Thursday, January 15, 2009

You and Your Carbon Footprint

By Tal Potishman

A trend has been emerging in the UK in which talk of energy conservation inevitably turns to an individual's "carbon footprint." The news, radio, television, magazines and internet have all been sources of "carbon footprint" mania.

What does the term "carbon footprint" mean? This term can best be defined as the level of impact a person has on the environment. This measurement of this impact takes into account a person's actions and his or her home and is then based on the amount of greenhouses those action and that home produces. Then the amount of greenhouse gases produced is measured in units of carbon dioxide. There are a few ways that a person can figure his or her carbon footprint: The amount of emissions caused by the energy a system uses and the Life Cycle Assessment are the two most popular methods.

Almost every single thing a person does during his waking hours can raise the level of his carbon footprint. Technically, breathing out increases his carbon footprint as the simple act of breathing in and out results in an increased level of carbon dioxide in the world.

Asking the residents of the United Kingdom to breathe less is ridiculous so residents would do well to remember that a carbon footprint is actually assigned by his actions: driving his automobile, cooking a meal, the amount of energy consumed while at home, at work and in transit. The amount of carbon even a lazy day can produce is eye opening.

The carbon footprint has gained world wide attention in the last few years largely because of the drastic changes to the global environment. Environmental experts have released reports that say that the carbon dioxide and dangerous greenhouse gases produced by humans are responsible for all of the drastic changes that have been wreaking havoc all over the world.

The world's temperature has raised more than half a degree Celsius over the last century. Half a degree sounds small but that half a degree has had an incredible effect. The North Pole almost melted completely this year and the United Kingdom might run out of fresh water within the next few decades.

One of the best ways to cut down on the impact carbon dioxide has on the environment is to plant trees. Trees take in carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen. The more trees that are planted, the more carbon dioxide is absorbed before it can make its way to the ozone layer! - 15478

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