Without doubt, environmentalism and being green are red hot these days. From renewable energy to activism, individuals and companies are cleaning up their acts (but watch out for
green washing). For those of you who haven't started yet, or if you need a few extra tips, here's a guide to help you reduce your carbon footprint.
A Carbon Whatprint? Every new craze comes with its own lingo. For technology, the word "Google" started as a noun (Google, the company) then changed to a verb (go Google it). The greening of society is no different.
According to
CarbonFootprint.com,
"a Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of green house gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide." Add up everything you do that uses carbon - that's your carbon footprint."
Curious to see your print? Take
Al Gore's quiz to find out or check out this sample of the Carbon Footprint of the Holidays.
When the holiday season rolls around, it's a time for family and friends - not a time to toss more CO2 into the air! Wikipedia has an
interesting blurb about the carbon footprint of Christmas in the UK. During the Christmas season, each person produces as much as 650 kg of carbon dioxide emissions. That's equal to 5.5% of the UK's annual carbon footprint! Here is how the numbers breakdown:
- 26 kg of CO2 from Christmas food
- 96 kg of CO2 from Christmas car travel
- 218 kg of CO2 from extravagant lighting displays
- 310 kg of CO2 on Christmas shopping
I have a feeling the numbers for the US are even worse...
Reduce your footprint with these tips: - Sign up to a green energy supplier (an supplier that generates power from renewable sources)
- Turn down the heat in winter (make your house cooler)
- Turn up the thermostat in the summer (make your house warmer)
- Use florescent light bulbs - they last longer, save money and use less energy.
- Carpool - you have friends, take them with you! The more the merrier, right?
- Ride an electric scooter (powered by renewable energy). Everyone will be jealous of you because scooters are so cool.
- RECYCLE! You really should be doing this by now.
- Contact your representative in Congress
- Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner
- Stop traveling for business so much, do a web conference when you can!
- Use public transportation – We New Yorkers love the MTA. There are decent ways of planning trips using all public transportation.
- Use Blackle when searching the internet
- If you have to drive, drive a hybrid, moped or motorcycle. If not, just ride your bicycle!
- Plant a tree.
- Buy Energy Star computers, monitors and appliances.
- Avoid the "Phantom" load. BeGreenNow states, "
Phantom" loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, such as VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off."
No one is expected to do every tip, but this is a long list and there is something for everyone. A clean environment is important for health and wellness. Remember, we are all in the fight against climate change together - every little bit helps!
So which one can you commit to this year?
译文:
齐心协力绿化家园——15种减少个人污染的方法
毫无疑问，环境保护和全面绿化已成为近日炙手可热的话题。从可再生能源的利用到每一个细微的动作，不管是个人还是公司企业都已经开始为保护环境而行动（但得注意别横扫千军式的盲目绿化）。如果这时候你还没有开始行动，加入这一行列，又或者你需要一些小贴士，那么这儿有一些建议可以帮助你减少碳污染。
何谓碳污染？
每一次新的狂热都是伴随着它独特的魅力而来的。对科技而言，“谷歌”这一词由原来的名词（一家公司）变成了现在的动词（谷歌一下）。社会绿化也不例外。
根据CarbonFootprint.com网站显示：碳污染是以人类活动所排放的温室气体总量对环境的影响为衡量标准，以二氧化碳为单位。换言之，将你做的使用过碳的加起来，就是你的碳污染。
那么是否开始好奇自己到底制造了多少碳污染呢？我们可以通过戈尔的一系列提问发现或者验证人们在节假日到底产生了多少碳污染。
感恩节、圣诞节悄然而至，人们陪伴家人，约三两好友喝茶聊天，不亦乐乎。然而，真是这短时间二氧化碳的排放量却比平时多得多。维基百科就对英国圣诞节期间释放的碳污染有一个有趣的介绍。在整个圣诞节期间，平均每个人排放的二氧化碳量高达650千克。这相当于英国年均碳污染的5.5%！在这650千克中，有：
l 26千克来自圣诞节的食物
l 96千克来自圣诞节汽车尾气的排放
l 218千克来自人们奢侈的照明装置
l 310千克则来自人们在圣诞节的疯狂采购
令我隐隐觉得不安的是，这个数字在美国恐怕会更加大。。。
看一看下面这些小贴士，它们会帮你减少碳污染哦：
l 用绿色能源供电（即从可再生能源中获取能量）。
l 冬天把空调的温度稍微调低一点（别让房间太热了）。
l 夏天把空调的温度稍稍调高一点（别让房间太凉了）。
l 使用荧光灯——它们更长寿，也省钱，而且还节约能源。
l 搭车——开车的时候带上你的朋友，人越多，污染越少，何乐而不为呢。
l 骑电动踏板车（因为电动踏板车是由绿色能源驱动的）。这样每个人都会羡慕你，因为你骑上电动踏板车的身影是如此的帅气。
l 循环利用。这一点，你必须从现在就开始这么做。
l 和你所在党派的众议员们多多联系（建议政府积极环保）。
l 打扫或更新炉子和空调的过滤器。
l 别过多的为了公事到处旅游了。如果有可能的话，开个网络会议也很不错。
l 请使用公共交通——我们纽约人都爱使用邮件传输文件。它们可是人们安排旅行的顶好的公共设施啊。
l 请使用Blackle搜索引擎。
l 如果你一定要开车的话，就开混合动力车、机动脚踏两用车或摩托车。如果没这个必要的话就骑自行车吧。
l 种一棵树。
l 请使用符合能源之星标准的电脑，监视器和设备。
l 避免使用幽灵负载(电子装置或电器用品关闭后所消耗的电力)。BeGreenNow网站显示，幽灵负载在大多数电器中广泛存在，比如说，录像机，电视机，立体声，电脑和厨房设施。在一般家庭里，在提供这些设备的电能中，有75%是在没有使用的情况下被消耗的。
并非每个人都要接受以上建议，但是它们所包含的内容远不止这些，总有一些东西是适合每个人的。一个洁净的世界对每个人的健康及福祉至关重要。请牢记，我们都在为抵御全球变暖而共同奋斗——即使只是一丁点小事，也会有莫大的帮助。
那么今年你能承诺做些什么呢？