Additionality Gauges Greenhouse Gas Reduction

As facilities with refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) systems or heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems begin efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, additionality will be used to determine the effectiveness of their changes. The formula compares business as usual prior to implementation with the levels of emissions after a greenhouse gas reduction project is in place.

Part of the process when establishing a greenhouse gas reduction projects is to set up a monitoring and verification plan. Additionality metrics within the plan explain who will be conducting the process, when and how it will be implemented. Software has been developed by specialists to streamline this process.

Project specific assessments are implemented by facilities that use refrigerant. Projected greenhouse gas reduction levels are calculated on an individual basis, by creating a baseline of levels to commence. Once a project is in place, a emission levels are compared to the baseline and the actual greenhouse gas emission reduction is calculated.

Specific industries have specific performance assessments, as used to determine additionality. For example, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system manufacturers or refrigeration and air-conditioning system manufacturers may measure performance improvements as compared to existing standards. This will apply for particular appliances or processes in relation to the reduction of greenhouse gas.

As global climate change is significantly affected by greenhouse gas emissions, so additionality plays a very important role in determining a reduction project's effectiveness. Many different industries and sectors are involved in greenhouse gas offset projects, for example, the methane capture and recovery projects in landfills, reforestation, and renewable energy efforts.

For businesses, it is important from an accounting standpoint to show the benefits of a greenhouse gas reduction program. In order for it to be a true emissions reduction, additionality criteria must be met. Ongoing monitoring and verification are key components to ensure actual reductions are real and have long-term sustainability. For facilities developing methods to reduce their use of refrigerant gas, automation of monitoring and tracking exists through software and web based applications developed by software providers who specialize in this area.

An important part of an additionality equation involves an examination of the permanency of the project. Risk factors must also be determined, leakage issues addressed and proper accounting maintained through verification and monitoring.

Currently there is a lot of discussion around the world concerning the availability of funding for companies who are engaged in greenhouse gas reduction projects. Determination of any funding would rely on additionality to determine if the project is more than just a business as usual improvement. Funding will not be made available if the project would have occurred anyway.

Custom Eco-friendly Home Builder

Green building isn't just good for that setting, but could also be valuable for your wallet as well. An excellent green property must run effectively and cleanly; the void of wasted power could make a huge big difference with your vitality payments every month.

So what's green building? Green building indicates incorporating a number of power saving designs into your own home or business building, employing environmentally-friendly building resources, and ensuring your new building will run efficiently and not waste energy. You can find thousands of customized, green residence builders that may assist you to create a home which will cause you to content and retain the environment delighted too.

When planning your new, green residence, there are many things chances are you'll want to implement in your house to help keep its power effectiveness up. One good concept is really a passive photo voltaic design technique. We're not talking large photo voltaic panels in your roof, but instead, a sensible positioning of windows and reflective know-how to keep the temperature of your respective residence sustainable devoid of so much wasted power.

If you reside in a hotter local weather, make certain your home's longest aspect faces north or south. Direct sunlight on the outer walls will warmth your home up, so make sure it faces from the east and west, where the sun rises and sets. If you live in a colder atmosphere, ensure to complete just the reverse; the sun shining around the outdoors of one's house every single morning and evening will assist to chop down the price of heating your home.

For a greener residence, prepare your floorspace accordingly at the same time. Use an open ground program to permit air movement. Also, placement doors and home windows to better let for cross-breezes; this may enable you've air movement on days you may generally turn the AC on.

There are a great deal of merchandise it is possible to also have to keep the climate out; use double paned glass to forestall home windows from starting to be a cash sink. Make certain your home windows may also be sealed and put in properly. Recycled merchandise are also superior for the natural environment; insulation created from recycled paper along with other items reuses the fibers rather of dumping them. Recycled insulation, when employed properly, works just in addition to common insulation. Be certain your whole house is properly insulated, so scorching and cool air do not leak out of the uninsulated spots. Make certain each and every of one's solutions are protected, sturdy, and biodegradable.

Choose more compact heating and AC units. More compact techniques cool air slower, which supports to clear away humidity. This can let you appreciate cooler air even using the temperature slightly bit larger. These systems also cycle much less regularly and final many years longer than big cooling and heating systems. Proper sealing and insulation of ducts also can assist lack of air and warmth even though it travels by the technique.

Use a tankless h2o heater in your home. Rather of pooling a variety of h2o and heating up, then awaiting you to use that scorching h2o just before refilling once again, a tankless water heater works by heating the h2o because it is needed. Tankless h2o heaters will allow you to possess hotter and longer-lasting hot water, for a fraction in the cost.

There are thousands of green items that will enable you to to create your own home greener; tends to make sure to do your homework, and uncover the perfect items for ones life style and price range!

Solar Fountains - Great Solution to Produce Ecological Backyard Decor

It helps make you are feeling excellent in the event you can beautify your environment and concurrently be pleasant to nature. Photo voltaic fountains would be the kinds of products that can allow you add elegance and model for your house, lawn or workplace with out damaging results towards the healthy atmosphere and also the ecological program.

Ecology will be the relationships amongst organism and their setting. Setting up photo voltaic fountains is usually a fantastic technique to create an ecological backyard decor. How?

They reduce carbon emission:

Because it is powered by the sun, there isn't a need to have of electrical power provide from your grid. The era of power that we use indoor and outside delivers greenhouse gases. Are you able to think about how we are able to assist limit the damaging emission if all h2o fountains from the planet use photo voltaic vitality?

They pose no electrical hazards:

You'll need strength working throughout the lawn; or underground cable is critical for those who use the typical fountains. Cables and electrical wires overlaying around the floor are unsafe. This fountain is totally free from all these expenditures and mess; no will need for plugs and outlets.

Excellent for that natural environment:

Utilizing this fountains tend not to add pollution in to the environment. One of many environmental factors that induce illnesses and wellbeing problems is air pollution, wherein various pollutants are current inside air that we breathe in.

They conserve the all-natural setting:

Including a photo voltaic fountain within your lawn can serve as birdbaths. Clear and splashing h2o attracts birds. Birds are continually an integral a part of an all-natural natural environment. Birds browsing your lawn will likely be a lot more usually which makes it their healthy habitat.

By using photo voltaic fountains saves you cash:

The typical h2o fountains use pumps which eat energy from your grid. If you purchase a photo voltaic fountain you conserve in your payments, specially while you run them continuously about prolonged intervals of time. A photo voltaic fountain merely utilizes energy through the sun. Once the weather conditions will get tough along with the sun isn't going to exhibit up, it can be time to present it a relaxation.

You can find several styles and styles of photo voltaic fountains which may make your lawn naturally tasteful. There are actually wonderful animal or human sculptures built from many stones and bronze.

With easy efforts you could support minimize greenhouse gases, conserve funds, possess a healthier existence and most of all possess a lovely and ecological backyard decor.

Solar Heating and Your UK Home

Photovoltaic power, radiant warmth and heat from the sun, has long been used by man kind since historical days employing a wide variety of always changing technology.

Say Hello to the Power of the sun

Photo voltaic driven electrical development relies on heat engines and photovoltaics. Solar energy's uses are confined only by individual creativity. A short list of solar applications includes room heating and cooling through solar architecture, potable h2o via distillation and disinfection, daylighting, solar hot h2o, solar cooking, and high temperature process heat for industrial reasons. To harvest the photo voltaic energy, by far the most popular technique is to implement solar panels.

Solar technologies are often characterized as either passive solar or active solar depending on the technique used to capture, change and distribute solar power. Current solar strategies consist of the use of solar panels and photovoltaic thermal collectors to harness the power. Passive solar techniques involve orienting a home towards the Sun, choosing materials with favorable thermal mass or light dispersing qualities, and creating areas which naturally circulate air.Active solar heating refers to mechanically powered heating systems which employ energy from the sun as the fuel base. These may also be utilised in combination with passive solar heating measures, for example putting substantial windows on south-facing walls, to reduce or perhaps remove the desire for typical heating techniques that call for fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and propane to operate. Active solar heating applications could be not cheap to set up but are normally low-maintenance, and the fuel supply, the power from the sun, is totally free. Fossil fuels will only increase in price as the supply drops and demand raises.

Producing hot water for use in showers, baths and hot taps accounts for a substantial proportion of the total domestic electrical power consumption. Under UK circumstances, a home can easily supply approximately fifty percent of the hot water it would like through the course of a 12 month period from solar energy.

Finding Solar Heat

Solar heat is essentially free power for anybody’s household in wintertime. There are a variety of ways of capturing it.

There are two methods to harness solar heating for a home. They are passive and active solar heating.

Passive solar heating doesn't involve external units or mechanical equipment. This really is simply just the act of permitting your property to acquire more solar radiation during the winter weather.

For anyone who is constructing a brand new residence and if it is doable to orient and design your house so that you've rooms with windows that capture the low angle photo voltaic heat throughout the wintertime, but is also blocked from summer sun. Such passive solar heating, combined with sensible insulation, can mean more than 50 percent of your home's wintertime heating needs.

Attempt to maximize solar heat gain in the winter season by eliminating evergreen trees that don't loose their leaves and planting deciduous trees such as maple and oak that loose their leaves in the course of winter. They are able to shade the home from the summer months and permit more sun to hit your home in winter when they loose their foliage.

Change the color of your home. Should you reside in a mainly cold climate consider painting your house a couple of hues darker. Darker paints mean additional solar heat retention.

Find out about the kinds of active solar heating techniques. In terms of active solar heating you will find a number of options. The first may be to set up a big capacity solar hot water heater or possibly a dual system with one side feeding a radiant heating system. Yet another active solar heating option is an outdoors solar air heater. This should be primarily an insulated box having a solar powered fan that you position on a sunny position outside your wall. As soon as the sun is shining, warm air is made and fed into the household through a duct.

In excess of 70% of the average household’s power use goes into space and water heating, so a source of free hot water to make use of instead of commercial electrical power tends to make a substancial monetary saving.

How about Used Solar Panels ?

Brand new solar panels can cost plenty of dollars so if you are on a spending budget, you may possibly need to contemplate investing your dollars on some used solar panels. The price distinction between brand new along with a second-hand solar panels may be enormous. If you are lucky, you can get a employed solar panel for just a mere fraction of the cost of a brand new one.

How much can solar panels cost? Well, that depends on whether or not it is possible to install it yourself or you might be likely to make use of a chosen professional, which will cost a great deal far more. It can also depend on the number of watts you might be willing to have in your residence.

For example, it is possible to plan to have an investment of $6 to $9 a watt of solar energy or how much you'll need to pay for the installation, which might be of course, a whole lot much more.

1 method to acquire solar cells for house at a low cost price is to purchase for it from a wholesale store. The technology for development of solar cells is constantly getting better and government is also encouraging the silent and environmentally friendly techniques of energy production.

For that reason, wholesale sellers for solar cells are offering lower costs to promote the newly launched models of solar cells. Also, a lot of times it is possible to locate attractive discounts on existing and previous models before the arrival of any upcoming model. Because of the massive varieties showcased in wholesale store, you will generally be in benefit whenever you purchase solar cells for home from a there reputable on line retailer.

Even so, knowledge isn't genuinely critical when buying used solar panels, even so it can support to have a guideline whenever making such a purchase. Be conscious that technology advances over time and photovoltaic panel utilization is relatively brand new.

Really, a couple of of the older solar cells are still in use these days. The very initial point you are likely to notice is the reality that older panels are likely to be larger than newer panels when evaluating wattage, nonetheless when you have the obtainable space, it'll probably be a much more cost-effective option for becoming environmentally friendly.

As always, do 1st things initial. After you've acquired your used solar panels you'll need to totally free the photovoltaic cells from the base which they're mounted to. Next you'll be able to inspect the solar cells for any loose connectors, cracked panels and moisture damage.

These problems are really common and typically the reasons why nearly all house owners deem their solar cells to be faulty. This equipment can generally be repaired quite effortlessly with a little re-soldering of the joints to strengthen the connections.

To save on the very high cost traditional electricity, numerous persons are beginning to look into this reasonably new innovation in saving money too as saving the economy. Men and women are beginning to acquire what is referred to as "residential solar cells", or solar cells which are created for the house.

There are numerous places that sell either brand-new solar cells or employed ones. Because of the tough economy though, some individuals might opt for a employed or cheaper-priced solar panel.

Tips for Lowering an Electric Bill by Installing Photo voltaic Panels

Lowering your electricity bill may well be as uncomplicated as installing solar panels in your roof. Should you really feel like your charges are cutting into your earnings far as well significantly, you could wish to take into account altering the way that you provide your residence with electrical energy. Quite a few consumers are now finding that lowering an electric bill by putting in solar panels is really an amazing method to decrease their month to month costs and guard the atmosphere at the same time.

By making use of this type of energy, it is possible to greatly lower your dependence upon the organization that you simply use for the energy requirements. In some instances, consumers are actually able to generate all of the power they need to be able to energy up their homes, meaning they no longer need anybody else to supply them with energy.

It is also achievable to make money by adding such a method in your property. For those who produce a lot more power than you will need, you are able to market the extra towards the metropolis or to an power supplier. This can be an excellent method to generate a little dollars even though you save dollars in your bills.

In order to make sure that you might be adding the best system to your house, it is best to contact an expert about your requirements. An expert business can aid you decide on the proper system and support you figure out the most effective location for installing the system, so you'll be able to get probably the most bang for your buck.

You may feel that the set up fees are as well higher. However, some countries and cities supply tax breaks and subsidies to people today who install alternative energies within their homes. You could possibly even make your dollars back more than time, because you will be investing much less on energy.

Solar panels, yet, are not for everybody. They are mainly suitable for men and women who live in sunny places where there is not also much cloud coverage and where the winters are not lengthy or harsh.

Execs and cons of Home Solar Panels

Various advantages exist of installing Home Solar panels. An incredible profit is that you are using nature's greatest flame of energy, the sun, in order to convert warmth into light. Nonetheless as a way to have that put in there are numerous issues it is advisable to look under consideration as well. Solar power is a renewable source of power that gives you with good stage of benefits and advantages in saving costs in the long run. So long as the solar is shining at its peak, we're at great advantages.

In lots of developed and underneath developed nations, electrical energy bill is sort of hefty to be paid off as a giant expense. Nevertheless when you've got entry of solar energy to your home, you'd discover a dramatic decline within the electrical energy bills. The solar power collected throughout the shining day hours can be utilized at night times and throughout the day by utilizing batteries that get charged easily. You should use this energy to watch TV, enjoy films or do absolutely anything that requires electricity as compared with other sources of vitality solar panels is pleasant with the environment. solar panels for home provide quick entry to energy and electricity as a result of they make efficient utilization of the character's ultimate source of energy. Solar cells do not launch any dangerous chemical substances or substances in the air so we don't have to fret about the environment getting damaged.

However such type of technology will not be without limitations. Putting in solar panels in your home is in itself fairly a challenging task. These are very expensive as a result of the photovoltaic cells used as solar cells are created from a very uncommon element that isn't in abundance within the earth's surface. Furthermore it isn't straightforward to install them. There must be a feasible plan carried out to ensure that their installation and upkeep as already discussed they are very expensive to be installed and not all companies or professionals might install them the best way they need to be installed. Their value ranges from lots of to hundreds of dollars. With that stated, there's a definite want to completely make the most of that amount in the long run with a purpose to use electricity. It's not reasonably priced for everyone as of today. Ensure to pay a good amount for installation so that you just don't suffer with serious penalties in the long run.

For most of the people an excellent benefit of this technique is to use electrical energy with none power lines. This means an unbiased power generator at each house. Getting electricity with out grid is a good choice amongst many individuals as a result of it permits to wave off hefty payments with regards to electrical energy charges. solar panels for home enable you to change into much more resource efficient that we all want to be with proud in this world. With this process we will be self-enough simply with none problem. solar panels for home want extra time and room to get researched by scientists so that they can be utilized in a significantly better approach within the long run.

Greenhouse Kits

A greenhouse kit is really a great way for both amateur and professional gardeners to enjoy year round gardening. Greenhouses are garden structures created to cultivate plants by harnessing the heat generated by the electromagnetic radiation coming from the sun. The heat is retained within the structure's walls and roof to heat the plants along with the soil within it.

Greenhouses can be utilized to efficiently farm various plants for example flowers, fruits and even vegetables within its controlled environment wherein humidity, condensation and light are the key factors that contribute to its effectiveness. These structures are normally freestanding having said that other designs may possibly also be joined to the house or built in a lean-to manner.

The size of greenhouses also varies depending on the purpose of the structure. Miniature greenhouses may basically be a window extension that may be used for growing herbs whilst massive greenhouses can be as wide as block and normally for enterprise purposes.

In previous years, greenhouses had been normally custom-built with a substantial price tag attached to them. But today greenhouse kits have grow to be readily offered and reasonably priced for the enjoyment of every amateur or professional gardener.

Issues to Contemplate When Just before Buying a Greenhouse Kit

Ready-to-build greenhouse kits have grow to be rather well-known as they supply an extensive selection of sizes and styles. These kits give a gardener the opportunity to adapt the structure to the design of their garden to be able to fit and match. Prior to selecting and purchasing a greenhouse kit, it is important to consider many elements so that you can be able to select the ideal kit.

It's essential to take into account the sort of plants to be grown within the structure as well as the sort of gardening to be completed along with the climate of the region where the greenhouse structure would be assembled.

For example, a gardener interested in planting within a wintry climate ought to think about a greenhouse kit that has a double-walled region which is securely sealed. On the other hand, a gardener that wants to start seed planting need to think about acquiring a greenhouse kit constructed with plastic frames and sidings.

Greenhouse Kit Details

Greenhouse kits come in different sizes ranging from 6 feet by 8 feet to 16 feet by 24 feet. The styles of greenhouse kits are also varied to represent classic conservatory designs which are marked by the typical gable roof with straight eaves. Victorian style greenhouse kits are also out there. This style features either a rustic look with wooden frames or a gothic vaulted roof with curved eaves.

In most cases, the frame of greenhouse kits are usually made either of plastic, aluminum, galvanized steel, cedar or redwood. Nonetheless, many favor plastic greenhouse kits as they are additional affordable and offer the smallest amount of heat loss compared to other kits.

In conventional custom-made greenhouses the siding is built with either a double or triple wall of glass to be able to keep the heat trapped within. Greenhouse kits use mainly plastics that offer fantastic insulation and at the identical time unbreakable. Commonly plastics employed are polyethylene, polycarbonate and fiberglass.

Greenhouse kits are normally simple to put together as the parts are already pre-drilled and pre-cut. You can find even greenhouse kits out there that use a snap-together frame for less difficult assembly. A reasonably priced greenhouse kit may perhaps possibly include aluminum or galvanized steel frames, a see-through plastic cover with a door incorporated into it.

The door might either be a zippered side-flap or a roll-up depending on the design of the greenhouse kit. The typical ceiling height of a greenhouse kit is about 8 feet to enable for headroom of the gardener. You will discover times nonetheless when a greenhouse kit may perhaps not contain certain items for instance shelving, flooring or anchor system.

Though some greenhouse kits supply the owner with facts on the best way to lay down a foundation for the hothouse making use of any of these weather resistant materials like wood, poured concrete or even concrete patio stones. The purpose of a level-flooring surface is to offer great drainage as well as hinder wind damage for the structure. Reasonably priced floor-framing kits are readily obtainable at gardening stores that also sell greenhouse kits.

Climate Modification and Volcanoes

Climate modification is a multi-faceted and complex subject. In this article, we take a look at the relationship between climate modification and volcanoes.

Climate Modification and Volcanoes

The climate modification debate is a nasty one. Parties pick their positions, dig in and refuse to listen to the rants of the other side. Lost in the yelling is the simple fact that climate modification is a natural phenomenon to some extent. For proof, we need merely look at the materials kicked out by volcanoes.

It is an undeniable fact of the earth record that volcanoes have changed the climate during certain periods. Small explosions don�t have much impact, but large explosions send massive amounts of material and gases into the atmosphere. The gases include carbon dioxide, the ultimate bugaboo greenhouse gas. Beyond these gases, however, volcanoes can kick out so much debris and ash that the material in the atmosphere can actually block out the sun or reduce the warming effect.

Mount St. Helens is the most studied and well known recent eruption. Unless you have been meditating in a cave for the last 20 years, you know that the volcano exploded on May 18, 1980. The eruption was powerful enough to flatten everything for 17 miles, immediately turning 10 million trees into so much firewood. The huge volcanic ash cloud stretched halfway across the United States, but barely had an impact on global temperatures.

In contrast, the eruption of the El Chichon volcano in 1982 had a measurable climate impact. El Chichon is located in Mexico and was a much smaller eruption than Mount St. Helens. Still, the average temperature around the globe cooled by one degree. What scientist learned is the climate modification impact of volcanoes is highly dependent on the type of explosion. The materials from Mount St. Helens fell out of the atmosphere quickly, while El Chichon belched enormous amounts of sulfur that remained in the atmosphere for much longer.

One of the problems with climate modification is it occurs over a relatively long period of time. Since we started paying attention to the situation, we have not had a chance to see the impact of a major eruption. The stuff we see on television is really small potatoes compared to historically eruptions of note. For example, Mount St. Helens threw roughly a half a cubic mile of material into the air. In 1815, a volcano in Indonesia belched 24 cubic miles of material into the atmosphere. Obviously, one has to imagine it impacted the climate of the earth.

Is there a relationship between climate modification and volcanoes? Undoubtedly. From what we see, however, the relationship is generally of a short duration and not an explanation for the rising temperatures we are seeing currently.

Abbreviating Climate Change Swings

It appears rather obvious to me that the climate change and global warming issue between scientists is quite a bit of posturing and it appears that the two percent increase in overall atmospheric temperature over the last 50 years is rather insignificant. It also appears to me that a hole in the ozone is not the end of the world.

But either way if we are truly concerned about the climate change no matter if it is being caused by mankind or not; we also need to consider that perhaps we can do something about its large swings and hyperextension of the pendulum arm. How so you ask?

Well, you see, if the planet gets too hot then the ice caps melt, the ocean current changes, we have a wicked wild weather for a while and then we go into an ice age. But, if we can slowly switch from hot to cold and then from cold too hot over many hundreds of years, then the slow change of the cycle will not affect human civilization to a large degree or cause economies to collapse and civilizations to crumble.

However, if mankind causes and increase in the cold cycle or in this case a warm cycle, then a how far that pendulum will swing. It behooves us to study the weather, the patterns, the cycles and the past to determine how best to proceed without doing the wrong thing. Consider this in 2008.

Working out Your Footprint

Unless you've been hiding out in the Outer Hebrides for the past few years, you'll have heard about climate change and the effect it's having on the Earth.

In a nutshell, rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, mainly Carbon Dioxide (CO2), resulting from man's activities, are causing the planet to heat up (this used to be called global warming) causing all sorts of unpleasant side effects: melting ice caps, rising sea levels, very bad weather, water shortages, droughts, famine, extinction of species, and worse to come for us if we continue to ignore the warnings.

The big problem is that we've all been living like we had 4 planets to sustain us. In the South East we've been particularly bad apparently.

That's the bad news. The good news is that if we all took some actions, even small ones, they'd add up to something much bigger that would make a difference, and maybe we can stop this thing, before, it gets really really awful.

(For a great explanation of all this, check out Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth ' out on DVD now.)

So where to start. Well, first off we each need to work out our own carbon footprint - a measure of our individual impact on the environment, measured in units of CO2 - and then we can work out how to go about reducing it.

As a guide, the carbon footprint of a typical household breaks down like this:

- roughly 1/3 of the CO2 emissions come from the energy used to heat and power your home - another 1/3 comes from transport, including driving, and especially flights, one of the worst culprits, and - the final 1/3 comes from food miles ie the emissions resulting from getting food to your table (which is why it's important to get locally grown food as much as possible).

Working out your carbon footprint can be quite complicated; you need your energy bills, to know how many miles you drive, and to work out how far you've flown, or travelled by train or bus, but there are quite a few websites out there that can help ' try http://www.carbonfootprint.com or http://www.climatecare.org. The average for a UK household is about 12.5 tonnes of CO2.When I worked out my own footprint, I discovered that almost 50% of my total carbon emissions last year came from two short haul flights (to Ibiza and Toulouse - 2 tonnes of CO2), which was quite an eye opener, and is making me think about how many flights I take in future.

The next biggest contributor, at about 800 tonnes, was the electricity I use. Luckily I now buy green electricity, from 100% renewable sources like wind, solar and wave power ' it doesn't cost any more (go to http://www.goodenergy.com and say I sent you) ' so I've done something about that. I also belong to a car club instead of owning a car, so my car usage is quite low.Once you've worked out your own carbon footprint, you can set about reducing it ' the long term target is a miniscule 1 tonne of CO2 per person per year. Here are some ideas to get you started:Use alternatives to planes wherever possible (check out http://www.Seat61.com)

If everyone upgraded their fridge to an A-rated model, co2 emissions would be cut by the equivalent of 47 million double deckers of gas per year.

Avoid short trips in the car
Get low energy lightbulbs
Buy electricity from renewable sources
Turn things off when you're not using them, and don't leave appliances on standby, which can use up to 85% of the energy of the appliance
Cover food when cooking
Boil only the water you need

If everyone upgraded their fridge to an A-rated model, co2 emissions would be cut by the equivalent of 47 million double deckers of gas per year.There are plenty more things you can do, and they all add up ' have a look at my website http://www.nigelsecostore.com for things that can help you live a more eco-friendly and sustainable life.And once you've got your footprint down as low as possible, you can think about carbon offsetting the rest, but that's another story.

Climate Change in Africa

Climatic changes on the African continent are threatening the valuable agricultural and tourism industries. These 2 areas make up a large part of Kenya's income. A report suggests that tourism in Africa, which makes up for three per cent of the world's tourism, may change with climate change.

The report says increased warming will induce many changes in the global climate system during the 21st century. The threat of flood risks and water pollution-related diseases in low lying regions and coral reef bleaching due to climate change could impact negatively on tourism. Mozambique is growing as a tourist destination, however in 2000 it was in the world news due to massive floods which took the lives of hundreds of people, these floods have occurred again in early 2007, deterring tourist from the beautiful country.

Africa is home to the best Safari parks in the world, including the Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya and the Kruger National Park in South Africa, but due to global warming and climate change it is expected that about 10% of the species current populations are projected to decline in coming years

By 2080 it is estimated that areas of arid and semi arid land in Africa are likely to increase by 5 - 8 %. Crop revenue in Africa could fall by up to 90 per cent by 2100, and wheat production - one of Africa's greatest sources of income - in Africa might disappear altogether by the 2080.

If sea level was to rise by only 1 meter, the coastal areas of Kenya would loss massive areas which three main crops grow in the country, namely mangoes, cashew nuts, and coconuts, loss of these crops could cost the country almost US$500 million. If sea levels do rise it is feared that costal agriculture could be at risk of inundation and soil salination.

Climate change will also affect human health in Africa. Malaria distribution has already increased in the past decade and is expected to continue to move into these previously cooler areas, it is estimated that by the 2080s an additional 80 million people will likely be at risk of malaria.

Areas of Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Burundi which have not previously had malaria could also experience changes which will allow malaria carrying mosquitoes to thrive there by the 2050s.

Humans' ability to recover from disease and illness could also be affected by climate change in Africa. Many countries are already suffering from massive HIV / Aids pandemics, and with changes in moisture and temperature in the continent diseases could become harder to fight.

Global Warming and Climate Change: The Facts

Have you ever wondered what exactly is up with global warming? This informative report can give you an insight into everything you've ever wanted to know about global warming.

The effects of global warming are climate change, rise in sea level, etc. Global warming can also leave vegetation more susceptible to insect infestation. Droughts weaken a tree's immune and defence systems and allow for insects such as the Spruce Budworm to colonize forests and decrease the productivity and value of the trees and forest as a whole. Global warming is having a dramatic impact on our lives. Put simply, our planet is heating up at a rate which in unsustainable.

Global warming will influence human lives negatively, death due to heat waves will occur, infectious disease like malaria will become common with the increasing temperature. Changes in climate not only affect our bodies but also harm our crops. Global warming is real. It is not the result of a natural climatic adjustment. Global warming refers to the Earth's air and oceans gradually heating up to a point that disrupts balance, a problem that is continually getting worse. It sounds like a problem too massive for any one individual to take on, but it really isn't.

Global warming is also leading to more dramatic swings in the weather in some areas. Since the early 20th century, the amount of rain dropped in the biggest 1% of storms each year has risen 20%. Global warming may affect some parts of our society negatively but would likely benefit others.

If you find yourself confused by what you've read to this point, don't despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

Global Warming is a dramatically urgent and serious problem. We don't need to wait for governments to find a solution for this problem: each individual can bring an important help adopting a more responsible lifestyle: starting from little, everyday things. Global warming is real. It is not the result of a natural climatic adjustment. Global warming is a very difficult problem to fix. People are having a hard time agreeing on what to do about it.

Global warming, even most sceptics have concluded, is the real deal, and human activity has been causing it. If there was any consolation, it was that the glacial pace of nature would give us decades or even centuries to sort out the problem. Global warming has left its clearest fingerprint on heat waves. Since the record scorcher of 1998, the average annual temperatures in the United States in six of the past 10 years have been among the hottest 10 percent on record. Global warming is something that is going to happen very slowly (at least in human terms.) There will be no "Day after tomorrow". It will have an initial effect in the developing world, but not for another generation.

Global warming has so far and will continue to have negative effects on the glacier mass balance. From 1900-1980 there has been a recorded decline from 144 to 142 mountain glaciers. Global warming would also bring more heat waves like the one in the summer of 2003 that killed 31,000 people across Europe. It might even shut down the Gulf Stream, the flow of warm water from the Gulf of Mexico that gives Europe its mild climate.

Global Warming Quicker Than Forecast

An increasingly large amount of scientific research, published since the IPCC 4th Assessment Report was released in 2007, shows that climate change is occurring right now, and that it is much faster than predicted only two years ago.

The evidence for this statement is from a multitude of areas. Some of the regions currently undergoing change are shown below.

-Multiple plants and animals, in widespread sites, are already showing evidence of climate change. Examples include the timing of plant flowering, animal breeding, and lake thawing.

-Warmer ocean surface temperatures in Pacific & Atlantic hurricane-formation zones leading to stronger storms are significantly linked to human-induced warming.

-Ocean acidification is occurring quickly, due to CO2 in massive amounts dissolving in salty water. This will have major impacts on marine ecosystems and subsequently food supplies for many countries.

-Probable sea-level rise over the next 100 years will be higher than that calculated in 2007. It will probably increase at least 100cm, based on newly released scientific studies.

-Rapid melting of Greenland's glaciers, which began in 2004, is conclusively due to the greenhouse effect.

-The West Antarctic Ice Shelf has undergone rapid melting over the last 10 years and has suffered 10 major ice shelf collapses over that time.

-Northern polar sea-ice is melting much quicker than previously estimated, and it is likely that the Arctic will be free of ice in summer within a few decades.

-Arctic Circle permafrost is thawing much faster than recently thought, and is liberating a lot more greenhouse gases than forecast.

The warming that is now taking place is expected to go on for many centuries, after all human-sourced CO2 escape ceases. This is due to the significant delays that exist in the climate-ocean system, as well as the long half-life of atmospheric carbon dioxide.