Global Warming
You drive your car to work every day. No big deal. Those plastic bottles you use − it's just easier to throw them away then drive all the way to the recycling plant, right? And, what is all this "being green" stuff anyway? How can one person save the planet?
Well, did you know that if every household in the U.S. replaced just five of their most-used lights with Energy Star light fixtures, we could prevent more than 1 trillion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions?
Everyone on the planet plays a role in global warming, and you can take several basic steps right now to help protect the earth from further damage.
Know the danger
Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere and oceans. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that global temperatures are likely to increase by as much as 9 degrees Fahrenheit between now and 2100.
Many things contribute to causing global warming, but greenhouse gas emissions are the biggest donor. We release these gases by:
- Burning of fossil fuels
- Clearing of land
- Agriculture
Why is global warming bad? The number one worry is that our global temperature will increase and this can lead to:
- A rise in sea levels due to melting glaciers, causing floods, droughts, heat waves, hurricanes and tornadoes
- Reduced summer stream flows
- Species extinctions
- More diseases
Plan ahead
What can you do now to help stop global warming?
In your home:
-
Be green. To be green or use green items means to use items that
are not harmful to the environment.
-
Look for and buy Energy Star products. (You can buy lighting,
home electronics, heating and cooling equipment, and appliances).
-
Check out your appliances. Change your filters and have your
appliances like your furnace and air conditioner checked out
annually.
-
Seal your house off from the heat and cold. By blocking drafts
to and from your house, you can help save on your bills and cut back on
greenhouse gas emissions.
-
Reduce, reuse and recycle. Find out about recycling in your
area, or take recyclable items to a recycling center. or simply cut
back on what you don't really need.
-
Be green in your yard. Use a push mower (which emits less
greenhouse gases) and compost your food and yard waste.
- Don't waste water. Saving water, especially hot water, can also help the environment.
In your car:
-
Consider buying a "green" vehicle. Check out the EPA's Green Vehicle
Guide and make sure your car is safe for the environment.
-
Reduce your fuel use. The less fuel you use, the less greenhouse
gas emissions you let off. Go easy on the brakes, gas pedal, don't let
you car idle and unload heavy items from your trunk.
-
Keep your vehicle in good shape. A well-tuned car runs smoother
and is more fuel efficient.
-
Keep your tires full. Soft tires give you poor gas
mileage.
- Keep the car in the garage. Walk, ride a bike or take the bus. Leaving your car at home just two days a week. will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,590 pounds per year.
Whether you are being green (or not), try out this interactive calculator to see what your impact is doing to the environment.
Find out more
Want to find out other information about global warming? Check out these sites:
- What the increased temperatures are doing to the world
- Other ways to help protect the environment
- What your kids can do to help
- More information about major contributors to global warming and other basic information about climate change
This information is meant to help you make decisions that may reduce your risk. Of course, we can't note every possible risk, and we can't guarantee that these tips will work for you. However, we hope that if you use some of them, you'll better protect your family and yourself.
Contact your insurance agent to make sure you're properly covered if a catastrophe strikes.
