health + wellness - Explore Big Sky
health + wellness - Explore Big Sky
health + wellness - Explore Big Sky
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environMental<br />
ColuMn<br />
carbon dioxide and<br />
global warming<br />
by eileen Connors<br />
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas<br />
that traps the warmth of the sun’s<br />
rays, making Earth a livable, nonfrozen<br />
planet. Before the industrial<br />
revolution, atmospheric carbon dioxide<br />
concentration was about 290<br />
parts per million.<br />
Today, it’s risen to<br />
about 394 ppm.<br />
Climatologists<br />
have observed rapid<br />
ice melt in the Arctic in the past<br />
few years and have issued a series<br />
of studies showing that the planet<br />
faced both human and natural disaster<br />
if atmospheric concentrations<br />
of CO2 remained above 350 parts<br />
per million, according to 350.org.<br />
However, Earth surpassed 350 ppm<br />
in the early 1990s.<br />
We must get back to 350 if we want<br />
to prevent drastic changes. But to reduce<br />
emissions, people need to know<br />
how they emit carbon dioxide.<br />
every gallon of gas<br />
burned emits 20 pounds<br />
of carbon dioxide.<br />
Most electricity is created by burning<br />
coal, which emits the carbon contained<br />
in the coal as carbon dioxide. This is<br />
about two pounds of carbon dioxide for<br />
every kilowatt hour. Gas also contains<br />
carbon, and when burned the carbon is<br />
reemitted as carbon<br />
dioxide. Every gallon<br />
of gas burned<br />
emits 20 pounds<br />
of carbon dioxide.<br />
This adds up fast:<br />
humans emit about 70 million tons<br />
of carbon dioxide every day, creating<br />
today’s global warming.<br />
Turning off unused televisions,<br />
computers and lights will significantly<br />
reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally,<br />
reducing hot water temperature<br />
a few degrees, manually opening a<br />
can or garage door, or only using one or<br />
two lights in a room are also good ways<br />
of conserving electricity.<br />
Keep us in a livable planet. More at<br />
environmentaleducator.org, a<br />
highly rated app.<br />
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explorebigsky.com July 15, 2011 27<br />
HELMS<br />
JAMISON<br />
KULESZA
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