How are humans using technology to deal with

climate change?

What are some ways in which technology is being used to

avert global warming?

Nuclear EnergyEnergy-Efficient BuildingsGreen VehiclesSolar EnergyWater Energy Wind Energy

Nuclear Energy

Atoms are tiny particles that make up every object in the universe. The bonds that hold atoms together contain a huge amount of energy. When atoms are split apart, this energy can be used to make electricity.

Energy-Efficient BuildingsEvery day, people flip on light switches, turn on their computers, and use energy in many other ways in their homes, offices, and schools. Using all that power leads to greenhouse gas emissions, especially if the energy is generated from fossil fuels. In fact, the buildings where we live and work account for 30 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Technologies such as more efficient heating, air conditioning, and lighting enable buildings to use less energy, which helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more about energy efficiency at ENERGY STAR.

Green Vehicles

While past generations were only able to buy gasoline–powered cars, you will have many more options! Vehicles are now available that use less energy and are better for the environment, and even more of these vehicles will be available in the future.

Solar Energy

Solar energy is simply the light and heat that come from the sun.

People can harness the sun's energy in a few different ways:Photovoltaic cells, which convert sunlight into electricity.Solar thermal technology, where heat from the sun is used to make hot water or steam.Passive solar heating, which can be as simple as letting the sun shine through windows to heat the inside of a building.

Water Energy

If you've ever stood in a fast–moving stream, under a waterfall, or on the ocean shore as waves come crashing in, then you've felt the power of the water. The energy from moving water can be used to create electricity in several different ways.

Wind Energy

The wind can blow your hat off, rustle the trees, and even power your television. For thousands of years, people have used windmills to grind grain and pump water. Today, modern machines called wind turbines are used to make electricity. To produce a lot of electricity, many wind turbines can be placed together on wind farms. Good sites for wind farms are often found on windy hilltops, open plains, and shorelines.

What are some simple technologies or low-tech solutions that could minimize the effect

of human activities on the environment?

Move Closer to WorkConsume LessStop Cutting Down TreesUnplug

Move Closer to WorkTransportation is the second leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. (burning a single gallon of gasoline produces 20 pounds of CO2). But it doesn't have to be that way.

One way to dramatically curtail transportation fuel needs is to move closer to work, use mass transit, or switch to walking, cycling or some other mode of transport that does not require anything other than human energy. There is also the option of working from home and telecommuting several days a week.

Consume LessThe easiest way to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions is simply to buy less stuff. Whether by forgoing an automobile or employing a reusable grocery sack, cutting back on consumption results in fewer fossil fuels being burned to extract, produce and ship products around the globe.When purchasing essentials, such as groceries, buying in bulk can reduce the amount of packaging—plastic wrapping, cardboard boxes and other unnecessary materials. Sometimes buying more means consuming less.

Stop Cutting Down TreesEvery year, 33 million acres of forests are cut down. Timber harvesting in the tropics alone contributes 1.5 billion metric tons of carbon to the atmosphere. That represents 20 percent of human-made greenhouse gas emissions and a source that could be avoided relatively easily.

Believe it or not, U.S. citizens spend more money on electricity to power devices when off than when on. Televisions, stereo equipment, computers, battery chargers and a host of other gadgets and appliances consume more energy when seemingly switched off, so unplug them instead.

Describe some high-tech solutions that have been suggested to deal with the effects of climate change.

Making More Clouds MachinesOcean FertilizationArtificial TreesTurning Plastic Back Into Oil

Making More Clouds Machine

If the reflectivity of clouds could be increased slightly, sufficient sunlight would be reflected to compensate for any future release of CO2 into the atmosphere. One method of doing this would be to eject seawater spray into the air using a fleet of automated ships. It’s estimated that 50 ships costing a few million dollars each could spray enough seawater to do the job.

Ocean Fertilization

A type of climate engineering based on the purposeful introduction of nutrients to the upper ocean to increase marine food production and to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. A number of techniques, including fertilization by iron, urea and phosphorus have been proposed. Another possible objective of ocean fertilization is to produce more sulfate aerosol in the atmosphere and so increase the amount of sunlight being reflected by clouds, cooling the Earth. There has been commercial interest in using these techniques to reduce carbon dioxide concentrations

Artificial Trees

A group of scientists attempt to combat rising sea levels and an overdose of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by creating artificial trees.

Turning Plastic Back Into OilBurning plastic releases tons of CO2 into the atmosphere contributing to global warming. If plastic is just oil, why don’t we simply turn it back into what it was.

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