Many of us have adopted small, easy habits to help make our lives a little more environmentally friendly. Each decision is a good way to help combat global warming. But how do you choose which green living changes are right for you and for the planet because your understanding of going green might be just a myth? Read on to know what about truths behind five common green myths
When appliances are off, they don’t use power
Turning off your computer when it’s not in use is a great way to save energy. But did you know that some devices and appliances, including your computer, continue to use power even when they’re off?
It’s a phenomenon called vampire power, sometimes called standby power or energy leaks. Vampire power is the energy a piece of equipment continues to use even after it’s been switched off. In a study done at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, researchers found that vampire power may consume as much as 15 to 30 watts per appliance. Totalled up, it’s estimated that more than five percent of your power bill can be attributed to appliances in standby mode, which equals about $4 billion consumer dollars spent to feed vampires each year. Contributors include any device that relies on standby power, such as televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, computers, cell-phone chargers and any appliance that maintains (and displays) a clock.
Tips: Off is not enough. The shake in the heart of vampire power is to unplug devices.
Energy conservation and energy efficiency are not the same
Conserving energy and choosing energy-efficient products are both key to energy sustainability. They may sound similar but, in fact, they’re two different things.
Energy conservation is any activity where the outcome is the consumption of less energy, such as choosing to turn off the lights when you leave a room. Energy efficiency is any technology that requires less energy to carry out the same task. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) provide the same illumination as standard incandescent bulbs but use just one-quarter of the energy and last eight to 12 times longer. They’re an example of energy efficiency. The results of choosing energy-efficient products may be energy conservation — but not always.
Tips: Think about it like your favourite cookie: just because they started making a low-fat variety doesn’t mean you should consume whole box.
Organic is always better
Organic foods are only good for the planet when they’re not trucked, shipped or flown around the world before landing at their final destination. Food miles are the distance your food has travelled from farm to store. The idea is the higher number of food miles travelled, the greater amount of energy consumed and pollution released — both of which contribute to the problem of global warming. Think about it: How did fresh strawberries get to your local store in the middle of winter? In 2005, the total amount of fruits and vegetables that were flown into California alone released more than 70,000 tonnes of CO2, the same amount of pollution produced by 12,000 cars on the road.
Tips: Choose locally grown foods — and, even better: locally grown organic foods.
Hybrid vehicles are better than standard cars
It’s estimated that hybrids cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than one-third compared to many non-hybrids. But first, consider the amount of energy needed to make a new car. To make a new Toyota Prius, or a new gas-only vehicle for that matter, roughly 113 million BTUs of energy are used — that’s equal to 3,785 litres of gasoline. Also consider gas consumption. Small hybrids are some of the roads, and not all hybrids are equal. Some gas-only used cars may actually have smaller carbon footprints. Take, for example, large hybrid SUVs and trucks. Sure, they’re made with hybrid technologies but their gas mileage doesn’t measure up against some of the conventional fuel-efficient compact cars on the market. A gas-only Honda fit gets an estimated 33 mpg compared to the estimated 27 mpg of a hybrid Toyota Highlander.
Tips: The smart choice depends on what type of car you need, as well as your driving habits. For people who really do need to own a truck or large car, swapping a gas-only model for a hybrid is potentially a better option. But if you’re hauling nothing more than you and your family around, consider your options. Or you could always trade your car in for a bike and save nearly 725 kilograms of CO2 in year.
Planting trees will fix global warming
Forests have a three-pronged effect on our climate: They cool the air through the process of evapotranspiration; they reduce air pollutants (including CO2, a known greenhouse gas) through photosynthesis; and their dark, dense leaves absorb sunlight that warm the planet.
Most people are familiar with the idea that trees and vegetation help to defend our planet against global warming. However, recent scientific studies show those benefits depend on where those trees are planted. Plant in the wrong part of the world and you may be wasting time and money.
Forest in the tropical belt around the equator benefit the planet. They absorb CO2, in a process called carbon sequestering, which help lower temperatures. It’s the forests outside of the tropics that may have little or no impact on climate change.
The farther away from the equator forests are, the more likely they are to trap heat in their dense canopies, raising temperatures. This is known as albedo effect. In a study conducted by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Carnegie Institution and Université Montpellier II, scientists found that forests in mid-to-high latitudes could increase temperatures by up to 10 degree F (5.5 degrees C) in the next 100 years than if those forests were not there.
Tips: While supporting forestry projects remains a popular carbon offsetting option, it is also important to be smart about which programmes you back: Helping to mitigate the effects of tropical deforestation is a sound choice. And you can’t go wrong when you keep your community green and beautiful by planting saplings around your neighbourhood.
The writer can be contacted through howstuffworks.com.
