It is so very important that people work to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide they put into the air. Why is it so important? It is important because scientists have found that the carbon dioxide people put into the air every day from their activities is what is adding to global warming. Carbon dioxide is one of the greenhouse gases that go up into the atmosphere and holds in the heat, which causes the average temperature of the planet to rise. This is a real concern because raising the temperature of the earth creates major climate changes that can actually trigger the extinction of many species who cannot cope with the changes. Here is a list of things people can do in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions:

•Change the incandescent lights to fluorescent lights. Fluorescent lights use far less electricity than the incandescent lights.

•Reduce the need for travel. This will lessen the amount of fuel used.

•Make sure all vehicles are properly tuned and have properly inflated tires. This can lower the amount of gas being used.

•Recycle more.

•Turn off lights when the room is not in use. Leaving lights on in an empty room consumes energy that could have been saved for another time.

•Turn off computers and monitors when finished for the day. Why leave these items on when they are not going to be used over night, or over the weekend? Even in standby these items consume energy.

•Only print off what is absolutely necessary.

•Adjust thermostats.

•Plant trees. During the day, trees take in carbon dioxide from the air and exchange it for oxygen.

•Purchase carbon offsets.

•Purchase local goods.

•Fund programs that are working to find alternative ways to get energy.

•Use a hybrid.

•Keep doors and windows closed when the heat or air conditioning are on.

•Use less hot water.

•Use more energy that has been created by green means, if possible.

•Have water conservative shower heads installed.(Imagine the amount of water saved in a hotel if it did that with all its shower heads.)

•Avoid goods that are over-packaged.

•Encourage car pooling.

These are only twenty of the many options out there for businesses to choose when trying to reduce the carbon emissions they put into the air. While it may seem expensive to make some of these changes at first, it will not only help reduce the carbon emissions, but it will also help save money in the end.

With the global warming debate in full swing these days, one will often hear the term “carbon footprint”. Just what does carbon footprint mean; what is it? When people talk about the carbon footprint, they are referring to the impact that human activity is having on the environment. As a whole, the entire human race is leaving one, mega-sized carbon footprint on the earth, and this is what is having a devastating effect on the planet in terms of the warming of the globe, the accelerated extinction of many species, the increasing size of deserts and the loss of fresh drinking water. When looking at the carbon footprint at an individual level, each person leaves a different sized carbon footprint. The size of the carbon footprint that a person leaves behind is based on how a person lives their life; how much they contribute to the overall problem of global warming. There are many things that a person can do in order to reduce their carbon footprint; much of it is common sense and easy to do.

The first way that a person can reduce their carbon footprint is to change how they live their everyday life. By taking alternative forms of transportation, such as the bus, car pooling or purchasing a hybrid vehicle, are all ways that a person can reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses they put into the air. The type of food a person eats as well as what they drink should also be taken into consideration when thinking about reducing the carbon footprint. That food and drink came from somewhere, it was processed with something and a lot of energy and water went into production of most of it.

The second way that a person can reduce their carbon footprint is to change how they run their house and business. Changing appliances to updated energy saving appliances, for instance, can greatly reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses being pumped into the air. Changing one’s habits to turn things off when they are not being used, recycling more, reducing the amount of garbage they put out from their household, using less harmful chemicals for cleaning and so on, are all ways that a person can greatly reduce their carbon footprint.

The third way that a person can reduce their carbon footprint is to do more green things for the environment, such as planting trees. Each tree planted will help to remove greenhouse gasses from the air and replace a tree that has been cut down somewhere else.Purchasing carbon offsets will also help to reduce the carbon footprint, as the money is usually put into programs that work to reduce the greenhouse gasses being put into the air.