Green Planet and Me

Whether we want to admit or even think about it, air pollution is a real problem, one that continues to affect our environment and our lives each and every day. Although people who live in rural areas can easily forget that such a problem exists (as they do not see smog and factories on a daily basis) or remember its causes (fewer cars on the roads), air pollution is a very real issue that affects everybody. At times we simply can’t ignore air pollution. For example, when driving past a factory pumping smoke clouds high into the sky, or when standing in a traffic jam smelling the exhaust of the car in front of us, it is hard not to imagine what damage it is doing to our body.

What is air pollution?
Air pollution consists of various types of chemicals and gases being passed into our atmosphere. The main cause of this unwanted pollution is vehicles. Second to to that are industrial factories that release dirty and dangerous fumes into the atmosphere.

Why is air pollution dangerous?

1. Health reasons: air pollution has been linked to numerous types of illnesses such as strokes, heart issues and breathing problems.
2. Global warming: air pollution is responsible for global warming. This phenomena leads to the gradual but persistent increase of the temperature of our planet. It has already started affecting entire ecosystems, and unless it is stopped, it will melt the polar ice caps which will raise sea levels. This will cause flooding in coastal cities such as New York and London.
3. Ozone layer: air pollution causes the ozone layer to shrink, thus, reducing its ability to shield us from ultraviolet radiation. This not only causes skin cancer, but also damages wildlife and plants.
4. Acid rain: certain pollutants can cause rain to turn to acid rain. This has a great impact on animals, fish and plants that are soaked in it. Acid rain can also affect the ground, making the soil toxic to many animals and plants.

How can we fight air pollution?

1. One way would be to use Hybrid vehicles. These vehicles produce about a fourth of the pollution of the average vehicle. Just imagine the global effects if everyone started driving such vehicles.
2. Using green energy, such as wind power, solar power, hydro electricity, geothermal power and biomass energy, rather than using fossil fuels for energy, would also have a large impact on air pollution.

Since this problem seems to only get worse in time, and we may reach the point where we damage the environment irrevorcably, the only logical solution is that everybody embrace ways that reduce air pollution in the hope that it will eventually, some day, be eliminated. Perhaps the only way this can be achieved is through education: although most people are familiar with air pollution and how it occurs, and are generally aware of its effects, many would rather turn their heads the other way rather than deal with this ever growing problem. The only way to truly overcome this problem is to start with the young: if we, collectively, can get our descendants to permanently change their ways by learning from our mistakes, then perhaps there is still hope for our planet – and ourselves.

 

 

 
A major concern today for many people is the growing number of vehicles you see driven on a daily basis. Not only do these vehicles consume large amounts of fuel on a regular basis, but they also create an enormous amount of air pollution. There have been many attempts to combat this growing concern, and the most effective one so far has been the invention of Hybrid cars. The aim of Hybrid cars is to reduce not only the pollution in the air we breathe, but also the consumption of fossil fuels used to fuel our current mode of transportation. Furthermore, since the amount of fossil fuel is finite, this could postpone the time when none is left; hopefully, by then a superior new power source will have been found.

 
In many case studies, it’s been proven that Hybrid cars produce 80% less harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases than their gasoline counterparts. This reduces the amount of carbon dioxide released by more traditional fuels such as gasoline, as well as nitrous oxide and methane gases. These chemicals, which are stored in the fossil fuels we use today, get released when burned in our car’s engines. Hybrid cars help to reduce the production of these chemicals, lessening their dangerous contribution to the greenhouse effect. More traditional engines however, such as those in our current cars, release a significantly higher amount of these gases on a daily basis.

 
The technology that makes these cars possible, and makes them capable of such a high rate of reduction in harmful pollutants, is their unique engines. Hybrid cars come in two different forms, Parallel Hybrid and the Series Hybrid. Both types of engines use a combination of gasoline-electric engines in radically different ways. Both these types of engines contain small gasoline powered engines, that produce less pollution than their larger versions. They generally produce around 60 to 90 horsepower on their own, so to compensate for this lower horsepower Hybrid cars are constructed with ultra lightweight materials. The most common of these materials is carbon fiber and aluminum, which both make the cars lighter so there is less stress on their engines.

 
Another unique feature of the Hybrid is the way it stores energy for use by its electric engine. Hybrid cars create energy via their wheels, using the kinetic energy produced by the wheel’s movement to power their small electric engines. This means there are no plugs involved for charging, as their energy source is regenerative. When it comes down to it, for a cleaner environment Hybrid cars are definitely the way to go. They not only utilize an engine that produces less pollution in its emissions, but also are energy friendly since they generate their own electricity.

 
Finally, it is important to mention that many states are offering incentives: both cash and other privileges for consumers who purchase ecologically friendly vehicles such as hybrid cars. Including: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah.

 
P.S. Hybrids are really cool cars. If you want to participate in a short survey and possibly win a Hybrid, click here.