THE START of the year always brings about a spate of forecast-
and resolution-making. At the forefront of the world issues today is
the phenomenon called Global Warming.
Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the
Earth’s surface and oceans, most felt onward from the mid-20th
century and seen to have increased aggressively since then. Global
surface temperature has already risen by 0.8 percent since the start
of the 20th century: but what of it; what’s the big deal? We have
temperature changes in Manila that range from 38º down to 24º or the
reverse and all we had to do was wear a sweater or shorts.
The forecast
But globally speaking, this translates into something major. Even
a one percent change in the planet’s average temperature affects the
weather conditions of the whole world, giving rise to the kind of
catastrophic disturbances like “Katrina” and “Ondoy,” not to mention
the gargantuan tsunamis, all of which may become common occurrences
in the future.
A 2-percent temperature change may cause the arctic ice to melt,
which will cause avalanches, flooding, erosion and even more
deforestation. This will increase the rate of global warming to
unprecedented proportions and, at the tipping point, could be
irreversible. Beyond that, the temperature rise will intensify,
ultimately bringing about the certain death of life on our
planet.
Most of the observed temperature increases were the result of
escalating concentrations of greenhouse gases, which in turn are
caused by human activities like the burning of fossil fuel and
deforestation.
World leaders are beginning to map out their courses of action to
curb this impending disaster. But how about the simple folk, the
homeowner, the builder—are we merely to sit down and wait for their
directives? Is there anything we can do now on our own?
The resolution
Forty percent of greenhouse gases that directly affect global
warming are caused by generating electricity from conventional
sources. By merely using less energy, we are already positioning
ourselves to become a part of the long-term solution rather than
contributors to the problem.
For example, air-conditioning consumes the most power in an
office or household. If we can manage it, it is ideal and healthier
not to use air-conditioning at all. In the instances we cannot, we
could just set the thermostat to a comfortable level of 25º and not
too low. In most cases, the air-conditioning units are overworked to
compensate for poor room insulation, air leaks and unprotected
building surfaces directly exposed to the sun. Effective planning
and construction techniques, through installation of eaves and
awnings or the application of heat-reflective paint to walls and
glass, can all be done to correct the situation.
There are appliances that are more energy-efficient and must be
preferred above others. Older appliances may already be faulty and
could prove more cost-efficient if replaced.
Natural lighting is best, but when artificial lighting is
required, we should choose energy-efficient bulbs. In addition, the
location of lighting fixtures and the color and finishes of a room
add to lighting efficiency.
Planting more trees and vegetation in and around our buildings
will help cool the environment. Communities must respect and
maintain open spaces to promote natural air flow. A lot of these
concepts have already been studied and put down in building codes;
the least we can do is to adhere to them. We would do well to not
overbuild communities. There are studies that show that too many
concrete surfaces incubate and discharge toxic gases.
As a rule, we must exercise proper waste management by recycling,
minimizing trash and sorting garbage. Our homes must have the
facilities to do so. The less dumpsites we fill and the less
incineration we require, the less we contribute to global
warming.
Be mindful of the kind of cars you drive. You may want
to trade your SUV for something that produces less carbon emissions.
Better yet, walk or bike more.
These choices may seem small but a concentrated effort by an
aware community is like a seed that eventually grows into something
positive, productive and communicable. This is the best resolution
we can make as a global community. Everyone must be involved in the
effort to save our lives!
Please e-mail your comments and questions to
marcosdeguzman@yahoo.com.
