“Global warming.” This environmental phenomenon’s a pretty big deal, right? I feel like everyone recognizes the term “global warming,” but no one really understands its implications for the Earth we all live on.
Everyday the atmosphere regulates the temperature of the Earth. This natural process, commonly referred to as the “greenhouse effect,” involves the capture of solar energy by greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases consist of molecules with the ability to absorb infrared radiation from the sun.
Carbon dioxide, methane, and other molecules containing more than two atoms serve as greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Without this natural effect in place, the temperature of the Earth would be approximately 60 degrees lower than it is today.
I know what you’re thinking: if the greenhouse gas effect serves as an essential process for regulating the Earth’s temperature, why do people express so much concern about global warming?
Global warming gained popularity because of the noticeable increase in greenhouse gases. The rather rapid increase in greenhouse emissions due to human activity now accompany the carbon dioxide, methane, and other oxides that occur naturally in the environment. Every time we drive our cars or heat our buildings, we release these harmful gases into the air.
The more molecules in the air, the greater the absorption of infrared radiation, and thus, the increased temperatures we experience on the Earth. These higher temperatures melt the polar ice caps, raise the water levels of the oceans around the globe, and pose a serious threat to the natural ecosystems currently in place.
We cannot completely reverse the effects of our greenhouse emissions, but we can definitely reduce them.
The topic of sustainability definitely concerns renewable resources and energy conservation. The rising costs of electricity and fossil fuels motivate the recent research and interest in these areas.
To emphasize the environmental and financial drain on resources in our own community, I researched Penn State’s greenhouse emissions.
In 2008, the Penn State campuses collectively emitted 599,824 Metric Tonne Carbon Dioxide Equivalents (mtCO2e). Not exactly sure what that means? Neither did I. The wonderfully informative site green.psu.edu clarified this large number. According to the website, 599,824 mtCO2es are equivalent to CO2 emissions from the combustion of 1,394,940 barrels of oil. Keep in mind that Penn State comprises just one of many Universities nationwide that depend on energy to house, feed, and provide high-caliber educational facilities for its student body.
Unfortunately, Penn State continues to renovate and construct larger and better-equipped facilities that require additional energy. So how will the campus combat these necessary evils? Like many other corporations and universities nationwide, Penn State recognized its large amount of energy consumption and instituted serious measures to reduce it.
Right now, renewable resources supply 20% of the University’s energy. This percentage exceeds the national average of 7%. The University also designed and installed a natural gas combustion turbine with a heat recovery steam boiler at the East Campus Steam Plant within the last five years. The gas-powered turbine co-generates seven megawatts of electricity and 100,000 pounds of steam per hour. This project generates an amount of energy equivalent to the electricity used by 5,110 homes in a year. And aside from truly tangible measures, the University continues to educate the student body and faculty on reducing individual carbon footprints.
Does the University implement a productive means of reducing energy? Yes. Are there more ways to do so? Absolutely. This University only addresses a fraction of the ways to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
The combustion of these greenhouse gases definitely contribute to theory of global warming. However, this much debated topic arouses a great deal of controversy. Researchers identify the damage of greenhouse gases to the ozone, yet recognize that a great deal of other factors play a role in climate change and temperature regulation.
Only time will tell us the fate of the Earth as we know it, but in the meantime we should all take considerable measures to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gases. Such environmentally-friendly practices protect our Earth as well as our individual health. As the Earth changes, we need to continue to adapt and improve our standards of living so that we can sustain ourselves for many years to come.
Global warming? Perhaps. A global problem? Definitely.
Get involved, advocate, and educate. This is our world, our community, and our home.