Enviroment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Enviroment - Research Paper Example There are varying sources of carbon dioxide especially the quantities found in the earth’s atmosphere. For example, environmentalists put the number at about 391 ppm (parts per million). Similarly, there is volcanic gassing, burning of fuels, combustion of organic matter and power generation that result to the excessive release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (Kemp 145). Other sources of carbon dioxide are cited as natural especially the decomposition of organic matter found in the grasslands and the forests. There is also notable emission of the gas into the environment from the respiration existing aerobic organisms. There are several effects of carbon dioxide in the environment in respect to the health of human beings and the immediate environment. For instance, in terms of positive effects, there are plant growths especially during the photosynthesis and transpiration processes. However, the negative effects supersede the positive such as the increase of the earth temperature. This eventually leads to global warming that finally leads to acidic rain. In other words, there is a mix of rainfall of carbon dioxide that comes in form of smoke from burning charcoal. On that account, the acidic rain affects crops by depositing acids especially in the oceans when it ends up poisoning sea creatures (McMichael & World Health Organization 145). In other words, the carbonic acid also affects crops by burning their leaves leaving traces of elements such as zinc and lead. The increase in earth temperatures also results to the warming of water bodies such as lakes, seas and rivers hence affecting creatures t hat have a direct dependence on water bodies. In the same view, there are also anthropogenic health risks of carbon dioxide that are paramount apart from the environmental effects. These are the human impacts of the gas upon the biophysical environments and other biodiversity resources.

Carbon Footprint Auditing and Management Assignment

Carbon Footprint Auditing and Management - Assignment Example According to the Intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC), over the next century the earth will experience an average increase of 3.0 to 11 degrees Fahrenheit. This revelation, alongside other credible projections, call for consolidated efforts in mitigating global warming and climate change, adopting necessary remedial measures, and coping strategies, especially for the poor societies (Mark, 2005:173). A recent estimation by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) indicates that households account a well over 30% of the carbon emissions in to the atmosphere every single day. It is against this background that putting measures in place to curb carbon emissions at the individual and house hold level is critical to all members of the society. Through the various energy usages in the house, the annual average carbon footprints stand at 5.89 tons of carbon. This is way above the national average of 4.46 tons per household. In simple terms, my operations at the house hav e resulted to the emission of these tones of carbon, into the atmosphere every year. With the recognition that carbon compounds, especially carbon oxides, are leading causes of the green house effect and the resultant global warming, this is an alarming rate of carbon emission, resulting from a single person. 1.2 Diagnostic Base-line Energy usage for the various activities in the house is the greatest carbon footprint source. Although the house uses electricity, which does not directly contribute to carbon emissions, it indirectly contributes to carbon emission. This occurs during the production of electricity at the power plant. The turbines that produce the electric power run on diesel generators, where as the distribution, step up and step down functions, are all depended on carbon producing fossil fuels. Therefore, any use of electric energy in the house contributes to carbon emissions in a significant direct and indirect manner (Charles, 2011: 45). After a careful analysis of t he processes and activities that dominate my carbon footprints, energy usage within the house is the leading activity, with conservation and efficiency measures lagging behind. In everyday, routine operation, revolving around cooking, ironing, electronics, and lighting have a profound effect on the amount of energy that the I spend in the house. Further, routine use of electric powered gadgets like the blower, the lawn mowers, and the washing machine also contribute to the high energy figures at the end of the month. This is made even higher by the heating of the house during the cold seasons, and the use of power to run the cooling systems during the hot weather days (Sarah, 2008: 39). Since all these energy-uses are pertinent, the focus turns to efficiency, conservation and green energy technologies, to contain the energy usages, and reduce carbon footprints. The first step will was to change the lighting system in my house, since all the bulbs in place utilize a lot of energy. Al so,