No greenhouse gas is a good greenhouse gas. But did you know that some of them aren’t even reported? We’ve been talking about all of the various greenhouse gasses, how they contribute to global warming, and how you can reduce your household activities that lead to releasing these gases into the atmosphere.
Everyone knows about Carbon Dioxide (which plant life actually needs to survive). We are contributing too much of this gas to the atmosphere, upsetting the balance. But knowing about all of the greenhouse gases will help us do what we can to reduce them.
Let us continue examining greenhouse gases.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous Oxide relating from human activity is actually pretty small in comparison to some other greenhouse gases. Still, this is one of the more potent greenhouse gases, so it really needs to be reduced. Many of the “standard” green recommendations will help reduce Nitrous Oxide. This greenhouse gas is released into the atmosphere through car and truck exhaust, industrial factories, coal burning to produce electricity, and even through fertilizers used in agriculture.
Some ways that you can reduce this gas is to drive less often, walking, biking or even carpooling when possible, buying local organic produce (or growing your own garden), and use less electricity.
Sulfur Hexafluoride
Sulfur Hexafluoride is a greenhouse gas that carries some irony with it. It is used as an insulator for circuit breakers and other electronics. This greenhouse gas is also produced as a byproduct when magnesium is created. The auto industry has a lot to do with Sulfur Hexafluoride. This is because it needs die-cast magnesium parts to build cars. The magnesium parts are light in weight and actually contribute to better fuel economy.
Less demand for new cars and some electronics may reduce the release of this greenhouse gas, but I’m not sure that there is an immediate impact that we can directly make at home.
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