Tag Archives: green energy

Ways to Help Fight Climate Change

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Written by: Brady Brooks

Edited by: Ali Niefield

 

Grab a group of your friends and go out and explore the horizon of your environment. Feel the thickness in the air and the scarcity of wildlife. After that, notice the beauty and wonder of our planet that still shines. We are at dire straights here but the time is not too late. Our planet is still breathing but her lungs are weak . If we can come together as a state and work to spread awareness then this issue will be more fluid in conversations throughout the country. This brings me to the first and possibly most useful way to help fight climate change: spread awareness.

Building Awareness

Fully accepting the problem is the first step in solving it. The positive of this situation is that the amount of people that believe in climate change is increasing. The difficulty of this conversation is that there isn’t much entertainment or fire behind it. If you notice during the political discourse in our society the environment is rarely talked unless it’s something that’s extreme like the recent Texas blizzard. Hopefully this problem will become more of a focal point in the political discussions than what is it is right now.

 

 

Promote clean energy

Personally, switching over to clean energy will not only help your paybook but help promote an eco-friendlier lifestyle. This situation is difficult though because so much of our economy is already based in the oil market. However, there are always ways to help fight this problem and it doesn’t have to by buying an electric car. Weatherizing your home is helpful in this spring and fall time to save some money on the energy bill and help save the planet. Switching over to solar energy and limiting the amount of water use will help exponentially as well.

 

Planting Trees

Earth essentially has two much carbon emissions in the atmosphere caused the burning of fossil fuels that’s affecting the ozone layer. Planting trees will help the wildlife as well help diminish the carbon emission problem. Trees are vitally important for the planet’s oxygen to help keep its balance and equilibrium.

Why You Should Care About Texas Carbon Emissions

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Why You Should Care About Texas Carbon Emissions

By: Ali N, Brady B, Brianna C, Caitlyn G, Taylor A

The state of Texas uses a total of 707 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. This number is quite disturbing for various reasons. Not only do we lead the country in carbon emissions, but we also lead by a wide margin. The second most amount of carbon emissions is in the state of California with a total of 359. Keep in mind too that California has a little over 39 million people that live in their state and Texas has 29 million. https://www.eia.gov/state/rankings/?sid=TX#/series/101

This statistic shouldn’t be discouraging but rather motivating because it makes it exceedingly clear that we need to transition our energy use. This is a problem that we can solve together as a unified state. Texas has strong pride and we just need to find a way to use that attitude for a positive outcome. Our campaign is focused on providing clear and evidential facts on the details of climate change.

Another mind-blowing statistic is that Texas has a total energy production of 20,421 trillion btu. The second most in the country is Pennsylvania at 8,987 trillion btu. Let’s really take some time to digest this information and think about why this isn’t talked about. The total energy production and carbon emissions in Texas are literally in a category of their own. This problem is significant but going green can greatly assist in slowing down carbon emissions.  https://www.eia.gov/state/rankings/?sid=TX#/series/101

The reason this information is kept quiet is because fossil fuels is the backbone of the Texas Economy. Whenever money is involved the truth seems to be less significant. Let’s do our best to challenge the fossil fuel industry with facts and peacefully combat their disinformation.Texas is unfortunately a massive threat to the environment and it’s incredibly important for people to be informed of the truth. The first step in solving a problem is recognizing it.

 

It’s The Little Green Things

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3 little ways to start your green journey

By: Brianna Cruz

Edited By: Caitlyn Gonzales

Want to end climate change, but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry we have all been there too. It may seem like anything one single person does will not be enough to fix the condition our planet is in, but thankfully that isn’t true. It takes one person to want to make an impact, in order for more to follow! Going green is contagious. Thank you for making the planet a priority and thank you for including Go Green Go in your journey. We all appreciate the support.

So, you want to make a change, but don’t know where to start. No problem! I’m here to give you the best and easiest options to start at. Going green may seem like more work or a chore, but it’s actually so fun! Let’s get started on some these options, so that you can have as much fun as we do!

Ditch your ride:

Yes, the vehicle. You absolutely can do it! If you live in a city this will be a bit easier for you. Bust that old rusty bike out, air up those tires, and go green! I began using my vehicle less by riding my bike to the grocery store (can be anywhere). If you live alone or have a small family this is totally doable. Not to mention a good little sweat and calories burned! If you do not have a bike, don’t worry, there’s more options below.

Or you can rent a MetroBike on the CapMetro app. There’s 75 bike stations spread throughout Austin! The bike rental lasts 1 hour and anytime after that is $4/30 min. If you like your rental experience you can purchase a membership For an even bigger incentive… students receive a DISCOUNT! Check out more information on https://www.capmetro.org/metrobike

Here is a list of tips for your first CLEAN grocery run:

  • Air up your tires
  • Take backpack
  • Wear helmet
  • Wear comfortable shoes/clothing
  • Only buy what you need!
  • Take a pic and tag @GoGreenGo10 on Twitter!
Remember Recycling:

I promise it gets easy with practice. There is nothing better than having a full recycling bin and a partially empty trash bin on trash days. The first thing you need to know prior to becoming a recycle enthusiast. There’s a small triangular recycle symbol on the bottom of plastic containers with a #, 1-6 are recyclable! If they have any # higher than 6, then they can’t be recycled (boo). It was helpful for me to get my whole family on the same page, so communicate! Show the fam the brand new recycling bin they should place recyclables in and educate them over which plastics can be tossed in the bin. Before you know it, your family will be excited to toss something in the recycle bin (yay).

Beginner’s Tips

  • Buy a separate bin to store recyclables inside your home
  • Try and buy only recyclable plastic items!
  • Rinse all items out before recycling
  • Take a pic and tag @GoGreenGo on Twitter!
Excessive Electricity:

I am absolutely guilty of walking around my home, broad daylight, with every light on in my home (smh). But no more! I have been refraining from flicking any light switch, from the moment I wake up (6a) to sunset. Open those blinds and draw your curtains = enjoy the sun’s beautiful natural light! Your plants will also appreciate the sun’s rays hitting them all day. Even your wallet will appreciate the change lol. It may be hard to knock the habit during the first transitioning week, but with some effort + reminders, it will be a habit that sticks.

Tips:

  • place sticky notes next to every light switch in your home (DON’T USE)
  • set an alert on your phone for 7a (DON’T USE LIGHTS)
  • remind all family members
  • compare electricity bill to previous!

Now, I wish you all the very best start to your GoGreenGo journey! Just keep reminding yourself that it’s the little green things, that make the big green difference. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @GoGreenGo for more info and thanks for reading!

 

Green Texas

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The Need for Texas to Switch to Green Energy

By: Brady Brooks

Green Texas? sounds like an oxymoron doesn’t it… The state that prides itself on oil fields, cowboy boots, ranches and hating liberals needs to take a progressive approach, how shameful! The fact of the matter though is that the necessity of this transformation is more crucial than it’s ever been before. We are at a point where the repercussions of burning fossil fuels will be irreversible for our environment. The state that is notorious for it’s oil economy needs to transition to renewable energy now and here is why:

Climate Change

When fossil fuels are burned they release large quantities of carbon dioxide into the air. These carbon emissions then trap heat into our atmosphere resulting in global warming. This predicament with the fossil fuel industry is more vital than it’s ever been before. The economy of Texas is based off of oil and natural gas and this is why it’s essential for us to challenge these traditions.

Recent Snow Storm

Texas just experienced a disastrous blizzard that put thousands of citizens out of water and electricity. This was an horrendous experience for Texas as a whole but luckily it made the issue of climate change more of a discussion. The power outages that happened throughout the state were a direct result of Texas being too reliant on fossil fuels. About 88 percent of the energy in Texas is powered by fossil fuels and that energy proved to be unsustainable.

Ways to help

  • Power your home with a utility company that mostly uses wind and solar energy
  • Pull the plug on technology devices when they are not being used
  • Limit the water usage! take shorter showers and for God’s sake turn off the sink water when your brushing your teeth (I know it’s difficult to remember sometimes)
  • Try to limit how much you use air-conditioning. Weatherizing your home can help profoundly
  • Invest in energy-efficient appliances
  • Limit food waste!
  • Use energy-efficient vehicles and it doesn’t have to be a Tesla because a Prius is just as fabulous.

The most important thing we can do as a state is to vocalize these issues and peacefully protest the fossil fuel industry. With the power of social media and other communication platforms we can unite in this fight together. There’s power in numbers and the more people that challenge this tradition the more effective the movement will be. It’s a problem that has been going on for way too long and its our time to stop it.

 

Resources:

https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/

https://www.globalchange.gov/climate-change

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/17/us/winter-storm-weather-live