Making our Vehicles Cleaner

Transportation is the major source of U.S. dependence on imported oil and the sector that has had the fastest growth in greenhouse gas emissions over the past two decades. Yet the efficiency of our light duty vehicle fleet is at a 20-year low and efforts to promote alternative fuel vehicles in the marketplace have largely failed. Nonetheless, the urgent need to reverse the business-as-usual growth path in greenhouse gas emissions in the next two decades to avoid serious if not catastrophic climate change necessitates action to make our vehicles cleaner according to a study done by Energy And Climate Transportation .When buying a new or used motor vehicle consider fuel economy and the option of hybrid vehicles.Besides helping the environment, you may also be able to get a car insurance discount for a hybrid car as some companies offer "green" discounts..

Changing Our Climate

The sun's heat is the source of energy for life on earth. Although some heat radiating from the sun is reflected back out of the earth's atmosphere, much is absorbed by heat-trapping gases like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxides. The concentration of these "greenhouse gases" is increasing because of human activity and the result is the "enhanced greenhouse effect".

When burned for fuel, the carbon stored in fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal is released in the form of carbon dioxide. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 30%. If emissions continue at today's rate, concentrations will double by the middle of the next century.

Now a days even automated devices such as home security systems are on our side, by reducing the usage of home owners energy. People can simply set a timer when heating and cooling can go on and is backed up by home security.

Greenhouse Gas

Naturally occurring greenhouse gases (such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) keep the Earth warm enough to support life. Scientific studies show that a variety of human activities release greenhouse gases. These include the burning of fossil fuels for electrical energy, heat and transportation. By increasing the concentration of present greenhouse gases and by adding new ones like CFCs, humankind is capable of raising the average global temperature. Alternative energy information source describes these issues in more detail.

Individual Emissions

Most carbon emissions, in fact 75 percent, come from industrial, commercial and agricultural sources. These are called "common emissions" because no single individual is responsible for them. North America individually account for 30 percent of emissions. These "individual emissions" are what you directly influence by your personal transportation choices, recreational interests and energy use in the home. Of course, the choices you're able to make are also affected by the standards and regulations set by governments and the commitment of industry to use energy-efficient technology. Power companies are the source of a lot of peoples power. With their help they can assist you in knowing the right choices in order to help save electricity, your bills along with the environment.

Increase your MPG to save fuel.

When buying a new or used cars, please take into consideration, the fuel effeciency of the vehicle. Common sense is a big help for saving fuel and to increase your mile per gallon (MPG), some of the other things you can do to help are to empty out your boot so your car is lighter, do not leave your air-con on continuously (same goes for any other devices), inflate your tyres, do not speed, and avoid idling by turning off the engine. All these tips should help you to save a pretty penny and keep you from the petrol station that bit longer!

A lot of drivers complain about inner city driving but you can still be fuel efficient driving in urban areas, for example if you are driving your children to and from school then it is a great idea to try to combine it with your shopping.Making small trips into one journey will save you time as well as money.

Tackling Our Clean Air problems

Our environment is composed of interdependent parts. In tackling climate change, you're also making an important contribution to solving other environmental problems. By taking a bus or bike, or buying more efficient appliances, such as and economical used cars, you not only reduce carbon emissions, but you also reduce toxic air pollutants and acid precipitation - which damage the health of humans, crops, forests and water by using solar energy where possible. Consider your options on your power suppliers.Energy suppliers that use gas powered electricity rather than coal powered maybe more environmentally friendly.Also some gas suppliers have green energy options which can be a further consideration to minimise your footprint on our earth's atmosphere.

By redirecting your biodegradable waste from the garbage to the compost, you not only reduce methane emissions (another significant greenhouse gas), you also enrich your soil - eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers - and reduce the land demands of your local landfill.

Reduce our Pollution

One proactive step we can take to clean our air is to plant more trees.