Interestingly, when asked about global warming, most people have an opinion, but very few people have more than an opinion. Some believe global warming is a serious threat, while others aren't informed. But most stop there. With belief.

I think it's safe to say the scientific community agrees that our carbon emissions are a problem, and will need changing... but the question is how can we make a difference? It seems that the major road block for most people is a lack of an easy accessible option to help the planet. And I mean more helpful than just saying no to paper bags at the grocery store.

Sure, the great thing to do would be to buy solar panelling and deck out the house with it. But, if most of you are like me, you neither have the money, nor do you own your house. So this option is a bit useless.

Sidenote: Just for kicks, if you are interested in solar energy, a neat little do-it-yourself kit that's just under $400 might get you going if you'd like to charge your laptop the green way... Hardly a cost-effective solution, but certainly a green solution...

A windmill might be a great solution, but again, unless you're looking to spend the big bucks, chances are you won't be charging much more than a lightbulb.

But, hey, replacing your electricity isn't the only way to be green. Chances are you drive (or get driven) places. And unless your car runs on hopes and dreams (certainly not hydrogen) you're putting out carbon dioxide. But again, most people have no option to just stop driving, or switch to a hybrid car. Isn't there anything we can do for our lovely planet earth?

Offset. This is key. Most americans will need to change their lifestyle some time in the next decade or two, thanks to global warming. Luckily for us, as it becomes more pressing, chances are big business will swoop in to make a buck, and provide to us economy solutions that people can actually afford. (Remember buying a DVD burner 5 years ago? No, you don't. Because they were $600). But until then, we can change what we can, and offset what we can't utilizing the currency of the Bush-hated, but local goverment embraced Kyoto Protocol.

Carbon Credits. For now, this is the most accessible and easy form of saving the planet. Offsetting your carben emissions. How this works is simple: You purchase carbon credits (donate money) that will remove carbon or remove sources of potential carbon equal to the amount of carbon that you normally create in a year. This means car, electricity, food, clothes, everything. This way, your carbon emissions have zero impact on the environment. It doesn't get much easier than that... and this method is actually affordable. That means everybody here should be able to give it a go.

So: Get busy. Be proactive. Do something you idiots. I use Carbon Fund, but there are a few other similar services out there if you look around. I've been zero carbon for about one and a half years now, and I'll never go back.

A few other resources:
-Green Lightbulbs. Low wattage bulbs that have carbon credits built into the price. Doesn't get much better than this!

-Smart Strip. A power panel & surge protector that detects idle current (power used by devices when they're powered off) and shuts them down. Save the earth... and money on your electric bill too! (see also Energy Saving Adapter)

-Carbon Calculator. Find out just how badddd you are.

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the_legacy @ 08/08/07 "The problem with the world is that everything revolves around $$$$$. The fact is that becoming green (getting solar paneling, a hybrid or what not) is not affordable to the people. The companies need to be able to make things affordable by cutting their profits. But noooo they don’t want to do that because that’s money that’s not going into their pockets. So were just going to let the planet “break down” so people can buy their expensive 2 million dollar homes (not energy efficient)" FredFredrickson @ 08/08/07 "Yeah, but some people figured it out.. like walmart: cheap AND profitable! Sam Walton learned that the skinnier the profit margin, the more he'd sell, thus making more profit than the stingy guy next door holding out for big bills." corinne @ 08/08/07 " yeah.. what a good guy" Spoonman @ 08/08/07 "The business strategy used by Wal*Mart is effectively brilliant. Come into town and lower prices until all the local home grown businesses who don't have the same economy of scale die off. Then, once you're the monopoly, jack the prices back up. Also, that 25c Cola outside the door is break-even for the company, but it makes you think you're getting a bargain and thus encourages you to buy more. It brings a tear of joy to my eye...I never thought I'd see the day that Robbie praised a cutthroat capitalist billionaire." cherrybomb @ 08/09/07 "u like local business, but back on subject. going green and global warming. well it is a problem and it should be fixed but ive been doing stuff to help that since a few years ago. see its trendy to do it now. thank you hollywood! without you no one would give a fuck!" FredFredrickson @ 08/09/07 "you must be the original environmentalist" cherrybomb @ 08/09/07 "no not at all. what im saying is that now its cool to be one. i am by no means an original anything. what im saying is "going green" is becoming a fad, a trend if you will. if it wasnt the cool thing to do and people such as celebs werent backing it then not as many people would care. but im glad that you care and that other people on the site care. its a good thing" FredFredrickson @ 08/09/07 "I think it's got more to do with a worsening environment, and increasing proof. I hardly think Al Gore counts as hollywood." cherrybomb @ 08/09/07 "he made a movie and has a make-up artist. i love the guy but come on..." Login to comment...

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