Food and Global Warming
First, everyone talks about global warming, but what is it exactly? In general, the term global warming refers to the rise in the Earth’s temperature resulting from an increase in heat-trapping gases that hover in its atmosphere. This is one of the toughest challenges the world has ever faced, and while technology exists to help solve the problem, immediate action must be taken before it’s too late.
What is the main culprit behind global warming? CO2 (carbon dioxide). This gas traps the earth’s heat and doesn’t allow it to rise away from earth’s surface. CO2 accounts for 80% of global warming pollution and is caused mainly from the burning of coal, oil and gas for energy and vehicle emissions.
What can we do as a company, as a community, as individuals? Ellwood Thompson’s offers more local products than ever and we’re focused on adding new local items all the time. How does this help global warming? Local farmers and producers work on a smaller scale without employing big manufacturing plants that use lots of energy. And, then there’s transportation. Produce and other local items are being driven in from 100 miles or less; they’re not being air freighted, or shipped by rail or truck across the country.
There’s also the opportunity to manage your energy use. As a retailer, this means we have an energy management system. At home, we can use dimmer switches, turn off lights when we’re not in a room, unplug appliances that aren’t being used, etc. Alternative energy credits can also be purchased to offset traditional energy expenditures. Ellwood Thompson’s uses the services of www.RenewableEnergy.com.
To learn more about what you can do to counteract the growing threat of global warming, visit the Environmental Protection Agency at www.EPA.gov or the Union of Concerned Scientists at www.ucsusa.org.