Of Forecasts and Resolutions

1/6/2010

The start of the year always brings about a spate of forecasts 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 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% 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 two 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 25˚ and not too low. In most cases, the air-conditioning units are over-worked 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 opt for 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 over-build 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, sorting garbage. Our homes must have the facilities to do so. The less dump sites 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!