Global warming is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. Unless we act quickly to change the way we use and produce energy, the damage could be irreversible. It may seem hard to believe that people can actually change the earth’s climate, but scientists think that the greenhouse gases emitted into the air make our planet warmer. We are responsible for sending greenhouse gases into the atmosphere whenever we

• Ride in a car

• Use the airconditioner

• Turn on a light

• Watch TV

• Play a video game

• Listen to stereophonic music

• Use a clothes or dish washer.

To perform many of these functions, we need to use electricity. Electricity comes from power plants. Most power plants use coal and oil to make electricity. Burning coal and oil produces greenhouse gases. To reduce these gases:

Energy

• Replace your present light bulbs with electronic fluorescent lamps. They last ten times longer and consume about 75 per cent less electricity than an ordinary bulb.

• Substitute a compact fluorescent bulb for a traditional bulb. This will keep half a tonne of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. They are more expensive than an ordinary bulb, but work out much cheaper in the long run because they save electricity.

• One large ordinary bulb is more efficient than two small ones in a multi-bulb fixture. A 100W bulb, for example, generates about as much light as two 60W bulbs, and it saves energy.

• Cut down on the use of electrical appliances.

• In summer, shut windows, blinds, curtains and doors early in the morning to keep the house cool.

Water heaters

• Use your water heater sparingly. Switch it off soon after your bath, for heaters are great consumers of electricity.

• Setting your water heater too high (about 1500F) wastes energy.

• Lower the thermostat. After all, most of us mix cold water with hot water to get the right temperature.

• If you can, install a solar water heating system in your home.

Stoves

• Turn the stove off immediately after use.

• Use pressure cookers as much as possible.

• Plan well and keep ingredients ready before you start cooking.

• Keep the vessel closed while cooking and always use small, narrow-mouthed vessels.

• When the food is almost cooked, switch off the gas stove and keep the vessel closed. It will get fully cooked with the heat already present.

• When you switch off the gas stove, switch off the regulator of the cylinder as well, to prevent leaks.

• Use ISI marked stoves which use less kerosene.

Refrigerators

• Decide what you want out of your refrigerator or freezer before opening the door.

• Don’t stand and stare into the refrigerator with the door open while making up your mind.

• Check if the door is properly closed after you have finished your work.

• If your refrigerator and freezer are 5 degrees colder than necessary, their energy consumption will increase by 25%.

• The refrigerator door will not be air-tight if there is dried food stuck on the gasket. Ensure that it is always clean.

• If your refrigerator needs to be refilled with gas, it means there is a leak. Fix the leak first.

• For efficient operation, clean the condenser coils at the back or bottom of your fridge at least once a year.

• Keep your fridge full for more economical operation.

• Let foods cool to room temperature before storing.

Automobiles

• The easiest way to make your car more fuel-efficient is to keep it well-tuned. A well-tuned car uses up to 9% less petrol than a poorly tuned car. If 100,000 car owners who have neglected tune-ups started getting their cars tuned up regularly, some 90 million pounds of carbon dioxide could be kept out of the atmosphere every year!

• Keep fuel filters clean. Clogged filters use more petrol.

• Check to see whether you are hauling around unnecessary weight in your car. Surprisingly, an extra hundred pounds will decrease your fuel economy by more than 1%.

• When you are buying a car, keep fuel efficiency in mind. Alternatively, equipment like power steering and automatic transmissions need a lot of energy to run.

• Inflate your tyres to the right pressure. This reduces fuel consumption by 5%.

• Drive gently. Don’t race the engine, accelerate and slow down gradually. All this can improve the mileage by 15%.

• Drive between 40 and 50 kmph. The faster you go the more wind resistance your vehicle will face. You can get 40% extra mileage at 40 kmph as compared to 80 kmph.

• Car sharing is an effective way of cutting down on cars and, thus, on energy consumption.

• Join a car pool. Share lifts to and from work and on family outings.

• Try using the public transport systems like trains and buses.

• Better still, use a bicycle – it occupies little space, releases no pollution, and provides healthy exercise.

• Fit your car with tinted windows to help keep the temperature constant and reduce the need for airconditioning.

• Walk rather than drive wherever possible. Walking is one of the best exercises for your body. – (Courtesy: Eco News, the journal of C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre).