|
|
5 Things You Need to Know About Environment
By Wendy Clem
The General Overview
Environment is the external condition surrounding an organism. Natural systems that function without human intrusion contain microorganisms, animals, vegetation, rocks, and other characteristic fauna and flora. This includes features that have no boundaries, like water, air, and climate -- as well as natural phenomena like magnetism, radiation, and electrical charge not provided by humans.
Undoing or Preventing?
Preventing human encroachment on the environment is often harder than restoring an area stripped of natural elements, although each offers unique challenges. Raising the consciousness of existing problems is a challenge of its own magnitude. Not everyone weighs the cost on the environment of his/her car-buying decision, and often the allure of a powerful, sexy, or large vehicle means more to the buyer than any potential harm to the environment. Creating a balance between cleaning up mankind's pollution and preventing damage initially are two current environmental challenges -- and cars figure largely in both.
Man's Effect on Environment
Cars are major contributors to air pollution and climatic problems. It's no secret that car combustion impacts the environment. Carbon dioxide emissions are believed to measurably affect the climate and automobiles cause 30 percent of these emissions in the atmosphere. So that consumers can make more informed decisions, automakers now reveal environmental specifications, including emissions certification, on the showroom sticker (Monroney) provided on all new vehicles, allowing car buyers to decide how environmentally conscious they choose to be.
How Fossil Fuels Impact the Earth
The fossil fuels that are used to power traditional cars create a large percentage of greenhouse gases that suspected to be altering worldwide climate. They contribute to air pollution, as well as play into major human respiratory problems associated with cancer, asthma, emphysema, and other ailments. Greenhouse gas refers to both CO2 and carbon monoxide, both of which damage the atmosphere by allowing infrared rays to permeate the earth, killing some vegetation and affecting marine life. Each gallon of conventional gasoline burned emits 22 pounds of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Seventy-six percent of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere comes from cars. CO prevents the human blood stream's ability to carry oxygen to the brain, the heart, and throughout the body. Nitrogen oxide is another toxic gas that contributes to smog, dirtying city air, causing breathing problems, and irritating eyes. Chemicals called CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) from auto air conditioners in earlier car models harm the environment, even in small doses, and more are released during the disposal of cars. Tires present another disposal problem.
Looking for Alternatives That Are Kind to Nature
By converting chemical energy to electrical power -- like the option offered in hydrogen fuel cells - greenhouse gases will start to have less of an impact on the earth's environment. Natural sources of energy, like solar or wind power, are becoming more popular and are healthier for humans and the environment. Even the government and big business have recognized the importance of fuel cells and other more earth-friendly technologies, and gradually clean-environment advancements are being made. These and other activities go a long way toward encouraging consumers to think green.
Wendy Clem is a Michigan-based writer/photographer providing material for newspapers, magazines and online--locally, regionally and nationally. Her syndicated auto column for Avanti NewsFeatures appeared in 400 national markets, and her online how-to articles serve an international audience. Wendy holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in journalism from Detroit's Wayne State University.
|
|
Subscribe to Green Car Journal Now!
|
|
Sponsored Links
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
