Greenhouse Gases and Global Warming

 

Greenhouse gases are chemical compounds in the Earth's atmosphere. When sunlight hits the Earth's surface and reflects back towards space, greenhouse gases absorb the rays ant trap their heat in the atmosphere. This is what keeps the earth warm and able to sustain life. However, when the amount of greenhouse gases in increased past its natural limit, too much heat is retained, resulting in global warming. Global warming is a serious concern for many scientists, as it affects the earth's climate, and Solana Beach has taken various actions to limit it. The City has developed a "commuter policy" that provides incentives for City staff to find alternative transportation to work like carpooling, biking, or using public transportation. The City also held the "What is Your Carbon Footprint and Why is it Important?" lecture free for the public. The lecture was attended by about 120 people.

 

The Glean and Green Committee (see below) is currently developing a Climate Action Plan which would work with the ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) to inventory the City's greenhouse gas emissions. On February 2008, the City became a member of ICLEI. Membership includes software to inventory greenhouse gas emissions.

 

One of the most abundant greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere is carbon dioxide. Your "carbon footprint" is the amount of carbon and other greenhouse gases you put into the atmosphere. You can calculate your personal carbon footprint using websites like there:

 

Carbon Footprint

 

• Carbon Footprint www.carbonfootprint.com

• UC Berkeley: Carbon Calculator http://coolclimate.berkeley.edu

• EPA: Personal Emissions Calculator www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html

• An Inconvenient Truth: Carbon Calculator 

• Google Search "Carbon Calculator" www.google.com

 

See how you can reduce you carbon footprint:

 

• Turn off you engine while you wait in your car (Idling for more than 30 seconds wastes more gas than restarting your engine.)

 

• Purchase goods produced locally (The average American meal travels 1,500 miles. Also, frozen foods require 10 times more energy to produce than locally grown fresh foods.)

 

• Recycle! (Every aluminum can recycled is equivalent to saving 6 ounces of gasoline or 3 hours of TV. Every can makes a difference.) (California Center for Sustainable Energy)

 

• Drink water from the tap, and don't use bottled water

 

• Reuse/refill/carry your own water bottles instead of using a new one every time. Then recycle them once you are finished with it

 

• Print double sided

 

• Unplug your cell phone/iPod charger when not charging you phone/iPod

 

• Carpool

 

• Ride your bike

 

• Turn off the lights when you leave a room

 

• Replace lights bulbs with energy efficient ones

 

• Select foods with less packaging

 

• Choose foods that are locally and organically grown when possible

 

• Eat more fresh food and less frozen food

 

• Eat less meat and more fruits and vegetables

 

• Wear lighter clothes instead of turning on the air conditioning; wear warmer clothes instead of turning on the heater

 

• Take shorter showers

 

• Use sleep mode, not a screensaver, on your computer

 

 

Take Action to Keep the Planet Cool

 

Cool California - Join millions of Californians already working to solve Global Warming and keep California Cool.