Global Warming - Recently Updated Pages

Links

JFB — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:09:37 CDT

http://www.janadean.blogspot.com/ (this is a blog page for someone in the arctic)

http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/default.asp

http://www.climateark.org/

http://www.greenhousenet.org/

http://www.pewclimate.org/global-warming-basics/kidspage.cfm (for kids)

http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/animal_environ/globalwarming/

Learn more about climate change:

http://www.weathervane.rff.org

http://www.environet.policy.org

http://www.climateark.org

http://www.gcrio.org

Thinking of donating?

http://partners.guidestar.org/controller/searchResults.gs?action_gsReport=1&partner=networkforgood&ein=93-1271487

http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/default.asp

http://www.sierraclub.org/globalwarming

Other wetpaint sites:

http://kevanvarley.wetpaint.com/

http://fightglobalwarming.wetpaint.com/

thebigcooldown.wetpaint.com

Please feel free to contact us concerning any broken or incorrect links.
(Please put "Global Warming" as the subject of your message)

other green sites

scienceman09 — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:55:40 CDT

Here are some more green sites:

1. thebigcooldown.wetpaint.com . Where you can learn how to stop global warming in it's tracks.

Home

JFB — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 07:40:44 CDT

Stop Global Warming!!

<<< Look at the pages on the left for more information on global warming.

Gore, Al. An Inconvenient Truth. New York: Rodale, 2006.

There is no more important cause than the call to action to save our planet. This is a movement about change, as individuals, as a country, and as a global community. We are all contributors to global warming and we all need to be part of the solution. Join the supporters of the Stop Global Warming.

John B., and Alec D.

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Londonderry - green school

JFB — Sun, 13 May 2007 17:15:37 CDT

Our Building

Welcome to Londonderry School, where we care for children and care about the environment. Our school was completed in the spring of 2004 after 10 years of fundraising, planning and construction. We selected this site because it afforded us a beautiful nature observatory within minutes of downtown Harrisburg.
We knew, however, that we would need to be stewards of these 14 acres. And so we began planning a school building and grounds that would preserve natural habitat, protect the watershed, reduce waste, reduce energy usage, and teach others about caring for our environment. As part of our planning, we strove to meet national standards set by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) environmental building criteria in areas such as site development, air quality, energy efficiency, water conservation and innovative design strategies.
Further, we committed our project to show that environmentally conscious or "green" building construction does not need to cost more than traditional construction and should become a new building industry standard. Typical central Pennsylvania school construction cost is $130/sq. ft. Our building was constructed at about $100/sq. ft., demonstrating that green design can be cost effective and within reach for any construction project.
We also made design decisions to create a building that is a teaching tool about the environment for our students and for public visitors. As you walk around our building you can learn about the choices we made and why we made them, keeping both the environment and cost in mind.
Facts and figures:

Londonderry School is a private non-sectarian school serving preschool through 8th grade students.
Move in date: April 15, 2004
25,000 sq. ft. school building with construction costs of $2.5 million (excluding land, site costs, architect fees) on 14 acres
Londonderry School previously lived in several different rental facilities over its 33-year history

Read what others have written about our school:
Londonderry School Gives Carlisle Extra Credit for its Energy Efficient Sure-Weld® TPO Roofing System, January 24, 2005

Reduce heat absorption on earth to reduce global warming
	Dark materials absorb and hold heat from the sun; light materials reflect the sun’s light and heat back away from the earth. Asphalt paving is limited to minimum needed for school requirements. Trees have been preserved or planted to shade asphalt in the spring, summer, and fall months. The roof materials are silver (front) or white (back) to reflect sun.

for more information on londonderry, visit:
http://www.thelondonderryschool.org

Londonderry Rocket Club: http://rocketclub.wetpaint.com

Screen Shots

JFB — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:57:35 CDT

An Inconvenient Truth

JFB — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 20:28:51 CDT

Plot Summary for
An Inconvenient Truth Director Davis Guggenheim eloquently weaves the science of global warming with Mr. Gore's personal history and lifelong commitment to reversing the effects of global climate change. A longtime advocate for the environment, Gore presents a wide array of facts and information in a thoughtful and compelling way. "Al Gore strips his presentations of politics, laying out the facts for the audience to draw their own conclusions in a charming, funny and engaging style, and by the end has everyone on the edge of their seats, gripped by his haunting message," said Guggenheim. An Inconvenient Truth is not a story of despair but rather a rallying cry to protect the one earth we all share. "It is now clear that we face a deepening global climate crisis that requires us to act boldly, quickly, and wisely," said Gore.

An Inconvenient Truth. Retrieved November 3, 2006, from Internet movie database Web site: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497116/

ECard1
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Videos

JFB — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 20:19:26 CST

Here are some global warming videos to consider.

Cars

JFB — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 19:51:52 CST

Ever since Henry Ford turned cars into must-have items, automobiles and America have been intertwined. But the road from Ford's Model Ts to today's cars has been bumpy and uneven.

The ups and downs of fuel efficiency

Nowadays, we have a wider selection of vehicles that go much further and faster. But when it comes to fuel-efficiency, we're pretty much back with the Model Ts. Astoundingly, the 28.5 miles per gallon (mpg) of Ford's Model Ts beats the mileage of many of today's vehicles.
In response to the 1970s oil crisis, the country mobilized to double mileage from 13.4 mpg to 27.5 mpg by 1985. But since then, thanks mostly to increased horsepower and weight in all types of vehicles, fuel efficiency has become static. Collectively, our cars in 2005 go fewer miles on a gallon of gas than our 1980 vehicles. Burning more fuel creates more pollution.

Car pollution adds up and sticks around

We might not picture creating pounds of global warming pollution when we drive, but the exhaust coming out of our car has actual weight—an average household with two medium-sized sedans emits more than 20,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year. That's 10 tons of pollution adding to the greenhouse effect. SUVs tend to emit more global warming pollution than smaller cars—as much as 40 percent more exhaust.
Here's how it adds up: A gallon of gasoline weighs just over 6 pounds. When burned, the carbon in it combines with oxygen to produce about 19 pounds of CO2. Adding in the energy that went into making and distributing the fuel, the total global warming pollution is about 25 pounds of CO2 per gallon. An average car that gets 21 mpg and is driven about 30 miles a day uses 1.4 gallons daily and emits 35.7 pounds of CO2 every day. That's a lot of pounds when multiplied by the millions of cars across the country.
Heat-trapping pollution, like that from cars and trucks, can stay in the atmosphere for several decades to about a century. For instance, some emissions from Ford's 1912 Model Ts are still up in the atmosphere today, thickening the blanket of greenhouse gases that are heating up the planet.
Population growth has helped put more cars on the road, and a strong economy has led to more cars per driver. These trends combined with poor gas mileage mean we're facing a dangerous situation.

Driving into the future

For the average, car-owning American, driving is in the top two daily pollution-causing activities. (Electricity use is the other big one, and frequent flights are also an area to watch.) On the bright side, the vehicle you choose and the way you drive it presare the greatest opportunities you have as a driver to trim your global warming emissions.
We don't need to be stuck with "Model T" gas mileage. In fact, no matter what size or type of vehicle you need, there's always a greener -- cleaner and more fuel-efficient -- choice. Cars with better gas mileage provide a triple benefit: they protect the climate, they cut America's oil dependency and they save money at the pump.
Greener cars. Choosing your car wisely is one of the most powerful choices you can make.
When looking for a new car, the Green Ratings on the Yahoo! Autos pages make it easy to comparison-shop with the environment in mind. Developed in partnership with Environmental Defense, the Yahoo! Green Ratings account for both fuel economy and tailpipe emissions.
A hybrid vehicle can be a great choice, of course, if it's available in the size, style and price range you need. But remember that there are a wide range of environmental effects even within a class of vehicles.
You can use the Green Ratings to make a better choice for the environment among the cars that meet your needs. For example, even if you're comparing five SUVs, choosing the greenest-rated one still helps fight global warming, protect air quality, and save gas.
The Green Rating reflects the entire impact a vehicle has on the environment. Nearly all car shopping Web sites and guide books also include fuel economy information. Official gas mileage rategs are available at www.fueleconomy.gov.

Steps for buying a fuel-efficient car

So you're in the market for a car and want to do something about global warming. Here are the steps to take to make the greenest choice.
1. Get the right-sized car that fits your needs.
The first thing to do is identify what the primary use for your vehicle will be. If you have several children and need a car big enough to transport them to soccer practice, maybe you need a wagon or minivan. If you build houses for a living, you probably need a truck for your job. But if you own a boat, say, and take it in and out of the water just a few times a year but will use the car for everyday driving ton and from work, do you really need a truck for the other 363 days? Probably not. If you buy a smaller vehicle that fits your everyday needs, you can use the savings in gas money to rent a truck for your infrequent boat-hauling trips.
2. Find the greenest choice in your size and price range.
Once you determine the right-sized vehicle for your primary uses, use the Green Ratings to find the most environmentally-friendly models. Many models are offered with a range of trims and engines. Both fuel economy and the Green Rating depend on the particular features, so note which trims have the best ratings before you head out to your dealership. Several Web sites can help:

For one-stop shopping, use the Green Ratings on Yahoo! Autos. This unique resource, developed in partnership with Environmental Defense, provides a 1-100 rating that scores new makes and models according to their overall pollution, including global warming pollution. The Green Ratings are given along with price and other vehicle specs, making it easy to identify the greenest models that meet your other requirements.
Most car shopping sites compare models according to their fuel economy. Fuel economy is the most important criterion that determines how much heat-trapping greenhouse gas is emitted from a vehicle. Choosing a model that is just a few MPG more efficient makes a big difference in helping to fight global warming over a year of driving, and a huge difference over the many years that most cars and trucks stay on the road.
At fueleconomy.gov, find out which cars or light trucks get the best mileage and which bring up the rear, or explore your ideal mileage by class, make model or mpg rating. Fueleconomy.gov is the U.S. government's official guide for information on gas mileage, and it also offers information on fuel-saving driving and maintenance practices.
Environmental ratings for some recent model years can be found on Greenercars.com, a by the independent research group American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). It's Green Scores are similar to the Yahoo! Green Ratings, though scaled differently, Greenercars.com gives highlights of the "greenest" and "meanest" recent models free, and a subscription gives access to even more information.

3. Consider whether you need options that add cost and detract from fuel economy.

Four-wheel drive increases fuel consumption, so if you don't need or use it, don't buy it.
Avoid add-ons like luggage racks that add weight and/or drag, or get removable ones so you can use them only when needed.
A souped-up engine guzzles gas and adds to global warming. All engines in today's market provide plenty of power for safe and responsible driving. Not playing along with the "horsepower war" will decrease pollution and save money on car payments and at the pump.

Ethanol and other biofuels

Cars don't run on gas alone—at least not all of them. Ironically, sometimes looking ahead means looking backward. Ford's Model Ts were designed to run on either gas or ethanol, an alternative fuel made from grains and from plant or animal waste.
There are many potential benefits to biofuels such as ethanol, which is currently made mostly from corn. For one, they can reduce dependence on foreign oil: one consortium of growers, the Agricultural Working Group, has called on farmers to meet 25 percent of America's energy needs by 2025. Today, nearly every car can run on E10, gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol. About one in forty cars can run on E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Find out if your car can run on ethanol.
Now, ethanol wasn't developed to solve global warming, and greenhouse emissions savings from biofuels can vary substantially (e.g., Do farmers forgo plowing to trap more gases in the soil? Do they cut back on nitrogen fertilizers, which release a potent global warming pollutant? Is the fuel made from the grain or, more efficiently, from "stover"—the stalks and leaves?). But some biofuels can help reduce emissions that contribute to global warming. Farmers and refiners are continuing to work on new approaches and processes that can produce low-carbon fuels that yield much greater global warming benefits over time. Consumers should stay tuned.

"Cars: Pollution Solutions in Reach." Fight Global Warming. 3 Mar 2007
<http://fightglobalwarming.com/page.cfm?tagID=263>.

What can you do?

JFB — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 19:39:44 CST

Heating and cooling

In summer, keep shades drawn to keep the cool in.

In winter, open shades to let the sunlight to help warm rooms.

In winter, keep your thermostat cooler at night or when the house is empty.

Install a programmable thermostat to heat and cool rooms only when necessary.

Plant trees around your house to cut cooling costs in summer.

Insulate your walls and ceilings.

Install a light-colored or reflective roof.

Appliances

Upgrade to Energy Star products. Not all appliances are equal. Whether you're in the market for a new fridge, toaster or air conditioner, look for Energy Star choices, which offer the best energy savings.

Size counts. When in the market for an appliance, make sure you buy what suits your needs. Items too large or too small waste electricity and your money.

Unplug. Your electric meter is often adding up kilowatt hours when you don’t think you’re using an appliance. Unplug toasters and cell phone, laptop, and other chargers when they’re not in use. Don't use air fresheners that have to be plugged in.

Use power strips. Cable boxes and video game boxes, and to a lesser extent TVs and VCRs, use almost as much energy when they're off as when they're on. Make it easy to turn them all the way off—plug them into a power strip and turn off the whole strip.

Lighting

Use energy-efficient lights. Changing just one 75-watt bulb to a compact fluorescent light cuts roughly 1,300 pounds of global warming pollution. They also last up to 15 times as long and save you money. (Learn how to pick the best bulbs.)

Turn off lights. A good chunk of lighting expenses is from rooms that stay unnecessarily lit.

Use natural light. Open shades and use sunlight to help light rooms.

Install motion-sensors so that lights automatically turn on when someone is in the room and turn off when empty.

Green Energy

Use the energy saver cycle on your dishwasher and only run it when full.

Wash clothes in warm or cold water, not hot.

Turn down your water heater to 120°Fahrenheit.

Clean or replace the air filter on your air conditioner.

Install low-flow shower heads to use less hot water.

Caulk and weatherstrip around doors and windows.

Ask your utility company for a free home energy audit.

"What You Can Do." Fight Global Warming. 3 Mar 2007
<http://fightglobalwarming.com/page.cfm?tagID=135>.

Ask the Scientist

JFB — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 11:26:22 CST

We asked a professional scientist what she thought about global warming. Here is what she had to say:

Global warming is definitely occurring. Are humans the cause? Can we control the impacts of global warming? That remains to be seen.

I believe humans have contributed somewhat to the amount of global warming. I also believe they need to be aware of the immediate ways they impact the environment. There are, however, larger forces at play that influence the amount of fluctuations that occur globally to our climate, ie: Milankovic cycles.

(Tina Fenstemaker, personal communication, November sixth, 2006)

The Greenhouse effect

JFB — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 08:56:18 CST

These images illustrate the basic science of global warming.

The sun's energy enters the atmosphere in the form of light waves and heats up the earth. Some of that energy warms the earth and then is re-radiated back into space in the form of infrared waves. Under normal conditions , a portion of the outgoing infrared radiation is trapped under the atmosphere--and that is a good thing, because it keeps the temperature on Earth within comfortable bounds. The greenhouse gases on Venus are so thick that that its temperatures are far too hot for humans. The greenhouse gases surrounding Mars are almost nonexistent, so the temperature there is far to cold.

The Problem we now face is that thin layer of atmosphere is being thickened by huge quantities of human-caused carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. And as it thickens, it traps a lot of the infrared radiation that would otherwise escape. As a result, the temperature of the earth's atmosphere, and oceans is getting dangerously warmer.

That's what the climate crisis is all about.

↑↑↑↑YES↑↑↑↑

↓↓↓↓NO↓↓↓↓

Gore, Al. An Inconvenient Truth. New York: Rodale, 2006.