With fears of the effects of global warming on the rise, talk about the reduction of ‘greenhouse gases’ has increased. Greenhouse gases are said to be human-generated and responsible for much of the negative effects of global warming. Of all the greenhouse gases contributing to the warming of the earth, carbon dioxide is said to be the most important. It is not as if mankind created all of these gases, many of them have existed in the atmosphere, they affect the balance of heat in our atmosphere and help give us a stable climate. However, it is clear that human involvement has greatly affected CO2 levels.
Scientifically our atmosphere has the ability to reflect some of the high-energy radiation which arrives to our planet from the sun and other heat radiating from the Earth itself, it also can absorb some as well. However its ability to perform this task, depends on whats in the atmosphere. What is distinct about CO2 and other greenhouse gases is that they allow more heat inside our atmosphere, than they allow out. Meaning that they absorb and reflect more of the lower energy radiation created by the Earth as opposed to the higher energy radiation coming form the sun, this in effect warms the planet.
In all reality, methane, nitrous oxide, and certain other greenhouse gases are stronger than CO2. In fact, it can be estimated that in a 100 year period, one pound of methane will be equivalent to 25 pounds of CO2. However, it is CO2 which receives the greatest amount of attention when compared to all other other greenhouse gases. This is because it is relatively abundant, and its presence in the environment can be directly linked to human involvement and its effects.
Become involved and aware of the impacts of global warming on our environment. Buy Starry Night Lights product and be guaranteed environmentally night friendly lighting.
Climate change has had a significant effect on recent extreme weather changes. This fact has come to our knowledge in many forms, the most influential of which has been the amount and severity of weather disasters that have plagued our world. Especially in the last 5 years, the US has felt the severity and harshness of climate change. This month, the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research, have conducted their first comprehensive analysis on projected climate changes in North America and other U.S. territories. Previously, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change had conducted a similar test but on a broader scope which focused on global results. However before this recent analysis, there had not been a specific report on the climate changes across North America alone.
According to this analysis, droughts, heavy downpours, extreme heat and strong hurricanes, could all become more common across the globe. This will be the result of human influence and effects, on high concentrations of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. This analysis is based on strong scientific evidence which heavily indicates that a ‘warmer world’ will cause high changes in the strength, length, location and frequency of extreme weather occurrences.
According to Tom Karl, of the the National Climate Data Center, in Asheville, N.C., “This report addresses one of the most frequently asked questions about global warming: what will happen to weather and climate extremes? This synthesis and assessment product examines this question across North America and concludes that we are now witnessing and will increasingly experience more extreme weather and climate events”.
Unfortunately, over the past 50 years the negative impacts of global warming which has occurred is directly linked to human caused- heat trapping gases. During these 50 years, many unusal weather occurences have occurred, and will continue to occur.
Some of the unusal/severe consequences of climate change, which are expected to occur are:
- Unusually hot days and evenings, heat waves, as well as a decrease in very cold evenings
- Rain will be less frequent, but more intense during times of percipitation
- Increased drought
- Stronger hurricanes, with stronger winds and rain
- Continued melting of sea ice in the Arctic
- Stronger cold season storms, in the Atlantic and Pacific, with stronger more extreme waves
Join with Starry Night Lights in the struggle against global warming and its cosequences. In order to protect our environment, ourselves and the livestyle we’ve come to hold dear, we must make the appropriate steps to lessen global warming and climate change. Buy energy efficient appliances- protect the environment.
Global warming has had a very significant impact on our modern world. Many politicians are taking very needed steps to reduce and lessen the negative impacts that global warming has had on our environment. We have heard about how global warming has affected climate changes, certain disasters, but one aspect which has not been discussed very much is its effect on wildlife. According to the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 20-30% of all wildlife species, animal and plant species included, could have an increased chance of extinction if the average global temperature continues to increase. In fact if the temperature continues to rise and exceeds 1.5 to 2.5 degrees Celsius. This could potientially lead to a possible 60% loss in species in certain specific areas of the world.
Global warming and its effects have had significant impacts on the lives and habitats of:
Sea Turtles- Climate changes have had a very negative affect on the sex of the baby sea turtles. During the period of incubation, warmer water leads to female young, while colder water leads to male young. Thus climate change has played a significant role in disturbing the balance of female/male sea turtles.
Polar Bears- Global warming, has caused much the artic habitat that polar bears depend on to melt. Thus, polar bears have lost much of their habitat in the arctic because of severe melting as temperatures rise.
Penguins- The severe melting of sea ice in the arctic has had a significant impact on the decline of several animal species that reside there, one of which is the penguin. This is because the loss of habitat has caused the penguins’ main food source, krill, to have a large population decline.
Ignoring the facts and effects of global warming, will have a greater impact than we may expect. Outside of climate change, and weather changes- global warming will have a dramatic impact on wildlife. By taking the appropriate steps in dealing with global warming, we will be able to improve the temperature and the lives of precious wildlife and their habitats. We at Starry Night Lights support slowing global warming and improving its negative effects on our world. Be sure to consider all the aspects of our environment which are influenced by global warming, when choosing environmentally friendly products. This is an area that we can help.
The night sky friendly outdoor lights offered by Starry Night Lights, put all the light they produce on the ground, allowing you to significantly reduce the wattage used and still have the same amount of light on the ground. If you install motion sensors, you can cut the energy consumed by over 95%. Given the amount of outdoor lighting in use, this is a significant amount of energy saved… and global warming gasses not emitted. Energy Star light fixtures are another example. These fixtures have been certified to consume far less energy than typical lights… in many cases upwards of 80% less energy consumed. Please keep this in mind… the choices you make do have an effect on the world around you.
International scares about climate change have risen to dramatic heights, this is because of ‘freak’ weather occurrences and severe food shortages, which have been occurring all over the globe. The cyclone in Mynammar, the earthquake in China, the twisters in the midwest, have all been recent occurrences that have been linked by certain experts with climate change. Also, the food shortages which are occurring all over the globe, have been equally threatening, causing many individuals to over buy while others are helplessly in the need.
According to the president of the World Bank, the food shortages could push more than 100 million individuals below the poverty line. The food shortages have made accessible food too expensive for many individuals around the world, weakening global efforts to improve poverty globally.
There are many factors that have affected and brought on the food shortages. These factors are: a high global population, a massive increase in the production of corn-based ethanol in the United States, which has had a very negative impact on more commodities than just corn. Also, the depreciation of the dollar and the increased appreciation of the euro and other currencies, has made commodities which are priced in the dollar much higher. In addition, hoarding by certain countries and individuals has greatly increased food prices and created shortages. However, in spite of all these factors the underlying reason and most significant factor behind these occurrences is the high price of gas and other fossil fuels.
One cannot ignore the way that climate changes have affected food shortages and prices as well. Many areas of the globe have been severly affected by the changing climate. In India and Africa drought and disease have greatly decreased the amount of crops produced making prices soar. This is especially severe with regard to wheat, which has increased as the result of failing crops. It is clear that climate change has made some areas too dry for a successful crop season, while on the other hand it has made other areas more prone to diseases on crops.
In any case, it has become very clear that by ignoring global warming and its effects, like climate change, we are setting ourselves up for all kinds of disasters. One may think that Americans are not going to have to deal with these consequences but that is clearly not the case. In order to best protect ourselves and our world, we must take steps to lessen global warming. Join with Starry Night Lights and fight to improve our world and our environment!
Recent scientific discoveries have revealed the true fragile state of our world and its environment. Unfortunately this knowledge did not have much effect on the human populace until very recently, when famous individuals like Al Gore brought brutal facts to the public’s attention. His facts and the facts of many others revealed that the mistakes made by the earth’s population were taking a devastating toll on the earth and our environment.
As a result, many companies have pledged to become more environmentally friendly, an action which has come to be known as ‘going green’. One such company is Energy Star, which is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy designed to help “us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices”. Energy Star has proven to be very effective in its endeavor. In 2007, it was able to reduce a great percentage of greenhouse gas emissions, an amount which would have resulted from 27 million cars, just by the amount of energy it saved. In addition this ’save’ also resulted in a financial save of about 16 billion on utilities.
Energy Star products can save a family a great deal of money on their energy bill, while also saving the environment from increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions. This does not mean that families will have to sacrifice on style or features, but they are able to save a lot of energy with these newer Energy Star approved models. By buying products with the Energy Star label, one will be guaranteed energy effecient products as well as a ‘fatter’ wallet.
In mid March, EnergySolutions pushed to import about 20,000 tons of low-level nuclear waste from Italy, to be buried in Utah on a site owned by the company. This move was met by great resistance by Utah Radiation Control Board and other members of the Utah community. On Thursday May 8, 2008, eight Western states moved to stop EnergySolutions’ decision to import nuclear waste from Italy and bury at their Utah landfill. Members of the Northwest Compact on Low-level Radioactive voted to change the company’s contract with the Salt Lake City nuclear waste company so that foreign waste will no longer be permitted. In addition they moved to close a loophole which had allowed the company bury processed waste from Tennessee, in Utah as well.
Even Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. has said that he will use his power to block Italian waste import until a national policy can be set.
All this is happening while the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering the company’s desire to import 20,000 tons of waste to processing plant near Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The company would then sell the recovered metal it produced after processing, for shielding, while also disposing of 1,600 tons of waste at the company’s landfill in Utah.
However, a problem arose when EnergySolution declared that the decision made on Thrusday was irrelevant, saying that the decision does not apply to their private facility. Of all the sites, the one in Utah is one of three which is not owned by the government. Thus, because the site in Utah is privately owned, EnergySolutions feels that the decision will not affect them. The general counsel for EnergySolutions has promised to continue to limit importing of foreign waste to 5%, even though the site can handle far more.
It seems that a fight is still ahead, though it is clear that Utahans are not excited about the idea of foreign waste being buried in their ‘back yard’. John Urgo of the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah thanked all those who have fought against burying foreign waste in Utah, saying that their resistance has confirmed “that it was never the intent of state or federal law to open up Utah and the U.S. to the world’s nuclear waste,” thus, he said “we can all breathe a sigh of relief that someone was finally willing to reign in their global nuclear ambitions.”
What makes the world go round, what keeps everything ‘ticking’? ENERGY!!! We need energy to live and to keep our world going. There are many sources of energy, some are renewable and others are nonrenewable. Unfortunately we have depended too strongly on nonrenewable sources like; coal, petroleum and natural gas. Nonrenewable sources exist in a fixed amount and once they are finished, they are gone. This creates a dilemma because our energy comes mostly from these sources and not renewable sources which can be regenerated and re-made. So what happens when nonrenewable resources disappear? They will eventually disappear and we will need to turn to renewable resources like; wind, solar, and plant resources.
Some states and cities have already begun to switch to renewable resources. This is a very necessary step and it should be done all across the globe. Things like windmills and solar panels are being used and need to be used to harvest clean and renewable energy and in turn lessen global warming.
This energy dilemma has affected the United States in many ways. Politically, we have aligned ourselves with nations that can provide us with the nonrenewable resources that we depend on for our energy needs, even if we do not support the political policies that these countries make. Also we have greatly polluted our environment by using nonrenewable resources. We need to improve our energy consumption habits by using less energy, buying more energy efficient lights and appliances and through using renewable clean energy sources.
Energy Star wants to change the world, one light bulb at a time and invites you to join in! 2008 marks the launch of a new campaign for Energy Star called ‘Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR’. The new campaign is designed to build off of the success of Energy Star’s former campaign ‘Change a Light , which led to a little less than one and a half million pledges to replace old lights with Energy Star approved lights. Ultimately, the campaign pledge, saved up to 1.3 billion kWh of energy in addition to about $127 million in energy costs!
The 2008 campaign is meant to exceed the success of the former campaign. The campaign’s main target is to fight against global warming by reducing the amounts of energy spent at home and work. The 2008 campaign begins on Earth Day, there are several ways for partners to get involved. These ways include:promoting the pledge, collecting real-life energy saving stories and hosting a campaign event.
Promoting the Pledge:
- Support the pledge by pushing individuals and organizations to find ways to save energy and in turn to fight global warming and by motivating employees, customers to take action.
- Help collect stories of individuals and companies who have made steps to improve the energy situation and post them on energystar.gov, to help encourage others to take similar steps.
Starry Night Lights works hard to ensure that one can choose, both interesting and economically friendly lighting. It is our hope that individuals will consider the negative consequences that certain lighting options have on the environment and will instead pick responsible options when lighting their homes. In order to give our customers as many options as possible, we offer many forms of lighting from many different brands. These brands include: GlareBuster, Justice Design, LSI Lighting Solutions, Sea Gull Lighting, as well as:
For all the brands sold by Starry Night Lights please go to the ‘lighting by brand’ section on our webpage.
New and modern forms of lighting are one of the greatest and cheapest ways to give your home a ‘face-lift’. Interesting lighting serves as an excellent way to draw attention to your home, porch and garden. Also, with products purchased from Starry Night Lights, you are receiving efficient and sky friendly lighting. As a result, feel free to ‘lighten-up’ your home with Starry Night Lights forms of lighting and be guaranteed both cool and environmentally safe lighting.
The theme of ‘going green’ has swept across the United States, as both companies and individuals are becoming more environmentally friendly, by going green. In fact, going green has even become somewhat popular as universities and companies encourage their employees to become more creative in ways that encourage going green.
There are many ways to ‘go green’, and they all are designed to regulate consumption and the way that individuals use energy. One such example is the push to go green with energy and electricity. Individuals are now being encouraged to:
- Unplug plugs, such as phone charges, lamps, etc. from walls. (Even products that have a ‘stand-by’ option are still using electricity)
- Make sure all unused lights are turned OFF
- Use a power strip, which can be turned off at night, this way one will not need to unplug and re-plug items to save energy
- Use natural ways of heating and cooling your home. Open windows before afternoon heat, use curtains during the warmest parts of the day, use fans, etc.
Lighting, is another subject were going green is being strongly pushed, especially because of the great amounts of energy wasted used when lighting. Here are some tips to saving money and energy when lighting your home:
- Make sure that your outdoor lights are only on when they are being used, motion sensors will help in this endeavor
Unfortunately, the statistics for the amount of energy Americans consume is far greater than the rest of the world. Americans often think that these resources will continue forever, but they will not. This is largely the result of the fact that a great deal of American energy is from nonrenewable resources. Therefore, we as Americans need to lessen our dependency on these nonrenewable resources. We can do this by using renewable resources like wind and sun, but we also need to reduce the amount of energy we use and consume.
Important Statistics to Consider:
* Of all the energy used in the United States, 72% is used by buildings
* The energy of the United States is 98% made up of non-renewable resources
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