| 4. Pollution from Airplanes Airplanes are | | | | oil, or run on coal. In most houses, coal is |
| indispensable to today's society. Businessmen | | | | used for electricity because it is the |
| fly across the country on a daily basis to | | | | cheapest and most abundant resource. To |
| meet the demand of industry. In less than 24 | | | | assist with this problem, architects will |
| hours, you can fly across the circumference | | | | have to start using materials that can reduce |
| of the planet traveling from the US to China. | | | | the consumption of fuels by making them |
| So how can you possibly blame these amazing | | | | better ventilated or better at holding in |
| gravity defying machines of global warming? | | | | heat. Government regulators must pass laws |
| 10% of the green house gas emissions come | | | | forcing contractors to follow stricter |
| from airplanes. You might be going to a | | | | guidelines when building homes to reduce |
| vacation or to a business meeting but those | | | | energy consumption. Finally, individuals can |
| airplanes you travel on are releasing their | | | | reduce the amount of frivolous energy they |
| pollution directly into the air they fly in. | | | | use on a daily basis. 6. Methane Stored in |
| According to the Christian Science Monitor, | | | | Water and Ice With the increase in |
| during the 3 days after 9/11, there was a | | | | temperature, a fear of methane being released |
| difference of 4°F in the average highs and | | | | into the air arises. Methane is approximately |
| lows compared to other days. What caused this | | | | 60 times stronger than carbon dioxide as a |
| change? It is believed that the contrails of | | | | green house gas. According to scientists, in |
| the air crafts are the cause of this. | | | | the past, a rapid release of methane has led |
| Following 9/11, all airplanes were grounded. | | | | to immense heating of the earth. In the past, |
| This allowed scientists to see the difference | | | | when the earth's temperature rose to a |
| in the temperatures with contrails in the sky | | | | certain level, such as 8 degrees above |
| and without them. Although airplanes do | | | | normal, the earth's temperature then |
| pollute the sky, they accidentally reflect | | | | increased an additional 14 degrees. Methane |
| some sunlight. 5. Pollution from Buildings | | | | is stored in the earths oceans and is |
| Although many believe those large SUV's and | | | | released when the temperature increases and |
| Airplanes are the cause for all the commotion | | | | pressure reduces. Also, methane can be found |
| going on about global warming, the houses we | | | | in ice. When ice melts, methane stored in the |
| live in may be a larger contributor. Unlike | | | | ice is released. Scientists fear that if the |
| cars and airplanes, homes have a long | | | | earth reaches a certain temperature, it would |
| lifespan of 50- 100 years meaning that | | | | be impossible to turn back and prevent a |
| changes in this area may be difficult to | | | | massive increase in temperature. |
| accomplish. Houses are mainly built to burn | | | | |