Waking up to need to change lifestyle
I am excited Americans and industries are waking up to the climate change issue and working on it. We are the best in the world at technology and we are good at getting things done once we get started.
Most scientists agree that we have just a few decades to turn back carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) levels and slow down global warming or climate change. There are still a few naysayers out there and some are paid by major oil companies to keep doubt alive.
CO2 and other GHG stay in the atmosphere 100 years or more. A recent newspaper article featured the new plug-in hybrid -- the Volt --coming on the market in 2010 from General Motors. It will go 40 miles on battery and then switch over to go another 600 miles on gasoline.
My Toyota Prius gets an average 49 mpg. Toyota folks are stiff competition and spurring us on to action. These newest cars could reduce GHG by 180-450 million metric tons a year depending on their popularity. Plus, we save gas dollars.
Religious faith teaches us to be "good stewards of the Earth." One popular radio talk show host said, "God wouldn't create an Earth where cows belching could mess it up." I hope he isn't getting paid by big oil, too.
But we should all eat less beef. The cow is the biggest user of water and grain and produces the largest amount of methane of all the food animals. Oversized vans that get 9 mpg and electric gadgets left on or in standby mode' (using 95 of the power when on), big TVs and computers are big wasters of energy.
We have lost the way of our forefathers who lived frugally in wartime and the Depression. What do we have to do?
Reduce gasoline, gas and electric whenever possible. I am now saving 30 percent on my electric bill after putting in compact fluorescent bulbs, turning up the air and turning down the heat and the water heater.
The basic message is getting out. Do what your folks told you -- turn off the lights when you leave a room and shut the refrigerator door. Use power strips, plug in your devices and turn the power strip off when not needed. Think small, not big and "do it for the kids."
We are good people when we want to be and have been lead down the wrong path by a culture that has turned us from doing the 'right thing' to doing 'my thing.'
We have to start doing the energy smart things that are hard because they cut back on "creature comforts" and "instant gratification."
Sandy Kaptain
Elgin