In the service of the Lord for over 100 years!!!
OUR CARBON FOOT PRINT?
I
In previous articles written by the Care for the Creation task force the concept or thoughts regarding Carbon or CO2 were introduced. It basically states that we as individuals generate Carbon dioxide or CO2 in most things that we do on a day to day basis which contributes to the total increase of CO2 in our atmosphere People and animals breath in oxygen O2 and breath out CO2. Cars and most of our home heating and home electrical appliances directly or indirectly put CO2 into the atmosphere. Our world wide population is increasing and our world wide use of fossil fuels is also increasing at a very rapid rate.
During the last 150 years our world wide climate has been changing. The temperature has increased by about 1 degree, with .6 of that happening in the last 40 to 50 years. There have also been changes in our precipitation patterns and an increase in the number and severity of storms world wide, including The USA and Minnesota.
Even though the winter of 2008 and 09 seemed to be much colder here in Mora, it actually was near normal. The last several years, with the exception of last winter, we have been unusually warm. We in Mora have experienced shorter and warmer winters with lower snow fall and longer and hotter summers. If you are a winter outdoor person you perhaps have not been able to use your snowmobile or cross country skies as you would like. If you recall our own Mora Vasaloppet ski race has been curtailed or changed greatly to adjust to the warmer winter weather during the last several years.
Getting back to the concept of the Carbon Footprint. It is the measurement of the total impact of our personal activities upon the amount of CO2 put into our atmosphere. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases, CO2 and others gases that each of us generate as a result of the burning of fossil fuels in our homes, cars, and all other forms of transportation.
The carbon foot print is the sum of two parts. The primary part is our direct emission generated by domestic energy consumption such as the use of electric lights, and appliances, cars etc. Part two is the secondary footprint or indirect CO2 emissions from our lifestyle and the numerous products we use in our homes, our recreational toys such as boats, RV’s, and the list goes on.
Some very interesting data to consider is that the average family of two in USA produces about 40,800 pounds or over 20 tons of Carbon per year. Other developed countries produce about 22,000 pounds or 11 tons per family of two. The world wide average is about 8,000 pounds or 4 tons and the target to combat climate change is about 4000 pounds or 2 ton of carbon. You can readily see the dilemma we in America are facing as we consider our economic system and our environment.
We would recommend that you find out your Carbon foot print. Go to a computer and call up a web site called Carbonfootprint.com and go through the exercise and see how you and your family compare with others.
In our up coming letters we will address what can be done to make some adjustments to our life styles which will off set or reduce our Carbon Foot Print and help us become better Earth Keepers.
Developed by the Care for Creation task force; Peter Hovland, Paul Larson, Martin Carlson.
If you would like to join the task force, talk with one of them.
In previous articles written by the Care for the Creation task force the concept or thoughts regarding Carbon or CO2 were introduced. It basically states that we as individuals generate Carbon dioxide or CO2 in most things that we do on a day to day basis which contributes to the total increase of CO2 in our atmosphere People and animals breath in oxygen O2 and breath out CO2. Cars and most of our home heating and home electrical appliances directly or indirectly put CO2 into the atmosphere. Our world wide population is increasing and our world wide use of fossil fuels is also increasing at a very rapid rate.
During the last 150 years our world wide climate has been changing. The temperature has increased by about 1 degree, with .6 of that happening in the last 40 to 50 years. There have also been changes in our precipitation patterns and an increase in the number and severity of storms world wide, including The USA and Minnesota.
Even though the winter of 2008 and 09 seemed to be much colder here in Mora, it actually was near normal. The last several years, with the exception of last winter, we have been unusually warm. We in Mora have experienced shorter and warmer winters with lower snow fall and longer and hotter summers. If you are a winter outdoor person you perhaps have not been able to use your snowmobile or cross country skies as you would like. If you recall our own Mora Vasaloppet ski race has been curtailed or changed greatly to adjust to the warmer winter weather during the last several years.
Getting back to the concept of the Carbon Footprint. It is the measurement of the total impact of our personal activities upon the amount of CO2 put into our atmosphere. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases, CO2 and others gases that each of us generate as a result of the burning of fossil fuels in our homes, cars, and all other forms of transportation.
The carbon foot print is the sum of two parts. The primary part is our direct emission generated by domestic energy consumption such as the use of electric lights, and appliances, cars etc. Part two is the secondary footprint or indirect CO2 emissions from our lifestyle and the numerous products we use in our homes, our recreational toys such as boats, RV’s, and the list goes on.
Some very interesting data to consider is that the average family of two in USA produces about 40,800 pounds or over 20 tons of Carbon per year. Other developed countries produce about 22,000 pounds or 11 tons per family of two. The world wide average is about 8,000 pounds or 4 tons and the target to combat climate change is about 4000 pounds or 2 ton of carbon. You can readily see the dilemma we in America are facing as we consider our economic system and our environment.
We would recommend that you find out your Carbon foot print. Go to a computer and call up a web site called Carbonfootprint.com and go through the exercise and see how you and your family compare with others.
In our up coming letters we will address what can be done to make some adjustments to our life styles which will off set or reduce our Carbon Foot Print and help us become better Earth Keepers.
Developed by the Care for Creation task force; Peter Hovland, Paul Larson, Martin Carlson.
If you would like to join the task force, talk with one of them.
About
Badge
© 2009 Created by Jon Larson on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
