Posted on: Thursday, August 9, 2007
Pitch in to help fight global warming
By Jeffery Mikulina
Special to The Advertiser
|
|
|
Hybrid cars, like this 2007 Toyota Prius, can go more than 50 miles per gallon of gas consumed, which produces fewer greenhouse gases.
Toyota via Gannett News Service
|
|
 |
|
|
GET INVOLVED
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday: Keiki crafts inspired by the new movie "Arctic Tale" 2:30 p.m. Saturday: Simple, everyday ways to reduce global warming and promote a healthy Hawai'i; Q&A with Sierra Club director Jeffery Mikulina Kahala Mall
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Editor's Note: The new movie "Arctic Tale" is a film with an agenda — it means to make kids aware of the way rising temperatures can affect Arctic animals. In connection with the film's release, local Sierra Club director Jeff Mikulina put together tips on how youths can help protect the environment.
Many of our activities put greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, causing global warming. But you can help reduce the amount of greenhouse gas you produce. Here's how.
First, take a look at what you are doing today. How much greenhouse gas are you producing? It's easy to find out. Ask your parents for the electricity bill and find the number of kilowatt-hours used last month. Multiply this number by 2. This is approximately the number of pounds of greenhouse gas resulting from your family's electricity use.
See how much your family can reduce it with the following steps:
See the light: Change your old, traditional incandescent light bulbs for new compact fluorescent lights or CFLs. While CFLs cost more than regular light bulbs, they require far less electricity and last for much longer. Replacing four of these lights might save 1,000 pounds of greenhouse gas over a year!
Get out: You don't need greenhouse gas to have fun. Instead of watching TV or playing video games, take the fun outside. Play with friends at the beach or go for a bike ride, and learn habits that last a lifetime.
Be a star: Next time your parents are in the market for a new appliance like dishwasher, washing machine, or television, look for the Energy Star label. Energy Star appliances use less electricity than others.
Reduce, reuse, recycle: You know creating less trash reduces the need for the landfill, but did you know that it also saves energy? Creating brand new products takes more energy than making them out of old products. Save your HI-5 containers for redemption and bring all newspaper, glass food containers, and cardboard to schools for drop-off — at least until curbside recycling starts. And say no to plastic bags. Bring your own bag or backpack to the store.
Unplug 'em: Electronic devices often use electricity even when they are off. You can prevent this wasteful electricity use by unplugging TVs, computers, or chargers when not in use — or by using "power strips" for your plugs, and turning them off when you are done using them.
Capture the sun: Lucky you live Hawai'i and can use the hot sun to dry your clothes and heat your water. Drying your clothes on a clothesline instead of a dryer saves a lot of electricity. Also, a solar water heater can save tons of greenhouse gas annually. If you don't have one on your roof already, ask your parents to get one.
Use personal power: Instead of driving, put your feet to work by walking or biking. Stay fit and healthy while reducing global warming. Cars, trucks, planes, and ships move people and goods around, but they also create global warming pollution. Every gallon of gas you burn in your car produces about 20 pounds of greenhouse gas.
It's cool to pool: When it's too far to walk or bike, plan ahead with friends and neighbors to carpool or take the bus to school and activities.
Trade up: If your family is thinking about getting a new car, consider a hybrid or high-efficiency vehicle. Such cars can go more than 50 miles per gallon of gas consumed, producing less global warming for each mile traveled.
Buy Hawai'i: Greenhouse gas from food? Foods imported into Hawai'i travel by boat or plane, requiring a lot of energy. Instead, try to pick foods made or grown in Hawai'i. That way you will support local farmers and produce less greenhouse gas.
Keep track of your home and travel energy use over the next couple of months to see much you've saved. We all can do our part to reduce global warming.
Jeffrey Mikulina is director of the Sierra Club, Hawai'i chapter. He has served on the Honolulu Planning Commission and Honolulu Charter Commission, and in 2003, was named an Environmental Hero by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9.
