World View of Global Warming

Get on a plane, and carbon emissions aren't the only environmental problem to think about. Aviation fuel is the largest source of lead emissions, and Friends of the Earth is calling on the EPA to get it under control. The EPA identified at least 16 regions last month that do not meet clean air standards on airborne lead emissions, and just about every one of those regions contains an airport that allows leaded aviation fuel. Nearly 20,000 airports in the U.S. allow leaded fuel, which is said to contribute half of the nation's total lead air emissions. Marcie Keever, legal director of Friends of the Earth, which has been pushing the EPA to phase out lead from aviation since 2003, said : "The recent findings of clean air violations reinforce our concerns: Fifteen of the sixteen areas declared to have unsafe levels of lead in air are in counties that contain at least one airport where lead is emitted." ...Leaded aviation fuel is primarily used in piston en...

Image: GOOD Ever wonder how much electricity it takes to keep a single light bulb running for the year? The folks over at GOOD did, and they produced this great infographic to make the answer (alarmingly) clear. The short of it? It takes way more than you'd think. Here are a few of the more surprising revelations from the piece:

3.7 tonnes of CO2 will offset 1 Person flying from London to Sydney (Australia) and back. This can be done by planting 5 trees! 850 pounds is the same as 386.4 kgCO2 (0.3864 tonnes CO2). This is the equivalent of an average UK house’s electricity, gas, coal and oil usage for 2 weeks! Insulating your home by adding hot water tank lagging to your home’s hot water tank will save 150 kgCO2 per year. This is equivalent to a one way flight from London to Barcelona. About 10% of all electricity used in UK homes is consumed by electronic items left on standby. By switching appliances off standby 150 kgCO2 per year can be saved. A PC monitor switched off over night saves enough energy to microwave 6 dinners! Switching off the lights when not in the room saves 30 kgCO2 per year. Lighting an office overnight wastes enough energy to heat water for 1000 cups of tea! Turning down your thermostat by 1 degree can save as much as 10% off electricity bills, 300 kgCO2 per year. This is equivalent...