How You Can Stop Global Warming

Healing the planet starts in your garage, in your kitchen, and at your dining room table.

Climate change has over the years received much focus globally. Many stakeholders including governments and other private entities have gradually stepped up and intensified the fight against global warming. Industries have largely been sensitized to the need to use alternative sources of power that do not lead to detrimental climate change. Is it just the industries that can take significant steps in the fight against climate change? No! There are equally vital contributions that can be made by private citizens – which is to say, by you. “Change only happens when individuals take action,” Aliya Haq, deputy director of NRDC’s Clean Power Plan initiative, says. “There’s no other way if it doesn’t start with people.”

The overall objective is quite simple; the reduction of the carbon dioxide footprint. Carbon dioxide is the climate’s worst enemy. It is like poison released into the atmosphere that steadily chokes the climate to death. Carbon dioxide is realized when coal, oil, and other fossil fuels are burned for energy. These are some of the fuels used to power vehicles, homes, laptops, and smartphones. If we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, we will contribute to the fight against climate change while also saving money. Articulated below are some of the ways that we can individually make the difference:   

1.   Power your home with renewable energy

This might be a little bit challenging, but it is worth it. Choose a power company that generates at least half of its power from solar or wind. If possible, you can as well install solar panels for use at home. It is not an expensive investment and cuts your monthly expenditure on power. On average, an American family spends nearly $1,500 a year on electricity costs from fossil fuel sources. When such a family switches to solar as a source of energy and power, they save over $100 a month.

2.   Reduce water waste

It takes a lot of energy to purify, treat and pump water to homesteads. Saving water then means reducing carbon pollution. The EPA estimated that if one family out of every 100 American homes were fitted with water-efficient fixtures, more than 100 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year would be saved. This would avoid about 80,000 tons of global warming pollution.    

3.   Speak up!

How else would we best spread the word about climate change if we do not speak up? Talk to your friends, family, and colleagues about climate change and ensure that they are making the right decisions. We can use social media and other available channels to reach out and send the message – you care about the warming world. Push your authorities to institute laws that are geared towards a cleaner climate. Let those who pollute the climate pay heavily for it because we only have one earth to live and be happy on it. We can as well form community-based organizations that help sensitize the local citizens on the need to protect and guard the climate.  

4.   Eat the food you buy – and make less of it meat

10% of U.S. energy is used in growing, processing, packaging, and shopping food. Sadly, of the processed food about 40% goes to waste. Thus, if we aimed at reducing wastage of food, it will go a long way in fighting climatic change. Also, the processing of livestock products incurs a lot of resources; most of which is the energy used in the production. In this regard, eating meat-free meals could make a huge difference. 

5.   Buy and use better bulbs.

Incandescent bulbs consume more power as compared to LED lightbulbs. LED bulbs use up to 80% less energy and are generally cheaper in the long run. For example, if you use a 10-watt LED bulb instead of a 60-watt incandescent bulb, you will save over $125 over the lightbulb’s life.  

6.   Invest in energy-efficient appliances

“Energy efficiency is the lowest-cost way to reduce emissions,” Aliya Haq. In 1987, efficiency standards were implemented and have since then kept 2.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide out of the air. This is an amount similar to carbon pollution produced by over 440 million cars. Therefore, next time you are shopping for washing machines, refrigerators, and other appliances, look for those with an “Energy Star” label. The label signifies the most energy-efficient appliance.   

7.   Rethink planes, trains, and automobiles

Walking is healthy; it helps you keep fit. Choosing to walk leads to less driving which saves on the cost spent on fuel and thus less in air pupation. Air transport is a key and major contributor to climate change. Hence, Haq proposed that if you can take the train, do that.   

8.   Drive a fuel-efficient vehicle

A couple of motor vehicle manufacturers have also joined in the fight against climate change. Hence, you can source for a smart car that is hybrid or fully electric. This decision will save you money and fuel as well. More and more countries are opening up to energy-efficient motor vehicles and are therefore embracing the idea and setting up conducive environments. 

9.   Pull the plugs

Combined, all the outlets in homesteads are likely powering about 65% different devices – an average load for a home in the U.S. Audio and video devices, cordless vacuums, and power tools. Also, other electronics use energy even when they are not charging or in use. The “idle load” across all U.S. households adds up to the output of 50 large power plants in the U.S. In this case, do not leave fully charged devices plugged into power outlets, unplug rarely used devices, or plug them into power strips and timers. You can also adjust your computers and monitors to automatically power down to the lowest power mode when not in use. 

10. Maintain your car

If every citizen would properly keep their tires inflated, we could save 1.2 billion gallons of gas every year. A simple tune-up can boost miles per gallon anywhere from 4 % to 40 %, and a new air filter can get you a 10% boost. 

11. Weatherize, weatherize, weatherize

Heating and air-conditioning a house account for almost half of home energy uses. This can be reduced by ensuring that houses are well-insulated and sealed. This then would require fewer amounts of heating and air-conditioning.  

12. Shrink your carbon profile

You can shrink the carbon footprint by purchasing carbon offsets, which represent clean power that you can add to the nation’s energy grid in place of power from fossil fuels. However, not all offset companies are alike. Hence, you can do some due diligence to identify the best supplier.