40 Degrees
It's about 40 °F outside right now, a temperature that provides a stark contrast to the below-freezing temperatures of the past several weeks. A forceful but relatively warm wind blows across the city, and once in a while, icicles can be heard shattering against the ground.
We've had below normal temperatures in Pittsburgh so far this February, despite the balmy conditions in December and early January. My most recent gas bill states the average temperature for the billing period was down eight degrees on last year, though we barely had snow at all then.
A factory's smokestacks belching pollutants into the atmosphere (Image credit: Utah Department of Environmental Quality)This brings up an interesting point of disagreement among people across the country. That's the "G" word... or, perhaps, the "G" phrase: Global Warming.
On New Years Day this year, when one could walk outside in a tee shirt and be more or less comfortable, everyone was quick to point out that global warming was the probable cause of the abnormal weather. The colder it got, however, the more those conversations disappeared. Clearly, the concern was temporary, but just as clear should be the fact that the controversy has not gone away.
I'm not an environmental scientist, so I can't really bring hard facts to the table when it comes to discussing this, but I've read my share of articles on the subject, and I must say the evidence is obvious: global warming is here, and it's not leaving until we do something about it.
Overzealous politicians have tried to propose implausible ideas like the Kyoto Protocol, which sounded like a good idea on the drawing board but calls for too much of a solution too soon. Indeed, it seems only the United Kingdom and Sweden are actually on track to meet their 2010 emissions requirements.
A mere three days ago, a number of countries that, this time, included the United States agreed upon the Washington Declaration, the supposed successor to Kyoto. The Washington Declaration is somewhat more tenable, and with the comparatively firm support of the United States, it may actually go somewhere.
I'd like to ask you this: if you could force the world to do one thing to combat this grave problem, taking also into account the related complex economic and political issues, what would it be? That's a daunting task, but thousands of people are working on it every day. And, they're not just working on one big thing everyone can do; they're trying to figure out what hundreds of tiny contributions governments, companies, and individuals can make toward overcoming the struggle against global warming.
Now, I'd like to propose a challenge. Each of you intelligent, well-informed, environmentally conscious readers should come up with one thing you can do to reduce your toll on the environment and do it for a week. See how it goes, and if you're proud of the benefits you're producing at the minor expense to your lifestyle, keep going. Tell your friends about it, too, and maybe they'll join you.
Comments
I know, I'll contact various world leaders and get them to turn off the lights on their country's various architectural icons for 5 minutes -- oh wait, they aready did that -- sacre bleu!
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/lights-out-at-eiffel-tower-on-thursday/32624-2.html
Posted by: a fascinating commentor | February 20, 2007 09:30 AM
Well, for one, I bought a 'green' car. I don't smoke lol. The question I pose is it auto emmissions or industrial smoke stacks ?
If industry is the culprit on the world stage it could be impossible. If it is mainly auto emissions we have a chance.
A geologist(DFWW), once told me, that global warming was not caused by man but by a cycle of the planet Earths own making. Such is the debate.
Vintagetealeaf
Posted by: Vintagetealeaf | February 20, 2007 10:43 AM
Well, I already use mass transit as much as humanly possible and do all my recycling goodness. I even buy biodegradable baggies to pick up my dog's poo because I felt bad using the plastic grocery store bags and throwing them out, when otherwise I would have been recycling them. But I'm sure there's something else I could do....
OK, I'll buy energy efficient light bulbs for the rooms in my house that are missing them, and make more of an effort to turn off lights around the house.
Good challenge! What are YOU going to do? :)
Posted by: Kari | February 21, 2007 01:16 AM
I bought some energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs, but only for the basement!
My husband is one who doesn't believe in global warming and thinks the earth goes through long cycles; now that we're in this cold snap he says where's the global warming. I have to point out that global warming doesn't mean that it's going to get warmer everywhere, that it can get much colder some places. It just means that the natural weather patterns will become very unnatural due to man's activities - like the very violent storms that they've been having in some places.
Posted by: Rebecca | February 27, 2007 09:19 AM
CFLs:
I know someone that replaced all of their incandescent bulbs with CFLs and they have a $30 savings in electricity each month. I've tried maybe 5 brands of CFLs and I like Feit the best. They turn on quickly and the light is a warmer temperature. Stay away from "Daylight" color temperature bulbs unless you like the feel of a hospital. If price is keeping you away from CFLs... check out ebay. The bulbs are pushed in California so they are cheap there. So of course... people re-sell them on ebay!
A cheap Green car is the new Honda Fit. I just bought one in October. The "Sport" model was only 16k. I get the advertised 33 mpg in town with the 5 speed manual. I don't get 38 on the highway but that's probably because I drive a million miles an hour. Honda has plans to go hybrid with this car in 2008 or 2009 (I forget). This car looks small but it has plenty of room for me. The hatchback and rear seats that fold both ways make it possible to actually haul stuff!
Adjusting the temperature in your fridge and your water heater can also save energy. Some people never notice these appliances are set to unnecessary extremes.
You can also do your laundry in cold water. Modern detergents don't require the water be warm or hot. Although maybe if you're a meat butcher or something else nasty you might want to go ahead and just use that hot water... yeeeeah...
Posted by: Shea | March 23, 2007 10:00 AM