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"A World of Flowers" |
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Things about Global Warming you did not know!!
- How TREES can save you money on your next utility bill.
- How COMPOSTING can make a difference.
- How MOWING your lawn can make you feel good !
Global warming is caused by the excess buildup of carbon dioxide, a gas in the atmosphere. This is a natural process which is now out of balance because we, the world population burns up too much fossil fuels too fast, thereby creating an excess in carbon dioxide without a process to take up the extra gasses.
However, when plants grow, they take carbon dioxide out of the air, a process which is most efficient in mature trees of up to about 50 years old. It has been calculated that if the people who are causing and benefiting from the excess of carbon dioxide, would plant trees, they could actually stop the increase of global warming! It would only cost the following: $15.00 per person per year in the USA; $ 2.00 per person in Jamaica and considerably less in Brazil and China! However, in order to undo some of the increases in the past, we currently have to do more: one of the simple, possible things for us to do is composting. Making compost in your soil is nothing more than a process called carbon sequestration, which means the storage of carbon in the soil. By delaying the release of rotting plant material into the air you will help to decrease carbon dioxide.
Additional studies have indicated that urban lawns and gardens are similar carbon ‘sinks’ than some forests. Next time when you are mowing your lawn (preferably with a mulching blade) think about the fact that you are adding carbon storage in the top of your soil! But that is not all yet. In a recent study in Chicago, it has been calculated that trees not only store large amounts of carbon, but only three trees around your home will save you $ 96.00 in heating and cooling cost per year. More amazing is the fact that the benefit of tree carbon storage is four times as large, in terms of avoidance of carbon increase, due to energy savings. Even here, the tree does not stop being the hero of global warming it will also absorb and clean the air from other air pollutants, like ozone, which cause this global warming. What this all adds up to, is that it’s really up to us to stop the global warming!
For additional information check the following website:
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Article as printed in Herald ad on 5/31/2007 |