Protecting The Environment Is A Serious Issue Articles | Environment

By: Rolf Rasmusson

A day doesn't pass without comments about our environment. In fact being a little older myself I can remember that not many years ago you would hardly ever hear about the major challenges that we are continuously building up. Today we are confronted with some very serious issues regarding our environment.

The issues related to the air we breath and water we drink are huge. Only a very small portion of our natural water resources are even left unpolluted. This issue is a major problem. Learning to deal with our rapidly changing surroundings warrants a serious effort but we yet aren't totally convinced about these issues.

The air we breath, water we drink and all the things around those resources we benefit from are in serious trouble.. Whether it be aesthetic or physical our entire lives are encompassed by the impact from our natural resources. Filthy water, difficult living conditions, dirty air, unhealthy vegetation, smoke, oil and hundreds of other polluting items just simply add on to the problem.

Much effort is being expended in developing green stuff. Items that are unique and innovative that will make life better and help our surroundings at the same time. Improving our lives with products that are green, sustainable, recycled, organic and energy efficient qualify and are widely available.

One simple and yet interesting example:

A 100 watt compact fluorescent bulb costs about $4 vs. 25 cents for a regular bulb; but uses only 23% of the electricity. Based on an electricity rate of $.08/kWh and three hours of usage per day, you will save $6.75 per year on your electrical bill. That is an investment return of 180%.

How it helps the environment: A single compact fluorescent bulb reduces greenhouse gas by over half a ton during its useful life. Multiply that by the number of bulbs in your house and you get the picture!

Additionally, compact fluorescents last up to 13 times longer than incandescent bulbs.Your electricity rate and usage level will affect your return but for almost anyone; it makes financial sense to replace the majority of your light bulbs immediately with compact fluorescents.

Fun green stuff lends itself to entertainment, fashion, food and drink, home, personal care, transportation and travel. So, as you can see there are many area's where our thoughtful efforts can yield big benefits in the environment.