Climate change may be a big problem, but there are many little things we can do to make a difference. If we try, most of us can do our part to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that we put into the
atmosphere.
Many greenhouse gases come from things we do every day. As we have learned, these greenhouse gases trap energy in the atmosphere and make the Earth warmer. Driving a car or using electricity is not wrong. We just have to be smart about it.
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| Cars, stereos, and VCRs can be"energysmart" |
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| Solar Panels such as these can provide electricity to buildings |
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| The "Energy Star" symbol |
Some people use less
energy by carpooling. For
example, four people can ride together in one car instead of driving four cars to work.
Here are some additional ways you can help make the planet a better place!
Read
Learning about the
environment is very
important. There are many good books that will help you learn. To get started, ask a teacher or a
librarian for some
suggestions. You also can look for good web sites with information about the environment and climate change.
Save electricity
Whenever we use
electricity, we help put greenhouse gases into the air. By turning off lights, the television, and the computer when you are through with them, you can help a lot.
Bike, bus, and walk
You can save energy by sometimes taking the bus, riding a bike, or walking.
Talk with your family and friends about climate change. Let them know what you've learned.
Plant trees
Planting trees is fun and a great way to reduce greenhouse gases. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the air.
Recycle
Recycle cans, bottles, plastic bags, and
newspapers. When you recycle, you send less trash to the landfill and you help save natural resources, like trees, oil, and elements such as aluminum.
When you buy,
buy cool stuff
There are lots of ways we can improve the
environment. One of the ways to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that we put into the air is to buy products that don't use as much energy. By
conserving energy, we help reduce climate change and make the Earth a better place. Some products – like certain cars and stereos – are made specially to save energy.
Some things to think about
Did you know that you can help the environment if you buy recyclable
products instead of
non-recyclable ones? Look for the recycle mark – three arrows that make a circle – on the package. Recyclable products are usually made out of things that already have been used. It usually takes less energy to make
recycled products than to make new ones. The less energy we use, the better.
Solar Energy
Imagine that it's a hot day. You put a scoop of ice cream on the sidewalk, and it melts. Why? Well, you probably know that the sun causes the ice cream to melt. But you may not know that the sun
produces solar energy. Solar energy is a fancy way of saying "energy that comes from the sun."
Solar energy can be used to heat homes, buildings, water, and to make
electricity. Today, more than 200,000 houses in the United States take
advantage of the sun's energy.
Cars
Cars are an important part of life for most
people. But cars also cause pollution and release a lot of greenhouse gases into the air. Fortunately, there are some cars that are
better for the
environment. These cars can travel longer on a smaller amount of
gasoline. They don't
pollute as much, either. Using these kinds of cars can help reduce the
amount of greenhouse gases in the air.
ENERGY STAR®
Many things, like
computers, TVs, stereos, and VCRs, have special labels on them. The label says "Energy" and has a picture of a star.
Products with the ENERGY STAR® label are made to save energy. Buying products with ENERGY STAR® labels will help protect the
environment. |
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