Lowering Your Carbon Footprint...

In my last blog you may have noticed that I wrote about climate change and how it affects the arctic ice and then leads to affecting ocean life.  Well, a lot of the climate change has to do with our carbon footprint.  Obviously we are all going to buy things, but maybe if you knew a little bit more about your own carbon footprint then there would be more understanding on how to decrease it.  After all, we all want to have the littlest carbon footprint possible, right?! Let me share with you a few ways how to lower that footprint of yours. 

 1. Buy in season food that is grown locally. (It will hopefully help reduce how far you have to travel in your car and maybe even help to avoid food that has traveled a long way to reach you.)

 2. If possible, buy organic. (Artificial fertilizers and pesticides wouldn't be a part of making this kind of food grow.)   

 

 3. Buy Furniture that's made from natural timber. (Look for FSC symbol.)

 4. Buy appliances for your household that are the most energy-efficient.

 5. Plan your shopping out so you can get the most in just one trip.

 6. Try to use your bike or bus for when you want to go on shopping trips whenever possible.

 7. Car-pool with a friend if both of you want to go shopping at the same time.

 8. Buying second hand is useful.

 9. Make sure to always get goods that will be sure to last.

 10. Simply, Buy Less!

I think the article that I've gotten this information from definitely taught me that I should be more aware of how much I harm the environment with just a little shopping trip.  It showed that you could be increasing your carbon footprint without even knowing it. All of what I read in the article reminded me of how we learned about our ecological footprint the other week.  If we can make a difference to make our ecological footprint better for the earth then why not try to make our carbon footprint better aswell?

In conclusion, the next time you want to go shopping, try to remember atleast one of the tips that could lower your carbon footprint.  The more you use them, the less fossil fuels there will be going into our environment causing harm to many things.  Not to mention all the CO2 you'll be saving the earth from.   

Less Ice = Less Ocean Life.

What I have read in this blog informs me of how important saving ocean life is.  During the summer, the Arctic’s ice has always melted and then grew once winter time came around.  Over the past few years however, the ice doesn’t regain all of what has melted.  This is causing certain ocean life to lose their habitat and struggle to survive.

            Even the slightest temperature drop can have huge effects.  The warming of the ocean water could cause the Arctic’s summer ice to completely disappear as early as 2013.  Why is this happening you may ask?  Well, mainly carbon dioxide and other gases that come from burning fossil fuels such as coal for energy.  The gasses trap heat near the surface of the earth and are causing warmer waters.  

            Not only are the polar bears and walruses suffering, but the coral reefs as well. They’re becoming white and dying.  Yes, they can come back but it happens very slowly because they need time to adapt. 

What can we do to help? Simple things such as car-pulling, riding your bike, and picking up your trash can make a big impact.  In my opinion, doing these things are not only beneficial for ocean life, but the life on land as well.  Also, we would be leaving behind a healthy earth for our future generations.  By making little changes on our own we are making huge changes together and it will definitely show in our environment.

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc/efc_flamingos/science.aspx

Environmental Class; eassar10's about me.

Hello, My name is Sarah & I'm a junior at Hanover High School.  I have been going to Hanover since I was in kindergarten.  Softball is my sport of choice and I really love to play for the highschool team.  I've also been playing the clarinet (in concert band) for almost eight years now.  My dislikes include chemistry (with a passion), worms, and doing the pacer in gym class twice a year.  In environmental class, I am really looking forward to learning about what I can do to help our earth and how to make it better for future generations.