Global Warming

What is Global Warming?

 Global warming is the increase in average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere. In the last few decades this increase has been relatively significant

Causes of Global Warming

•   Increased burning of fossil fuels and thus increases the emission of greenhouse gases (include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and water vapour) into the Earth’s atmosphere thereby increasing the temperature of the Earth because they are transparent to short wave radiation from the sun, while they have the ability to absorb the cooler infra-red radiation from the Earth. This fact alone describes how greenhouse gases make it more difficult for the Earth the cool itself off.
•  When fossil fuels such as oils, natural gas, and coal, in addition to wood, wood products, and solid waste are burned they emit Carbon Dioxide. Methane is emitted during such activities as the production and transportation of certain natural gases, coal, and oil.
• Forest destruction and population are two other causes of global warming.

 

Effects of Global Warming

The predicted effects of global warming not only impact the environment, but human life as well. Effects of global warming on the environment include glaciers, ecosystems, ocean currents, and sea level. Impacts on the human level include financial matters and the spread of disease.

•  The most popular effect of global warming is its impact on glaciers. The complete melting of these glaciers would result in a major flow for several decades, however after that the most populated areas in the world could potentially run out of water.
•  Predicted impacts on the ecosystems and ocean currents. The continued increase in temperature will scientifically lessen the snow cap, create a rise in sea level, and produce weather changes.
•  Human life will also be greatly affected by the increasing average temperature of the Earth. Global warming has the ability to increase the areas that bread such diseases as malaria, bluetongue disease, Hantavirus infection, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, tularemia, and rabies.
• As previously mentioned, global warming will in turn increase the height of sea level. A slight increase in sea level will make some densely populated coastal areas completely uninhabitable.

Prevent the Causes of Global Warming

 The causes and effects of global warming maintain both a direct and indirect relationship.

·        They are directly related because the causes of global warming result in the effects.

·        However the causes and effects of global warming are inversely related because one can prevent and fix the causes, but cannot reverse the damage/effects once they are already done.
          

PREVENTION

•  The world’s electricity is based primarily on the burning of coal, so one should decrease the amount and their demand of electricity or try and use other methods such as solar powered.
•  The second decrease should be in the use of one’s car by perhaps joining a carpool or using public transportation. There are also fuel-efficient cars that are being mass produced.
•  The third and easiest prevention method would be to simply recycle.

Global warming & the environment - "Sleeping Your Way to a Healthy Environment"

Some of the greener choices you can make on your next eco upgrade:

* Natural-fill, untreated mattress or pillow topper

o Conventional mattresses are made of petroleum-based polyester, nylon and polyurethane foam that, especially when new, may give off harmful volatile organic compounds, VOC's, associated with upper respiratory problems. Some mattresses are also pretreated with formaldehyde-emitting stain- and water-repellants whose manufacture releases perfluorooctanoic acid, a likely human carcinogen according to an EPA advisory panel.

* FSC-certified box spring frame

o When it comes to wood, the most verifiably green products are those that bear the Forest Stewardship Council, also called FSC's, label. These woods are responsibly harvested from well-managed forests. Choose solid wood whenever possible, as glues that bind plywood and particleboard cores can emit formaldehyde and other VOC's.

* Untreated, organic-cotton bedding

o Conventional cotton accounts for up to 25 percent of the insecticides used worldwide, and the runoff from nitrogen-spiked synthetic fertilizers, as well as heavy metal dyes, kills aquatic life. Chlorine bleaching releases carcinogenic dioxins. Permanent-press and stain and water-repellant finishes can give off gas formaldehyde, and their manufacture releases PFOA's into the environment.

* Natural-material area rugs and/or carpeting (installed with VOC-free adhesives)

o Conventional wall-to-wall carpeting collects dust, allergens and toxins carried in from outdoors. Its finishes, adhesives and foam paddings can emit numerous VOCs, including formaldehyde and toluene. Area rugs can be washed and kept in place with a natural rubber pad. They don't use VOC-laden adhesives, either.

* Natural-material pillow and/or pillow encasement

* Ethically sourced, VOC-free furniture (second-hand furniture, antiques, formaldehyde-free pressed wood, etc.)

* FSC-certified solid or pressed woods natural-material window treatments (blinds and curtains)

* Low or no VOC wall paints

* Window a/c unit with properly cleaned filter, if necessary

* Electronics turned off each night before bed

* Properly cleaned humidifier, used only when absolutely necessary

You can own an eco bedroom just but being slightly green. I don't mean painting your bedroom a new color, either.