SRI-RTP

What Role Does Heavy Industry Have In Green House Gases

admin — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Green house gases are carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels. You can easily see the exhaust fumes coming from cars in winter, so just imagine that all carbon dioxide gases were visibleâ€”from every truck, every train, every plane, and every factory. That’s just a scant beginning.

While technology is working hard to reduce the production of these gases by using solar and wind energy, for example, we must always remember that all manufacturing, even for the sake of reducing pollution, produces green house gases. The special sands used to make the “glass” sheets for solar panels come from mines. Where there is a mine, there is heavy industry with big trucks and trains spitting out green house gases.

Heavy industry’s role in the production of these gases is obvious: the bigger the machines, the more gas they emit. The more product we manufacture, the more we damage the environment. The more we consume, the more we takeâ€”or leave behind.

Sometimes it’s hard to know which way to lean, but conservation is always a great place to start.

Which Countries Produce The Most Green House Gases

admin — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Many countries emit a high amount of carbon dioxide emissions. The main contributors are countries that have a large population and big production capabilities. Countries must work together to safeguard the planet from environmental catastrophes. As a result, several countries are now implementing new regulations to control the amount of carbon dioxide emissions that are going into the air. In addition, countries are also looking for new ways to provide better forms of sustainable energy.

Out of all countries, China takes the top spot for being the worldâ€™s largest contributor of greenhouse gases. This polluting country has an enormous population and manufacturers a variety of goods. Since China has the worldâ€™s largest population, the country consumes a large amount of fossil fuel for transportation purposes. China relies on coal more than any other country.

The United States is the second biggest contributor of greenhouse gases. They have one of the worldâ€™s largest oil industries and a heavily populated country. Many people in the U.S. commute a long way back and forth to work. Besides that, the U.S. also has one of the worldâ€™s largest meat industries. Outside the U.S., other pollution offenders include the European Union, Russia, India and Japan.

What Is The Definition Of Green House Gases

admin — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Green house gases are those that have been deemed by the EPA as harmful to humans. Green house gases, when released into the atmosphere, will build up over many years. Rather than dissipate, these gases effect temperature as a whole, affecting global warming. Carbon dioxide is the gas most people are familiar with, it is released mainly by automobiles. Although carbon dioxide is good for plants, it is not healthy for humans.

Methane is another type of green house gas. Methane is released into the atmosphere by landfill, the logging and clearing of forests, cattle and other livestock, and fossil fuel production. CFC-12 is a type of Chlorofluorocarbon, an artificially produced greenhouse gas which was commonly known as Freon. Used in refrigerators, air conditioning systems and more, it’s use has been discontinued since 1995. Old appliances that may contain freon must be disposed of properly.

Health effects to high levels of green house gases can cause asthma and other breathing problems. Because of these health risks, the EPA has regulated many of these green house gases.

What Is The Role of Green House Gases In Global Warming

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Imagine that you had a small cat opening in your front door—big enough for a kitten to get through but not an adult cat. After a while your house would be full of cats, as small ones came in, grew, and couldn’t get out.
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are like that cat door: they let in light and heat from the sun; but when the earth tries to send the heat back out in a different form (microwaves, the same kind you heat food with), some of the microwaves can’t get through the greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, occur naturally in the atmosphere, and over time the atmosphere has reached an equilibrium temperature. A certain amount of heat escapes through the gases and a steady-state has developed. Luckily for us, the temperature of the atmosphere stays at a comfortable level for human beings.
But the comfortable human beings have been putting more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere since the industrial revolution. As a result, a little bit less of the microwave radiation is escaping and the atmosphere is warming. So far this warming is manageable, but as we continue to burn fossil fuels the threat of major disruptions increases.

Do Green House Gases Harm The Environment

admin — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The subject of greenhouse gases and the environment is complex. First, humanity would be foolish to think certain types of gas emissions do not harm the environment. Anyone that has flown over the city of Los Angles during the summertime and witnessed the thick brown smog hanging over the city understands carbon is harming the atmosphere in some way. Only the scientists can tell us exactly how. Nevertheless, the earth is like every other organism that it hosts. It has an ability to heal itself to a certain degree. Therefore, the real question is what is the tipping point beyond where the earth can no longer heal itself?

There is evidence on both sides of the debate. Some scientists say the evidence is clear and alarming. The earth is at the tipping point right now. Other scientists use statistical data to show the earth is not warming beyond what it has already done in the past. They say greenhouse gas is not harming the environment. How should humanity proceed when there are two opposing opinions of what the evidence means? Humanity should err on the side of caution and prepare for the worse while hoping for the best. We need to assume the answer is yes. Greenhouse gases harm the environment.

How Do Greenhouse Gases Affect The Environment

admin — Tue, 17 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

You have probably heard a lot of talk about Global Warming and how greenhouse gases are one major reason for the earth’s climate change. Scientists are saying that heat from the sun’s rays are not being completely absorbed by the earth’s surface which is creating greenhouse gases to settle and remain in the atmosphere. They say that the earth’s temperature is rising. The rise of the earth’s temperature is causing changes on the earth that will affect its environment.

It has been reported that because the earth’s temperature is rising that glaciers along with polar ice tips are melting before their time. Because of this melting, the sea levels are continuing to rise. In some places around the world the lack of rain seems to be a problem, while in other places around the world people are experiencing an increase in rainy weather. Environmental changes and weather upon the earth appear to have gone topsy- turvey.

What future affect these greenhouse gases could have upon the environment is anybody’s guess. One scientist believes one thing while another believes something else. No one knows for sure what the earth’s future will be because of Global Warming. It is a subject that will be debated for years to come.

How do Greenhouse Gases Affect the Environment?

admin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

How do greenhouse gases affect the environment? Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane are accumulating in the earth’s atmosphere, this causes the atmosphere to warm up. The gases allow the sun’s radiation to enter the earth’s atmosphere, but prevent the radiation from escaping the atmosphere. The earth must be able to release this radiant energy so as not to overheat. The increase in temperature could produce changes in the world’s climatic patterns.
The combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, is a large cause of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. These gases have increased as the result of human activity.
Increases in world temperatures would cause the polar ice caps to melt causing sea levels to rise. This would result in many coastal areas to become under water. Ocean currents could be diverted, if the Gulf Stream were to change, Europe could become a cooler and drier place. Plant and animal life could become extinct or be forced to move.
electric companies in texas are trying to be part of the solution, by eliminating greenhouse gases.
By generating electricity from renewable sources like wind instead of burning coal or natural gas will produce less air pollution.

Some Resources

www.sri-rtp.com — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

If you’ve decided that it’s time you stopped just listing to the buzz words and start to better understand the problem of global warming, we suggest the following resources to get you up-to-speed so you’ll not only know what the facts are, but perhaps even become inspired to evoke some type of change.

The Greenhouse Effect: Warming the Plant (Darlene R. Stille) is intended for younger audiences (ages 9-12) but sometimes to truly understand a problem you have to get the elementary basics as a foundation before you can move forward. It’s 48-pages and a perfect read for all family members to start a conversation. One reviewer called the book an “invaluable tool to explore, analyze and reflect about this problem that concerns with all those people who live in our little planet.”Global Warming and Climate Change Demystified (Jerry Silver) looks at scientific data gathered from weather instruments, satellite telemetry, ice cores, and coral sections that reveal how the Earth’s temperature is changing, and it goes on to examine the causes of climate change, including both natural processes and human-generated greenhouse gases. This source is touted as being “simple enough for a beginner, but challenging enough for an advanced student.”Greenhouse: The 200-Year Story of Global Warming (Gale E. Christianson) is said to be the “illuminating history behind a scientific idea that fills today’s headlines.” The author blends research with a skill for storytelling to bring global warming to the memorable human drama and integral part of our planet’s history that it is today.

There are a lot more of course, and we suggest you check out some suggested reading from organizations such as Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, or the EPA for more ideas

Personal Solutions

www.sri-rtp.com — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 15:14:59 +0000

You don’t have to be a scientist to come up with a solution to the global warming problems that are currently facing the world. Here we offer some easy-to-incorporate ideas that anyone can incorporate in their daily life to help reduce the impact of global climate change.Get a home energy audit. As with any solution you have to first understand the magnitude of the problem, and there’s only one way to get a clear understanding of where potential energy savings may be than through an energy audit offered by most utility companies. In lieu of having someone come in an immediate fix is to replace an outdated thermostat with a new programmable one (which in most cases reduces a family’s carbon dioxide emission by 5 percent).Shed light on the situation. You’ve seen those funny looking light bulbs but may have not yet used them in your home. By switching one regular light bulb with an energy-saving option in every household, global warming pollution could be reduced by more than 90 billion pounds over the course of the bulb’s life. That’s with one bulb. Imagine the impact if you changed every bulb in your home!Thaw out. If you have a freezer in a utility room or garage that really isn’t being used as efficiently as you imagined when you first purchased it, consider unplugging it except when absolutely needed (for holidays, parties, etc.) and a typical family’s carbon dioxide emission will be reduced by almost 10 percent.Plant your own forest. Chances are if you moved into a new(ish) home in a suburban area the land was cleared of trees so the builders could more easily access the building sites. Do your part and replant those trees in your yard or get a group of homeowners together to plant groupings of trees in some common area. Not only will these trees provide desirable shade during the summer months, but they’ll help reduce energy bills (which means less fossil fuel use).Send an email. We would say “write a letter” to policymakers, but that would require paper to write it and gas to deliver it. Kind of defeats the purpose, wouldn’t you agree? Instead, email elected officials and business leaders in your immediate geographic area (and beyond, should you feel compelled) and let them know of your concern and ask for their stance and solutions on global warming.

Your Own Fuel Economy

www.sri-rtp.com — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:12:21 +0000

Most people know that it’s fossil fuels that contribute highly to greenhouse gases, but not all of us know what measures can be taken to increase our personal vehicle’s fuel economy and therefore reduce the emissions. The Union of Concerned Scientists provided the following ideas that are easy to incorporate for maximum effect.Drive less. Driving as little as possible is the best way to reduce the environmental impact of your transportation needs. Link errands, carpool, walk, bike, or use mass transit whenever possible. Choose a place to live that reduces your need to drive. If your family already has one vehicle, consider trying to meet your travel needs without buying a second one.Drive moderately. High-speed driving and jack-rabbit starts increase both fuel use and emissions.Keep your vehicle well tuned. Simple maintenancesuch as regular oil changes, air-filter changes, and spark plug replacementswill lengthen the life of your vehicle as well as improve fuel economy and minimize emissions.Check your tires. Keeping your tires properly inflated and aligned saves fuel by reducing the amount of drag your engine must overcome. Also, when it’s time to replace your tires, consider getting a set of low rolling resistance (LRR) tires. Although LRR tirescost slightly more than traditional tire replacements, tires that reduce rolling resistance by 10 percent can improve gas mileage by one to two percent for most passenger vehicles.Keep track of your fuel economy. A drop in your vehicle’s fuel economy can be a sign of engine trouble. Keep track of your fuel economy by noting the odometer reading and the number of gallons purchased each time you fill up. To calculate your gas mileage, divide the number of miles traveled between fill-ups by the number of gallons purchased.Be weight-conscious. Don’t carry around items you don’t need. For every 100 pounds of weight in your vehicle, fuel economy decreases by one to two percent. Also, reduce drag by putting bulky items inside the vehicle or trunk instead of on a roof rack.Don’t let your vehicle idle for more than a minute. During start-up, your engine burns extra gasoline. However, letting your engine idle for more than a minute burns more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it.Limit air conditioning, which consumes fuel. At lower speeds, open the windows or sunroof to stay cool. At higher speeds, use your vehicle’s fan as open windows create drag that reduces mileage.Park in the shade. Minimize evaporation of fuel and keep your vehicle cooler in the summer by parking in the shade.