When I was over at The Great Warming website, I came across the link for calculating my impact on Global Warming.
The calculator is based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calculator. I found the website fairly straightforward and easy to use. It is difficult to get 100% accuracy with any calculator that is based on general stats; however, the site gives many suggestions for lowering your impact. Overall, the website is a great resource worth checking out. The website includes: Facts on Global Warming, Calculate Your Impact, numerous interviews and photo galleries. This is a website I could spend hours visiting.
The Great Warming is opening nationwide on November 3, 2006. Narrated by Alanis Morissette and Keanu Reeves, The Great Warming is a dramatic film about climate change that sweeps around the world to reveal how a changing climate is affecting the lives of people everywhere. It has been called “the best film about global warming ever shot”, and taps into the growing groundswell of public interest in this topic to present an emotional, accurate picture of our children’s planet.
I just watched the trailer and it has piqued my interest. I am sure Bentley and I will be off to see it on November 3, 2006. We will write a review and post it on our blog. I hope teachers and educators from all levels of education will take their students to view the documentary. We need to make people aware of our current situation before change can happen. In the 21st Century we have the intelligence and technology to turn back time and fix the problems we have created for the planet. Globally, if we combine our efforts…change will happen!
The website is a gold mine of information and is worth spending some time viewing! You can find video trailers, interviews with local heroes, information booklets, tips for how you can get involved, etc. I could spend hours on the website.
I thought that MIGHT catch your attention!
Just caught an interesting story at Sun-Sentinel.com. The Earthrace alternative-fuel power boat is in Florida as part of a world tour promoting its upcoming attempt to circumnavigate the world in record time (current world record is 75 days).
So where did the bit about human-fat-power come from?
Here’s a blurb from the Sun-Sentinel.com article:
Earthrace, according to its promoters, can run on biofuel made from soybeans, canola oil, grape extract and — hold on to your waistlines — human body fat, which is, after all, a kind of animal fat. To show that biofuel can be made from all sorts of things, Peter Bethune, who heads the Earthrace project, allowed a liposuction specialist to extract about 100 grams of his own body fat, which was converted into biodiesel and used to drive the boat for about 330 feet.
Disturbing, yet strangely fascinating!
Here too is an informative blurb from the Earthrace site:
Earthrace is a bid to break the world record for circumnavigating the globe in a powerboat, and using only renewable fuels. The program includes an 18-month tour calling at 60 of the worlds great cities, promoting fuels like biodiesel, and raising awareness about sustainable use of resources.
Circumnavigating the globe represents the pinnacle of powerboat challenges, and at 24,000 nautical miles, is also the world’s longest race. The current record of 75 days was set by British boat Cable & Wireless in 1998.
The Earthrace aims to smash this record by completing the voyage in less than 65 days, and will mark the first time in history that an official UIM Powerboat record will be attempted using renewable fuel.
I was surfing around this morning and came across this article on energy saving. These tips are a helpful reminder of some of the ways we can reduce our energy bills, save money and most importantly help reduce our impact on the environment. The article, from the “thisismoney.co.uk”,
lists five steps to save energy. “Saving the planet does not have to cost the earth. You can cut the energy you use, help the planet and save money with out five-step guide.”
Step #1 - Change your energy-wasting ways
- Turn TV’s, videos and DVD players off, rather than leaving them on standby
- At night, pull your curtains closed at dusk - will help to reduce heat loss
- Turn thermostat down by one degree can reduce your energy use by 6%
Step #2 - Walk the walk
- Walk or take public transport instead of the car
- If you need to take your car, see if you can carpool rather than driving alone
- If you drive, keep the right pressure in tires, remove unneeded trunk items, and never leave your car idling for more than 30 seconds.
Step #3 - Switch to Energy Efficient Appliances
- Household appliances have come a long way and many energy-saving versions can be purchased
- Washing Machines, Fridges, dishwashers, can be switched to save you money
- Energy saving light bulbs are one of the quickest routes to effective energy saving
Step #4 - Insulating and Heating Your Home
- Insulating your attic will pay for itself in the first year of installation
- Change your furnace/boiler from oil heating to natural gas
- Insulating your water tank can help reduce fuel bills
Step #5 - Rebates and Grants
- Depending on where you live in the world, many governments and organizations are willing to give grants and rebates to people who are willing to make the switch to energy efficiency.
- Appliances, heating, light bulbs, renewable energy sources and hybrid cars available for rebates and grants (depending on where you live)
To read more about the Five Step Guide to Energy Saving!, click here.
I think the key to getting people to switch to green living is making them aware of what options are available to them. By switching to energy efficient methods of living, we can save money, reduce energy consumption and reduce our impact on the earth. Remember, switching to green living can be a gradual change. Start by changing one thing in your home or lifestyle and work from there. If you are dependent on a car on a weekly basis for employment, start a car pool at work. Switch your light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs. When it comes time to replace an appliance select on that has a high-energy efficiency rating.
Each step you take, towards a greener living, will help save you money and the planet!
