October 15th is quickly becoming a popular date among bloggers all over the world. Why? Because it’s Blog Action Day, the one day when thousands of blogs join forces and write a post about the same topic, in order to raise awareness about a certain situation and encourage global debate about it. The first Blog Action Day, back in 2007, was about the environment; last year we wrote about poverty; and today the topic is climate change.
Unsurprisingly, technology bears much of the blame for climate change: gadgets that are permanently plugged – even when not in use, TV sets and stereos left on standby, computers running 24/7, oh and those airplanes… All these elements not only swell our electricity bill, but also mean an important waste of energy. But is there a way to use technology and software in a more environmental-friendly way? Fortunately the answer is yes! Pay attention to these easy tips and learn how to do your bit to fight climate change:
1. First of all, be informed. If you want to learn more about climate change, what possible impact it could have on our planet and how we can soften it, use Google Earth. There’s a section in the Google Earth website with information about the UN climate conference in Copenhagen, and a Google Earth layer to track the influence of climate change on Earth.
2. Second, analyze the situation. How much are you contributing to climate change? Do you really care about environment in your daily life? Use a carbon calculator to determine your carbon footprint – that is, the amount of CO2 you produce – and learn tricks to lower this value.
3. Third, take action. Use programs like Edison to optimize energy saving configuration settings in your computer. You will not only save money on your electricity bill, but also save energy and use resources in a more responsible and environmental-friendly way.
