Introduction
Carbon emissions and greenhouse gasses are the leading environmental threat today. Environmental pollution comes as air, water, and ground. We travel in public vehicles, personal vehicles, take flights, heat our rooms and watch LCD screen TVs. All these endeavors contribute to environmental degradation. Greenhouse gasses build up in the atmosphere cause increased temperature. Researchers estimate a rise in greenhouse gasses concentration to about 550 parts per million can significantly raise temperatures by between two to four degrees Celsius. Raised temperature levels have severe effects ranging from drought, rapid melting of glaciers, and making life in the coastal regions unbearable.
People living in the temperate regions can tolerate a temperature rise of four degrees centigrade. They can build higher sea walls, adjust the agricultural practices and acclimatize to the high temperatures. However, for the country which margin population is already stressed by water shortages, coastal flooding or too high temperatures for agricultural productivity; the alternative is not accessible. Carbon emissions including the carbon oxides and nitrogen oxides contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer. Recent abolition of leaded gasoline engines contributed to the reduction of nitrogen four oxide emissions. Carbon monoxide emissions are prevalent during winter periods.
The result of ozone layer depletion increases the intensity of sun’s UV radiations and increased risk of skin cancers as well. UK is responsible for an estimated emission of greenhouse gasses amounting to about 14 tonnes. We are, however, powerless in controlling the level of environmental pollutants as some operations that contribute to the emissions are part of our lifestyle and, therefore, make our lives comfortable (Mitsutaka Matsumoto, 2012). For example, vehicles make movement easier and faster. We cannot operate without them. Realizing a sustainable environment without compromising on the public comfort remains the biggest challenge in the fight against environmental pollution.
Critical evaluation of my current lifestyle
This essay is based on my lifestyle practices and the effects it has on the environment. I will assess my lifestyle as an individual and then integrate the impact to an average human being. I will also outline the possible practices to help reduce the lifestyle effects on the environment. I will evaluate the emissions at home and my place of work. The household appliances; home heating equipment, water heating, lighting and car and air travel produce direct environmental emissions. Indirect emissions consist of food and other indirect greenhouse gas sources. The main challenge to fighting environmental degradation is the high level of economic growth (Dillon, 2014).
High economic growth rates lead to a rise in employees pay and consequently result in lifestyle practices which increase carbon emissions to the atmosphere (Khi V. Thai, 2007; Jackson, 2012). People tend to migrate from the older cathode ray tube televisions to the LCDS. At the same time the refrigerators and freezers at home and office places get bigger and bigger (Yiming Wei, 2011; Mick, 2012). The relatively cheaper fuel prices have led to advancements in technology. The new model cars are fitted with air conditioning systems, and the kitchen lightings have been replaced with halogen spotlights instead of the older pale fluorescent tubes (Jagers, 2010).
This flossy lifestyle is attributable to the insatiable human desire for an easier life and increased comfort (Röcklinsberg, 2013; Goodall, 2010). The desired comfort, when achieved, causes an imbalance in the food input and the energy output. Obesity alert and other lifestyle diseases are on the rise as a result. The modern cars are currently fitted with power steering which increases the fuel efficiency by an estimated value of 5%. The current generation is not aware of the environmental effects of their actions. In fact, research has proved that the old value environmental safety twice more then the youth does (Goodall, 2010).
Every individual in the UK is estimated to emit about ten tonnes of greenhouse gasses excluding international flights and shipping. I drive to work every day and probably contribute this amount. We buy mostly imports from other countries like China and Germany (Matthew John Franchetti, 2012). The imports contain carbon footprints. These goods added to a reasonable quantity of emission in the country of origin. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to document the level of emission.
I should as well consider the things I buy. Calculating the household emissions per year, I estimate an amount of about four tonnes to the environment. The largest proportion is the food I use. In addition, clothing, paper, and consumer electronics also contribute a significant amount. It is, however, impossible to reduce this amount of emission to a figure between 80-90% without embracing substantial improvements both in energy efficiency and controlling our high power consuming western lives. Manufacturers make improvements in home insulations to reduce gas usage, reducing carbon usage in electricity production and production of more efficient cars (Lucia A. Reisch, 2015; Goodall, 2010).
I use gas and electricity for home heating. Estimated amounts of about 280kWh of gas and electricity are spent in every home per square meter of living space. This amounts to a total of 170 kWh a year for space heating (Goodall, 2010). Research indicates that a typical house composed of averagely three people produces over 2.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year to operate the central heating boiler. The heater is, therefore, responsible for 10% of the total individual’s emission and about 20% of the greenhouse emission (Louis Lebel, 2009).
The water heaters in the showers also contribute to the carbon dioxide emissions. Hot water showers are currently installed in almost every house, and mine is not an exception (DuPont, 2009). Scientists and specialties in the field of energy conservation recommend to use the shorter showers and slightly lower temperatures to reduce the energy usage. The gas cookers at the homes also contribute a significant amount as well. The average person uses about 55 liters of hot water a day.
The cumulative amount, taking into account the whole family usage amounts to around 160 liters a day; hot and cold. This water capacity results from the cumulative water usage for showers, hand washing and, dishwashing. An amount of 40 liters goes to the baths and showers. Improving boiler efficiency, reducing water temperatures and reducing water volumes checks the high energy consumption (Jackson, 2012; Lucia A. Reisch, 2015).
The domestic lighting in the households also contributes a significant amount to carbon and other household appliances like fridges, freezers, washing machines and tumble dryers are electricity operated. Gas powered tumble dryers are however recommended to save on the energy consumption. The large screen television sets are also grand contributors to the carbon emissions. A smaller liquid crystal display TV would consume less energy and thus fewer emissions, but the desire for a classy lifestyle and social status is a challenge (Goodall, 2010). I also own skyboxes and a desktop computer which are capable of consuming power even when not in use.
The wet appliances we use to dry our clothes and dishes also contribute a significant amount of emissions ranging between 20-30% as projected by the international energy agency. Washing machine is an essential requirement in most of the households and averagely used 270 times a year; five or more times a week. A projected amount of 270kwh per year is consumed by the washing machines. When using the tumble dryers, one would not readily notice the increased energy usage. The machines are standard requirements in the middle-class homes in the UK (Goodall, 2010).The machines have become primary need since they make life easier and have almost eliminated the use of clothes line in drying clothes.
On average I spend about 400kwh of electricity a year on operating the tumble dryer. The dryer I use is fitted with a condenser, and close observation has shown that the energy usage has increased by about 10 percent. Operating the dryer 150 times a year with 3kg of cloth per cycle accumulates the wattage consumption to an alarmingly significant figure. The energy efficiencies of the dryers have been a meager concern of the authorities. As a result, the current dryers use more electricity than did the dryers ten years ago (Jackson, 2012). In addition, the electric kettles also used contribute to power consumption. This translates to increased carbon emissions to the environment.
The other small appliances often used irregularly are the iron, vacuums and microwaves (Goodall, 2010). Operating an iron for 90 minutes, vacuums for 60 minutes and microwaves for 20 minutes consume an average of about 250 kWh a year. However, the wattage varies widely with the household size. I evaluated the total consumption of these small appliances and concluded that the iron was the intense power consumer. Operating an iron on its own might consume a figure well above 150kWh.
Lastly traveling in motorcars also contributes appreciably to the carbon emissions. An average car produces about 170g of carbon emission every kilometer. Changing the car size to a small one with a manual transmission could reduce the carbon emission to a value well below 120g per kilometer. Heavy cars weighing over a tonne consume a substantial amount of fuel. Reducing the cars mileage could also reduce the carbon emissions. Hybrid electric cars also reduce the emissions (Goodall, 2010).
Manufacturers work tirelessly to produce more energy efficient cars, although the high number of cars on the roads washes away the results of their efficiencies. We could also embrace public transport in favor of the personal vehicles (Khi V. Thai, 2007). I may also consider replacing my current car with a new fuel efficient modern car. The result would be dependent on whether my old car gets scrapped or remains on the road, ration of the new and old cars fuel efficiency and the amount of energy consumed in building the new car. Neglecting these implications would have little if no significance to the environmental emissions level (Mick, 2012).
Values and beliefs influencing my purchase decisions and consumption
The government sets aside part of the budget to help curb environmental degradation and hence adverse climatic change. Maintaining a sustainable environment is, however, a challenging task because our buying and consumption habit is influenced by many factors. Our purchasing and consumption habits are affected by our level of income, desire to a higher social status and the desire for a relaxed and comfortable life (Jackson, 2012). Some of the machines discussed above as the key contributors can be eliminated in our lives. A better replacement which requires environmentally friendly manual power can be done (Goodall, 2010).
It is, however, difficult as manual power is very inefficient in terms of time consumption and physical energy requirement. Environmental activists also propose shorter mileages and recommend us to use the cars whenever necessary (UK Government Report, 2008). This would mean that congestion would reduce on our roads. Reduced congestion might have the effect of encouraging other people to use their cars thus reducing the benefits of one’s choice to reduce using his car less often (Lehmann, 2013). The wealthy families own a fleet of classy cars fitted with additional structures which require more fuel usage and hence more carbon emissions. It is illogical to convince a rich person to purchase a small LCD screen TV instead of the large screen. The wealthy families also watch TVs more often compared to the low-class families.
As discussed above, the wealthy families use twice as much lighting bulb than the low-income level (Jackson, 2012). Children are most affected when it comes to applying manual labor in providing them with their needs. They suffer mockery instances from their peers. For example, wearing sun-dried clothes to school when others have tumble-dried clothes as there is a significant difference between tumble dried clothes and sun-dried clothes (Goodall, 2010).
Companies also suffer from the same scenario as do the human beings. The company’s sales volume is affected by their customers’ tastes and preferences. The companies are hence forced to manufacture as per the customers’ needs regardless of the equipment’s power consumption rates (Fadare, 2009). Successful companies are those that meet their clients’ needs. Furthermore, many people prefer products and services which consume large amounts of fossil fuels.
Primary obstacles to reducing negative environmental and social impacts
Controlling the amounts of carbon emissions is a collective responsibility. Each and every individual must take responsibility and refrain from consuming the products and services requiring high operational energy levels. It takes a lot of sacrifices to help embrace this behavior. An individual action to apply manual power, walk more often and replace the household appliances with the more efficient ones will not have significant effects on the environment as such if the whole population does not embrace the practice as well (Louis Lebel, 2009).
Applying manual labor to most of the operations at home and in the offices is also considered very analog, laborious and time-consuming. Replacing the office consumer with a typewriter would mean reduced volume of the typed documents (Goodall, 2010). Furthermore, some people are not aware of the effects of their lifestyle actions on the environment.
Conclusion
The government in conjunction with the manufacturers should, therefore, manufacture and import environmentally friendly products and services in these current times of technological advancements. The current non-biodegradable packaging polythene papers should be replaced with biodegradable forms. The government should encourage tree planting and increase the forest reserve acreage. Trees are responsible for the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the sun’s intensity.
Reference list
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