Until not so long ago, a normal eco-friendly citizen of this planet just had to sort garbage into the right bins and recycle. The goal posts have now shifted a long way from that, what with people having to face the inconvenient truth and doomsday forecasts about global warming, climate change, rising seas, abnormal and extreme weather conditions, and natural resource depletion. The upshot of all this is that eco awareness is now effectively being equated with a carbon neutral lifestyle.
In theory, it's a very simple idea. If every single person or entity takes full responsibility for their own carbon emissions, then all the problems stated above go away. Of course, being carbon neutral is a wee bit harder to achieve in reality because it comes far behind a lot of other priorities, if at all.
The biggest problem, however, is that most people still don't know how important this is. That's why most governments and non-profit organizations focus more on raising awareness than on passing laws or forcing people to make choices that are less harmful to the planet. The events held worldwide on Earth Day and Earth Hour are not just to save energy, but to engage millions of people and let them know how they can take responsibility for their own energy consumption and why it's important.
But let's say a person who's now eco-aware wants to lead a green and carbon-neutral lifestyle. It can be done using two methods. The first one is to reduce emissions as far as possible. The second way is to offset whatever there is left over with carbon credits.
Reduction of emissions in every aspect of an individual's life is harder than it sounds. Let's take vehicles as an example. It's possible to completely eliminate all the emissions caused by driving, if it is done in an electric vehicle that uses clean power for charging. Buying an EV and installing a solar power generation system is not easy or cheap, but the emissions and fuel costs it eliminates are well worth the trouble and expense.
Within the home, there are likewise a host of methods to reduce energy usage and other consumption. Living in a LEED certified building or at least doing a top-to-bottom energy retrofit will vastly reduce electricity usage and save money on bills. Water can be saved on everything from lawns (use artificial grass) to dual-flush tanks in the toilet. Preparing meals using sustainably grown local produce goes a long way towards reducing personal emissions.
Businesses and companies have a corporate responsibility to make the workplace an eco-friendly place for employees through use of natural materials in products that can be recycled, and through various other green practices. Factories with their own solar arrays on rooftops will run on clean power, and paperless offices will reduce deforestation. Pollution can be controlled by recycling industrial waste that would otherwise end up in the rivers and oceans or go to landfills.
Even with all such efforts deployed, it's still impossible to be a zero carbon entity. Thankfully, whatever is left over can be offset by purchasing credits. There's a price to be paid, but it's simple - the seller plants trees, generates clean power or undertakes some other such activity that actually reduces carbon emissions. The buyer can pay for credits equivalent to a specific part of that reduction.
In theory, it's a very simple idea. If every single person or entity takes full responsibility for their own carbon emissions, then all the problems stated above go away. Of course, being carbon neutral is a wee bit harder to achieve in reality because it comes far behind a lot of other priorities, if at all.
The biggest problem, however, is that most people still don't know how important this is. That's why most governments and non-profit organizations focus more on raising awareness than on passing laws or forcing people to make choices that are less harmful to the planet. The events held worldwide on Earth Day and Earth Hour are not just to save energy, but to engage millions of people and let them know how they can take responsibility for their own energy consumption and why it's important.
But let's say a person who's now eco-aware wants to lead a green and carbon-neutral lifestyle. It can be done using two methods. The first one is to reduce emissions as far as possible. The second way is to offset whatever there is left over with carbon credits.
Reduction of emissions in every aspect of an individual's life is harder than it sounds. Let's take vehicles as an example. It's possible to completely eliminate all the emissions caused by driving, if it is done in an electric vehicle that uses clean power for charging. Buying an EV and installing a solar power generation system is not easy or cheap, but the emissions and fuel costs it eliminates are well worth the trouble and expense.
Within the home, there are likewise a host of methods to reduce energy usage and other consumption. Living in a LEED certified building or at least doing a top-to-bottom energy retrofit will vastly reduce electricity usage and save money on bills. Water can be saved on everything from lawns (use artificial grass) to dual-flush tanks in the toilet. Preparing meals using sustainably grown local produce goes a long way towards reducing personal emissions.
Businesses and companies have a corporate responsibility to make the workplace an eco-friendly place for employees through use of natural materials in products that can be recycled, and through various other green practices. Factories with their own solar arrays on rooftops will run on clean power, and paperless offices will reduce deforestation. Pollution can be controlled by recycling industrial waste that would otherwise end up in the rivers and oceans or go to landfills.
Even with all such efforts deployed, it's still impossible to be a zero carbon entity. Thankfully, whatever is left over can be offset by purchasing credits. There's a price to be paid, but it's simple - the seller plants trees, generates clean power or undertakes some other such activity that actually reduces carbon emissions. The buyer can pay for credits equivalent to a specific part of that reduction.
About the Author:
Find out how to build your eco awareness by visiting our official website today. To know more about our educational objectives, click the links at http://www.eco-mentor.com .
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire