Role of the Individual, The

154 Pages·2011·5.938 MB·English

by  Rebecca Ferguson

c o n f r o n t i n g
global warming

the role of

the individual
The Role of
the Individual
http://avaxho.me/blogs/ChrisRedfield

The Role of
the Individual
Rebecca Ferguson
Michael E. Mann
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under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 Includes bibliographical references and index.
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the prior written permission of the 1. Environmentalism. 2. Sustainable living. 3. Global
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2010030743
Printed in the United States of America
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 15 14 13 12 11
Contents
Preface 1
Foreword 3
Chapter 1: Carbon Footprints and
Why They Matter 10
The Case for Global Warming 10
Questions Raised by Global Warming Skeptics 14
Graph: CO Emissions and CO Concentrations,
2 2
1751–2004 15
The Carbon Cycle 16
The Greenhouse Effect 16
The GWP Factor 18
The Focus on Carbon 19
What Can Be Done? 20
Sidebar: How Is a Carbon Footprint Calculated? 20
Notes 21
Chapter 2: House and Garden 22
Home Energy Audit 22
Chart: Energy Consumption by Sector, 2008 23
Increasing the Energy Efficiency of Existing Structures 24
Renewable Energy Sources 27
Add-On Solutions 33
Air Leakage 34
Green Building 37
Sidebar: Impact of Green Building 38
Yards and Gardens 38
Notes 41
Chapter 3: Daily Living at Home 42
Heating and Cooling the Home 42
The Role of the Individual
Chart: How We Use Energy in Our Homes 43
Lighting 45
Sidebar: If a CFL or Other Fluorescent Bulb Breaks 46
Monitoring Energy Use 49
Working with Utility Companies to Reduce Energy Use 50
Small Electronics 51
Appliances 52
Outdoor Grilling 54
Cleaning House 56
Reducing Water Consumption 57
Paper Products 58
Recycled Paper 60
Reducing Waste 62
Notes 65
Chapter 4: Transportation and Travel 66
Fuel-Efficient Automobiles 67
Graph: Fuel Efficiency Correlates to Dramatic
Reductions in CO Emissions 69
2
Daily Commuting 72
Sidebar: Calculating the Cost of Commuting 76
Telecommuting and Videoconferencing 77
Around-Town Transportation 78
Vacationing 79
Chapter 5: Food Choices 81
Eating Locally: The Locavore Movement 82
Graph: Distances Traveled by Fresh Produce 83
Organic Foods 88
Sidebar: Organic Foods: Myth and Reality 90
Whole Foods 92
Reducing Meat Consumption 93
Reducing Food Waste and Excess Consumption 94
Packaging 95
Contents
In-Home Food Preparation 100
Notes 100
Chapter 6: At School and Work 102
Reducing Kitchen and Lunchroom Waste 102
Sidebar: Getting Rid of Trays 103
Classroom and Office Waste 105
Graph: Recycling Rates of Selected Materials, 2008 107
Choosing Recycled Paper Products 108
Powering Off 109
Growing a School Garden 109
Notes 110
Chapter 7: Activism 111
Consuming Wisely 111
Sidebar: Newsweek’s Green Rankings 114
Table: U.S. Imports and Exports, 1992–2009 117
Reducing Family Size 118
Offsets 118
Taking the Lead 119
Resources for Information and Action 121
Local, State, and Federal Law 122
Putting Thought into Action 122
Notes 123
Glossary 124
For Further Research 127
Index 136
About the Author 144

Preface
“The warnings about global warming
have been extremely clear for a long
time. We are facing a global climate
crisis. It is deepening. We are entering
a period of consequences.”
Al Gore
Still hotly debated by some, human-induced global warming
is now accepted in the scientific community. Earth’s average
yearly temperature is getting steadily warmer; sea levels are rising
due to melting ice caps; and the resulting impact on ocean life,
wildlife, and human life is already evident. The human-induced
buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere poses serious and
diverse threats to life on earth. As scientists work to develop ac-
curate models to predict the future impact of global warming,
researchers, policy makers, and industry leaders are coming to
terms with what can be done today to halt and reverse the human
contributions to global climate change.
Each volume in the Confronting Global Warming series ex-
amines the current and impending challenges the planet faces
because of global warming. Several titles focus on a particular
aspect of life—such as weather, farming, health, or nature and
wildlife—that has been altered by climate change. Consulting
the works of leading experts in the field, Confronting Global
Warming authors present the current status of those aspects as
they have been affected by global warming, highlight key future
challenges, examine potential solutions for dealing with the re-
sults of climate change, and address the pros and cons of immi-
nent changes and challenges. Other volumes in the series—such
as those dedicated to the role of government, the role of industry,
and the role of the individual—address the impact various fac-
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