What is global warming? Global warming is when the temperature of the planet starts to rise causing the icecaps to melt, resulting in the ocean levels rising. You might be wondering how this can affect the average person. Global warming might be seen by many as something that does not need to be overly concerned about. In truth, it really is something that people should be concerned about. With the temperature of earth rising, the icecaps melt and the stores of fresh water mix with the salt water. If there is one thing the human population does not want to be short of, it is fresh water.

Global warming is what contributes to the growth of deserts as more moisture evaporates into the air from the heat. In many places drought is becoming a major problem and this can lead to poor crop yield and an increase in the chance of having fires. Extreme flooding is also believed to be contributed to by global warming as the weather patterns change. As the temperature becomes warmer, it disrupts regular storm patterns and can lead to worse storms that lead to more tornados, hurricanes and floods.

What ways can you stop global warming? Whether you are a business or an individual, you can become someone who does not contribute to the problem. Here are some tips:

•Replace all incandescent light bulbs with florescent lights that use less electricity.

•Try to minimize the number of times the furnace turns on, maybe even turn it down a bit.

•Use appliances that are energy efficient; they don’t use as much electricity as the common ones.

•Don’t leave things on standby. When finished with a machine turn it off.

•Turn off lights when the room is not in use.

•Replace single pane windows with double pane.

While many of these suggestions are often associated with homes, they can also be used by businesses who wish to help stop global warming. These are only a few of the many things a person or business can do. To find out more ways you can be more environmentally friendly, you can go onto the internet, find books in libraries or stores, or you can even bring in a professional who can help you find ways to be a part of the solution. At first, it might seem like it is very expensive, and it is at first, but you help stop global warming and over time it can actually help to save yourself, or your business money.

There’s no question that our planet is warming up. Average global temperatures have risen around the world in the last 100 years, especially in the past 20 years. There are many theories out there when looking for answers to this, but only two are obvious. One of those theories is the idea that the Earth naturally goes through temperature cycles during the course of its existence. Another idea is that we as humans are introducing untold amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and this is causing the planet to heat up.

Regardless of how and why Earth is warming up, it’s happening, won’t stop anytime soon, and may be dangerous in the long run. Maybe it’s human activity or maybe it’s not, nobody will be able to tell us what the exact cause is. However, what we do know is the human population most certainly contributes to the warming of the planet. The good part is we have the power to slow it down and cut our carbon dioxide output down drastically.

There are many things you can do to help our environment and cut down on your carbon footprint, all of which are reductions of energy usage at home and on the road. First and foremost, replace all the light bulbs in all your residencies to the energy-efficient bulbs. This is huge and will save you hundreds of dollars a year on your power bill, thus promoting a cleaner environment. You can also replace your old appliances with newer, energy-efficient models. The same goes for your air conditioner. These are the top 3 ways to cut your power costs at home.

There’s now a 4th and big way to reduce your carbon footprint and power bill, that is, solar panels and wind turbines you can build yourself. You can find guides and manuals online that teach you about everything you need to know. The best part about this is how simple and easy it is to construct a green energy power system in your home. Not many people know about this, but it’s a serious money saver when comparing DIY green energy to professional installations. They cost tens and tens of thousands of dollars. If you’re interested in such projects there’s a popular new site on the internet that will feed you all the information you need.

Finally, and the most effective way to reduce your carbon footprint is to avoid driving your vehicle! Walk, jog, roller blade, or bike everywhere and anywhere you can. Get that blood pumping and the savings of fuel and energy mount up incredibly fast. If you can apply multiple techniques described here, I guarantee your energy costs will drop drastically.

Regardless of what’s causing global warming, we should all be striving to do our part and cut down our carbon footprints. Whether it’s turning the TV off at night or riding your bike to school, the Earth and the people inhabiting it will thank you.