Climate Change & Reducing Emissions

What is Climate Change?
Climate change, or global warming is the result of a build up of greenhouse gases (GHG), chiefly carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere. GHGs serve to trap the suns heat in the earth’s atmosphere, forming the ‘greenhouse effect’ – a natural phenomena that keeps the earth warm. However, when the concentration of GHGs gets too large, and the earth’s equilibrium gets out of balance, we experience a dangerous rise in temperatures, which can result in severe and extreme weather conditions. In effect, earth’s blanket thickens and our atmosphere absorbs and holds more heat than it radiates back. This could directly affect rainfall, flooding and droughts, agriculture, economies, health and biosecurity.

Reduce Your Emissions
Reducing your emissions is a vital part of combating climate change. We encourage everyone to be aware of their energy usage and its effects, and take steps to reduce this. What remains can be offset through Carbon Free programme.

• By being more energy efficient at home, you can reduce your emissions and lower your energy bills by more than 30%.


• Adjust your air conditioner when you go out and shut down your system when you are away for extended periods.


• Turn off and unplug stereos, radios, TVs, and DVDs when you leave for holidays. These appliances have a stand-by function that uses energy even when they are turned off.


• Close doors to unused rooms trapping cooling in rooms in use.


• Consider switching to compact fluorescent lighting. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use about 75 per cent less energy than incandescent bulbs.


• Clean all of your cooling appliances, making sure they are dust free. Energy is lost when cooling units have to work harder to draw air through dirty filters. Ensuring that your air conditioner filter is clean can save 5 percent of the energy used.


• Wash your dishes manually, or ensure your dishwasher is full when you run it. Allow your dishes to air dry, by not using the heat in the drying cycle can save 20 percent of your dishwasher's total electricity use.


• Recycle glass, metals, plastics and paper.


• Plant shade trees and paint your house a light color if you live in a warm climate or a dark color if you live in a cold climate.


• Turn your refrigerator down.


• Select the most energy-efficient models when you replace your old appliances. Look for the Energy Star Label - your assurance that the product saves energy and prevents pollution.


• Slow down and drive sensibly. The faster and more aggressive you drive, the more petrol your car uses.

We, the residents of Canal Gardens, are proud to have played some small parts in helping mother earth through our monthly recycling programs and, recently, having 200 new trees planted all over Canal Gardens. Let us all do our part to reduce emissions.

Source: Plant-A-Tree-Today.Org