Ask Dr. Bill
Your global warming questions answered
Do appliances, TVs and computers use energy when they are off but plugged in?
Many appliances draw energy even when "turned off." There's even a name for it: phantom load.
It is estimated that the power wasted in phantom loads in the United States costs Americans $1 billion a year. Appliances with remote controls, clocks, timers, instant-on features and microprocessors are some of the main culprits.
It isn't always convenient to unplug all appliances every time you turn them off, but here are a few tips:
- Make a family habit of unplugging appliances when you go on a trip or vacation.
- If possible, choose appliances without a built-in clock or timer. In all cases, choose appliances with the Energy Star logo.
- Use a power strip for your TVs, computers, and CD and DVD players – this is an easier way to cut power without reaching around furniture to find the outlets.
When were we first alerted to global warming?
The study of global warming and the greenhouse effect goes back more than 180 years. But, the international scientific consensus pointing to humans as a major cause of global warming was affirmed in 1985 when a body leading environment and climate scientists formally recommended a treaty to address global warming.
The concept of the earth's atmosphere acting as a heat trap was first proposed by French mathematician and physicist Joseph Fourier in 1824, during the early years of the Industrial Revolution.
In 1896, Swedish chemist Svante August Arrhenius, one of the founders of the science of physical chemistry, first put forward the idea that more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere from human activities could raise the earth's temperature.
Six decades later, in 1957, American geophysicist Roger Revelle coauthored a paper with Hans Seuss finding that much of the carbon dioxide pollution emitted to the atmosphere was not absorbed by the oceans as some scientists had argued – leaving more in the atmosphere, which would eventually warm the earth.
At about the same time, Charles Keeling set up a long-term carbon dioxide monitoring site in Mauna Loa, Hawaii. It first documented the slow but inexorable rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations in response to the emissions from burning fossil fuels and tropical forests.
Then, in 1985, a conference sponsored by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and the International Council of Scientific Unions forged a consensus scientific view warning that some future warming was inevitable due to past emissions. The conference recommended consideration of an international treaty to address global warming.
While new scientific studies on global warming are published all the time, the main question over the last 20 years has not been what the science shows, but rather what are our political leaders going to do about it?
Other questions Dr. Bill has tackled
- Tips for efficient driving.
12/11/2006 - Pick new bulbs and calculate your savings.
10/17/2006 - Back to school? Learn how you and your school can be more energy efficient.
09/26/2006 - More answers to our global warming questions
08/15/2006 - Do appliances, TVs and computers use energy when off but still plugged in?
07/20/2006 - Can changing one light bulb really help fight global warming?
06/08/2006 - Biofuels are all the buzz. But are they really an eco-friendly fuel alternative?
05/11/2006 - Global warming is confusing. Dr. Bill answers your questions.
04/18/2006