solving climate change
By smuggeridge
@smuggeridge (2148)
January 10, 2007 6:16pm CST
we keep on hearing about the problem of climate change at the moment, and it is quite clearly a major problem that we all need to do something about. But lets be realistic, were not about to stop driving or flying or watching TV or using our computers so what exactly can we do to help solve climate change?
One idea i've had for years, and even sent an e-mail to tony blair about (never got a reply :( ) was to have solar panels on the roof of every new house or building. This is a perfectly sensible idea because the government simply have to make it the law to incorportae solar panels when building a house, it will cost a large building company relatively little (as they will be able to buy) and would cut down on electricity bills for the people who buy the house so they may even be willing to pay a little more.
What other ways could we save the environment?, baring in mind that it would have to be an economically realistic option as well as environmentally friendly
Together we can solve this problem
9 people like this
31 responses
@Chapman15 (1492)
• United States
11 Jan 07
It seems like the technology in electric cars is finally starting to pick up! As soon as they become affordable to most the hybrids will undoubtedly attract more buyers, because they get so many miles to the gallon... Especially with gas prices doubling every year or two!
1 person likes this
@smuggeridge (2148)
•
11 Jan 07
Good point, it finally seems like the oil companies aren't getting it all their own way. Of course this is all slightly irrelevant if we don't change the way we produce electricity because at the moment 90%+ is produced from fossil fuels so in the long run you would still be causing GHG emissions, but if we can start developing more wind, solar, hydroelectrical, wave and tidal power then this is definately the way forward until hydrogen powered cars are released
1 person likes this
@smuggeridge (2148)
•
11 Jan 07
i'm sad to hear that, maybe i'm just young and idealistic but i like to believe that we could still solve the problems of climate change if we can just convince people to work together. Today the EU announced new plans to reduce GHG emissions by 20% by 2020, so at least that is a start
2 people like this
@Chapman15 (1492)
• United States
11 Jan 07
Hmmm, I'd buy what your selling double! All in all I doubt we can save the enviornment
A) Very few people care, I mean do you see how much garbage is everywhere!
B) If animals are going extinct or extremely endangered at an alarming rate, isn't that a sign that we've used too much!
C) I'm currently living in LA and have been to places like Mexico City, China, etc. and all of them have one thing in common. Tons of smog! Seeing large gross polluting places like this gives me little hope that there is going to be any slowing of the destruction of our enviornment!
1 person likes this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
11 Jan 07
The problem with putting solar panels on the roofs of buildings is that solar panels are actually quite expensive to make relative to how much energy they produce. Did you know that most solar cells never even over the course of their useful life produce as much energy as it took to make them? Wow! Even if they did, how much political power do you think the electric company would bring to bear to prevent this? I'm not surprised you have not heard back from Tony Blair.
1 person likes this
@smuggeridge (2148)
•
11 Jan 07
a common miss conception there. If you were to simply produce 1 solar panel it would take more elctricity to make than it produces, however you don't generally make 1 solar panel, yhou make thousands. 2 Solar panels on the roof of an average house would produce more than enough electricity to heat the house in summer and cover about 60% of the required amount in winter (this will change depending where you live). Im not saying solar panels will completely replace oil or coal, nut every little helps
2 people like this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
11 Jan 07
I would very much be interested in reading more about the solar cells you mention that are produced so efficiently that they produce more energy than it takes to make them. Could you provide a link or reference. Thank-you very much. I am always willing to learn.
1 person likes this
@nuffsed (1271)
•
11 Jan 07
Total difference..Solar cells, and solar panels.
Solar panels heat water and are very cheap to produce.
Solar cells produce electricity and are fairly expensive to produce.
Geothermal energy, remains largely untapped. Wave power is a huge resource for UK and can also halt coastal erosion.
The fossil fuel companies will do all in their power to extend the profitability of their industry, even at the expence of life on Earth. Just ask the shareholders. lol
@emisle (3822)
• Ireland
11 Jan 07
I know that the solar panels that are designed for houses are quite expensive. They are supposed to repay their cost in a few years with the savings on the elec bill, but than you will get the annoying people who say they look ugly, and will object and so on.
My dad recently built houses and i asked him would he ever use solar panels and he said he wouldn't bother, though if you bear in mind that he plans to retire in a few years time and doesn't want to spend the extra money, it's understandable.
We need to com up with a permanent environmentally friendly replacement for oil, stop chopping down forest, wiping out animals...the world was doing fine until man came along!
1 person likes this
@Xeedar (255)
• Italy
11 Jan 07
Uhm....good idea lone, but just to reduce pollution. And no governement will never accept it, as the world powers gains money on selling energy, autoproducted energy could be their end.
About the global heating, we can't just do anything. Global heating is just in a minimum part a human fault, we're in an interglacial period...the climate will just continue heating up, until it reaches a peak...then it will start to get colder and colder, until next glaciation. It's the natural course of the things. We are just passengers on this planet, don't thing to be so important to change the things.
1 person likes this
@smuggeridge (2148)
•
11 Jan 07
I was a cynic of the actual human effect of global warming until i did a geography module on climate change last year. I have determined by looking at evidence both for and against global warming that we are having an unnatural effect upon the climate. It is currently warming at a greater rate than any time in the last 1 million years, this is not natural change for the earth it is very un-natural. How the earth will react is an impossible question to answer, but surely it is our responsibility to ensure that the only global warming that occurs is natural and not the creation of humans
2 people like this
@Xeedar (255)
• Italy
12 Jan 07
We have global warming registrations just since the '70, and before that we have just a general idea of it changed, so there's no way to check if it changed more than how it changed in the last million years.
Did you do that module at university, it sounds so strange to me...did they let you check documents about that? I'm really interested.
For sure we are giving a hand to let the climate change faster than the normal...but I can assure you, it's just a little hand.
The real problem we are creating is pollution and forests distruction, not global warming, if not in little part.
@4rC_4nG3L (132)
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11 Jan 07
yeh but solar panels you always need sunlight, besides in scotland (where i live) they say that its another mild winter, but funnily enough, its only reaching 5 degrees and goes down to -3 at night, so explain how thats warmer!!
@smuggeridge (2148)
•
11 Jan 07
how much snow have you seen this year? Its definately been warm down here in Cardiff, barely dropped below 10oC. Solar panels only need brightness to create electricity, so even on a cold winter day it will create some electricity (unless we have more of that damned fog), i'm not suggesting that solar panels can replace regular electricty but if every house had solar panels to heat water then it would reduce the amount of elctricity needed to produced from oil, gas or coal
@Kayzzaman (173)
• India
11 Jan 07
Climate change is not just a problem of technicality, it is mainly a problem of human morality. Moral degradation is the crux of the problem of ecological and environmental disaster all over the world. It is indicative of disparity, disparity in all walks of society. Capitalistic mode of production has created a rat race for human lust and greed.This lust and greed has paved the way for over-production, unnecessary production and consumption, loss of natural resources, garbage dumping etc - all these contributed to the apocalyptical change in social and natural world. We all can shout to the roof to solve the problem. But it happens to be going down the drain as long this inhumane social world-order prevails and perpetrates its wrongs in overwhelming dimensions. The only way to check this flux is to dismantle this rotten world-order with a view to create a better world to live in. Otherwise, it will be nothing but beating about the bush.
@smuggeridge (2148)
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11 Jan 07
what do you suggest? revolution? is there no way that we can fix this problem, not even through new technologies and new incentives?
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
11 Jan 07
I have been able to cut down my driving by working at home. I can't see spending thousands of dollars to change the home I live in now. So, when I build my new home in a few years, I will incorporate as many energy efficient systems into it as I can. Maybe by then, there will be some more economical choices.
@smuggeridge (2148)
•
11 Jan 07
thats a good view to take, if we all aim to change a bit then it could make a big difference
@sandy70 (26)
• India
11 Jan 07
Solar panel is a really good idea.It is quite achievable too even for cars.The problem is funding or diverting some serious funds and brainpower into research.This will not happen because the world's economy is oil driven and George Bush is the president of US.
@JellyBeans (639)
• Canada
11 Jan 07
Solar Panels will cost millions of dollars if we put them on all houses. By the way i think that all we gotta do is cut down on all the computers and electrical devices. Just use them less then you are currently using, let's say you watch TV for 5 hours a day. Cut it and instead watch 2-3 hours. Even less would be better. This will also stop lazyness. The best thing to do right now is to just cut down on everything. Turn off all the lights when leaving the house and such.
@pittan (156)
• United Kingdom
6 Nov 07
I belief that we can save the environment just by doing little things around the home like switching off lights, turning off appliances that are on standby, walk to the shop or supermarket if it is less than a mile etc. Collectively this can have a significant effect.
@solarrental (3)
• United States
26 Sep 07
Smuggeridge-
I totally agree and thats why I started working with a company that can put Solar Panels on exisiting homes with no upfront "HUGE" investment. Every homeowner in the USA can look into this program and can have clean-Solar Power on their home. This is affordable by every homeowner-- not just the rich or elite. Do your part and become part of the Solution. ReThink Solar Power today!
@chimex4real2k2 (1853)
• Nigeria
11 Jan 07
we are fast becoming an urban world and so cities must play a pivotal role in leading on climate change action if we are to combat this problem. We will not be able to solve climate change without cities taking a central role. The cities have already started down the road towards a low carbon economy. We hope that by sharing information on best practice and how actually to implement it, we will galvanise others to follow. The solution to climate change lies in the cities of the world.
@shyam4uall (1002)
• India
11 Jan 07
Yeah we have been using solar panels from 2000 ..and we really have maintained to cutdown the electricity bills.We have both these source of electricity..But I don't know how it will solve the problem of climate change..I think climatic changes are due to some atmospheric gases greater in concentration than normal..such as carbon dioxide,sulphur dioxide,nitrogen etc.So I think the construction of building over the land which was active water source before should be banned..as water cycle helps to maintian an optimum temeperature and also controls the climate over the region..So we should not allow such construction which are done by sacrificing water lands..
@vinod4net (628)
• India
11 Jan 07
Its the biggest problem that this planet is facing today and it will aggreviate further as time passes by. Its need to be taken care of at the earliest, but every developed country has taken a blind eye to this problem, even global warming too havent been taken seriously till now. Always remember when nature strikes back there will not be any survivor on this planet, so its better we should respect and obey nature
@robinjoseph80 (142)
• India
11 Jan 07
in every situation we can adjust.But in every time want to take some good remedies.With solar panels we can make buildings and all.It is correct. we can reduce our electricity bill.
@BlaKy2 (1475)
• Romania
11 Jan 07
The problem of climate change is going to be bigger in the near future and only then, when is too late, all the people will look at it. We all like ot travel by cars, to drive, to smoke, even to drink cola! All these are negative things for the nature and will see them later...Earth is beautifull too bad is populated..someone said
@sagelilly (8)
• United States
11 Jan 07
There is a great website that you can view that deals with what options are available to curb global warming and the reality that we face .... www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net ...It seems to be very well put together and very informative, but at the same time eerily eye-opening in just how much the world depends on oil. I think that right now the building industry in a few key areas is looking for "greener" developing opportunities, and for the most part are doing the little they can to ensure that those opporunities are exploited.
