to improve efficiency and if you do go out shopping, go to the nearest available store.
Tip #5: Improve gas mileage. Hybrid cars are are great option to reduce your carbon footprint by almost 50% but now you don't even have to change your car if you don't want to. Alternative energy boosters such as HHO water fuel conversions are available to be installed into any type of vehicle and will result in up to 40% reductions in gas mileage.
Everybody on the planet has a personal responsibility to stop the destruction that will, if left unchecked, effect us all. If we begin now, it'll be a much better world for our children and grandchildren.