Why You Should Always Unplug Your Electronics

Photo Credit: NYTimes

Electronic devices are used constantly in most individual's everyday lives, and a lot of people do not realize how much power they are actually using. One would think that when turning a device off that they are conserving power, however in most cases the devices still continue to draw power. To conserve power when a device is not in use, it should be completely turned off and unplugged. 

The amount of power each idle device is consuming may not appear to be a lot, but the number adds up over time. A study of Northern California, by the Natural Resources Defense Council, states that, "about a quarter of all residential energy consumption is used in idle power mode." In a dollar amount, this could add up to more than $19 billion in electricity bills per year on idle devices. This consumption of power represents more than a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions within the United States. Turn off your electronics to save money, while reducing the amount of pollution in the world that contributes to climate change.

Electronics and appliances are becoming more energy efficient, but the energy consumed has actually doubled because of the number of electronics people have today. Around 36 percent of the population has a laptop, a tablet, and a smartphone. These devices are rarely turned off, which has contributed to the increase in consumed energy over the years. However, electronic devices are not the only problem, kitchen appliances draw a lot of energy. A study showed that using a coffee maker once a day consumes about 50 kilowatt-hours every year, which is more than some people around the world use in an entire year. 

There are ways that you can reduce your energy consumption easily. If you plug all of your main electronics or appliances into one power strip, you can simply turn them all off at once. However, you must be aware that devices with clocks or internet connections could lose information when unplugged. Another useful tip: never stream movies on your video game consoles; they use 45 times more power than streaming consoles. All in all, you should become aware of the amount of energy everything within your home is consuming and make changes. The carbon dioxide emissions that each household is creating with idle electronics can and should be avoided. Executing these simple changes will save you a lot of money and will create less climate-changing pollution.

Read More At: How Much Power Do Your Electronics Use

Climate Change: Causing Huge ‘Dead Zones’ in Oceans by 2030

Photo Credit: Vice.com

Man-made climate change is extremely threatening to the environment around the world. 97 percent of actively publishing climate scientists agree: Climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities. Studies show that man-made climate change is already decreasing the oxygen levels within some parts of the world’s oceans, and by 2030 huge “dead zones” could start to appear.

The oxygen levels are declining because the increasing water temperature makes it difficult to absorb and distribute the oxygen. If carbon emissions continue at this rate, it will likely result in falling oxygen concentrations across large areas of the oceans. A decrease in carbon emissions is going to be a nearly impossible task to complete; everyone in the world will need to change how they go about their daily lives.

Environments around the globe are being effected on different levels by climate change. The Arctic, for example, has temperatures that are rising at twice the rate as they are across the planet as a whole. The process has already begun within the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean is likely to see large sections with reduced oxygen by 2030.

“Dead zones” are a huge problem for humans and the environment. These areas could pose a great threat to some forms of marine life at depths of 200 meters or more, which in turn poses a threat to us. We rely on the marine ecosystem for a variety of services – one of them is a food supply. "We rely on bottom fisheries in these areas. Our study was essentially on fish food," Levin said. "Species that form structures that provide biodiversity-sustaining habitat on the sea floor might be important to watch for susceptibility to ocean deoxygenation, acidification, and warming. They are also vulnerable to human disturbance."

Read more at: Vice.com

5 Major Impactors on your Carbon Footprint

The average American is responsible for about 20 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year. To fully wrap your head around that amount, just think about the emissions created when driving a gasoline-powered card nonstop for 40,000 miles - they're the same. A thousand actions could be taken to reduce your carbon footprint, but there are five major factors should be considered first.

The place you choose to call home can have a huge impact on the amount of emissions you put into the atmosphere. Although the US is not an ideal location to minimize your carbon footprint, some places are more climate-friendly than others.

Cities, which are responsible for 75 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, cover the US however, densely populated cities tend to have smaller carbon footprints than the outlying suburbs. Location is not the only thing to keep in mind when looking for a home, the kind of apartment or house you live in matters too; making sure the home has good insulation can reduce heat loss and cut down energy use significantly. 

The second major factor is your diet. American’s are responsible for almost nine tons of carbon emissions yearly. The consumption of red meat has a carbon footprint eleven times the size of grains and vegetables. The reduction of beef consumption could actually be more effective than driving less often. Giving up beef completely is not a requirement; simply making small changes can have a huge effect.

How you commute, especially to and from work, can add pounds of carbon to your output. If you plan on using a car, try to get something fuel-efficient. However, public transportation is more efficient and can save each passenger about ten pounds of carbon emissions on an average ride.

The location of your investments is another major factor effecting your carbon footprint. Where your money goes can determine which industries grow and which do not. Activists and nonprofit organizations are encouraging investors to divert money away from the fossil fuel industry. The amount, whether big or small, will make a difference.

The fifth major factor is ultimately who you vote for. Government policies can do more to limit global carbon emissions in the long run than changing your consumer habits. “Climate change is the most systemic challenge and largest scale challenge we’ve ever faced as humanity,” he said. “Given that, it requires action on all fronts, and we need a combination of things coming from everywhere in society."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/carbon-footprint_us_56b3b650e4b01d80b24592d0