14 DAY TRIAL // In recent years, in an attempt to fight global warming, many authorities and organizations have begun informing the public about the small steps they could take to improve the quality of the environment and the state of our atmosphere, which is severely affected by CO2 emissions, Freon gases and the likes.
For starters, it's commonly believed that home appliances that are turned off do not consume any electrical power. That is not always the case - in fact, some electronics such as computers, phone chargers and television sets are drawing power from the grid even in stand-by, in a process called “vampire power.” In short, all devices that maintain a clock actually still require a constant flow of energy to power up “hidden” processes. Research done by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory shows that over $4 billion go into bills for “vampire” energy consumption each year in the U.S. alone. The simplest method to counteract this is to remove appliances from their outlets and physically cut them off from the power supplies.
On the other hand, it's very important for people to distinguish between energy conservation and energy efficiency, as they are two different processes altogether. Energy conservation refers to any action taken by someone that results in consuming less energy, such as unplugging electrical devices or turning off the light when leaving a room. Energy efficiency, however, refers to using devices that consume less energy than others for the same job, as is the case with light bulbs. Incandescent bulbs tend to consume a lot of energy and have a short lifespan, while fluorescent ones consume 75% less energy and can last for longer periods of time.
Organic food is another poorly understood concept. While it's true that it poses less health risks than regular food, which is grown using pesticides and chemicals, organic food causes pollution indirectly. Because it is needed in ever increasing quantities, especially over the past few years, organic food is transported to consumers in the U.S. from other, distant countries, by plane or ships. Estimates show that more than 70,000 tons of CO2 were released into the atmosphere by transporters delivering organic food to the state of California alone. Needless to say, the national average is countless times higher. The solution to this problem is for organic food consumers to grow their plants and vegetables locally, or to join a community of producers, so as to cut back on the number of “miles” organic food now has to travel to reach them.
Probably one of the most scrutinized objects today is the car, considered to be the main pollutant of our atmosphere. Hybrid cars are regularly brought to our attention, as viable alternatives to gas-driven ones, because they consume up to 30-40 percent less fuel, and also use electricity as a means of propulsion. However, the fact is that large hybrid SUVs can actually take less miles per gallon than a small, compact gas-propelled car. For people who need a large car to drive around, hybrid SUVs are a better choice than regular SUVs. However, if the car owners use the car only for their personal transportation, a small hybrid may be the way to go.
The most important advice scientists give people is to plant trees in order to counteract global warming. The trees can convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, can absorb heat in their leaves, and can help keep the temperature of our planet at a decent level. Maybe that's why they are referred to as the “lungs of the Earth.” Nevertheless, it's important to realize that randomly planting trees can have a negative effect on the environment, and actually help increase out planet's temperature. Studies show that the rain forests near the Equator are indeed crucial to protecting the atmosphere from harmful CO2 emissions. But forests planted in the upper latitudes can prove to be a real Trojan horse, as they tend to trap heat between their leaves, thus actively contributing to the overall heating of our planet. Nature lovers should always use sound scientific research as a theoretical foundation for determining the best places to plant trees near them.
These are just some of the common misconceptions on global warming. While all these statements appear to be true at first sight, careful review has shown that, in some cases, advice voiced by certain members of the international scientific community may actually cause things to worsen in the long run. That's why it's so important for people to figure out these things for themselves, so that they can judge whatever some jester says on TV based on real scientific facts.