The sole purpose of this chapter is to ask students to: Be aware. Be mindful. Know your facts. For YOU. Not for us. This chapter, as any other, prompts you to think about your individual lives and situations taking the facts and information and applying it as you see best fit.

WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS? It is one’s awareness and engagement of the upkeep of environmental quality It includes one’s access to clean air, nutritious food, sanitary water and adequate clothing (so, “simple” decisions, like where you want to live one day…?) Globally speaking, it includes opportunities you take when opening your mind to ways to do your part in helping solve the climate crisis

DEFINED: meeting basic environmental, economic, and social needs NOW and IN THE FUTURE without undermining the natural systems upon which life depends. Challenge = to prevent or mitigate the negative consequences that can come with growth, while ensuring continual Improvement in environmental quality, human health protection, and the global standard of living. We know that environmental problems extend across geographic regions and time frames, and need proactive solutions. Source: U. S. EPA’s Sustainable Environments Research Program. SUSTAINABILITY

WHAT IS A CARBON FOOTPRINT? = the total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). Your carbon footprint is the sum of all emissions of CO2 (carbon dioxide), which were induced by your activities in a given time frame. (Usually a carbon footprint is calculated for the time period of a year.)

WHAT IS A CARBON FOOTPRINT? drive a car When you drive a car = engine burns fuel which creates a certain amount of CO2, depending on its fuel consumption and the driving distance. When you heat your house with oil, gas or coal = you also generate CO2. Even if you heat your house with electricity = the generation of the electrical power may also have emitted a certain amount of CO2. When you buy food and goods, the production of the food and goods also emitted some quantities of CO2. (Ex. Plastics made of fossil fuels)

WHAT IS A CARBON FOOTPRINT?

WHAT ARE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS? They are gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere Some greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide occur naturally and are emitted to the atmosphere through natural processes and human activities. Source: U.S. EPA

WHAT ARE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS? Other greenhouse gases (e.g., fluorinated gases) are created and emitted solely through human activities. The principal greenhouse gases that enter the atmosphere because of human activities are: 1. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) = enters the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), solid waste, trees and wood products, and also as a result of other chemical reactions (e.g., manufacture of cement). CO2 is also removed from the atmosphere when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle. Source: U.S. EPA

WHAT ARE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS? 2. Methane (CH4) = is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock and other agricultural practices and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills. 3. Nitrous Oxide (NO2) = is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste. 4. Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride = synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a variety of industrial processes. Fluorinated gases are sometimes used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (i.e., CFCs, HCFCs, and halons). These gases are typically emitted in smaller quantities, but because they are potent greenhouse gases, they are sometimes referred to as High Global Warming Potential gases (“High GWP gases”). Source: U.S. EPA

CARS ENERGY- CARS & FUEL It is a fact- concentrations of GHG’s are trapping more of the sun’s energy in the Earth’s atmosphere causing global climate change biggest impact Your choice of vehicle has the biggest impact on your carbon footprint (fuel economy) I gal of gasoline = 20 pounds of CO2 (avg vehicle emits 6.7 tons of CO2 per year) Be aware. Be mindful. Know your facts.

CARS ENERGY- CARS & FUEL

(THE primary reason for speed limits) Fuel economy and driving speeds: (THE primary reason for speed limits)

Be aware. Be mindful. Know your facts. ENERGY and ENERGY STAR (1992) U.S. EPA introduced Energy Star as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce GHG emissions through energy efficiency Products that have earned the Energy Star designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the U.S. government (2006 alone) Energy Star helped Americans save about $14 BILLION on their energy bills + helping protect the environment through GHG emissions = to those of 25 MILLION vehicles 1 vehicle emits Remember: 1 vehicle emits = 6.7 tons of CO2 per year (then multiply 1 Million Cars…)

ENERGY and ENERGY STAR: TELEVISIONS (November 2008) Energy Star announced a revised Energy Star specification for TVs ALL TVs sold in the U.S. will meet the Energy Star requirements AND are up to 30% more efficient than conventional models + will save energy while they are on AND when they are off Savings in energy costs = $1 BILLION annually and GHG emissions by the equivalent of about one million cars Remember: 1 vehicle emits = 6.7 tons of CO2 per year (then multiply 1 Million Cars…)