 Last
week, Bilkent News featured an article with Science Faculty Dean Prof. Hasan Erten. The
topic of this interview was an issue that we're all familiar these days: the international
crisis of global warming. This issue has been in the headlines for some time now, and
we're all familiar with what it is thanks to the odd weather the world has been
experiencing lately and the efforts of Al Gore with his movie The Inconvenient Truth.
So, I will not talk about the rising carbon dioxide levels and temperatures etc., because
by now we all know what global warming is. Instead, I would like to share with you some
useful tips on how you can use this knowledge and save the world. Yes, you can save the
world by doing these simple things listed below (and save money at the same time!).
Drive Less
By leaving your car at home and walking (or using the buses that our school provides for
free), you can save 1 kilo of carbon dioxide for every 3 kilometers you don't drive (not
to mention all the money you will save on gas).
Recycle More
Over 1,000 kilos of carbon dioxide can be saved every year simply by recycling half of
your garbage at home. If recycling your garbage seems like too much of a hassle, try to
use recycled paper.
Take Shorter Showers
Showers account for 2/3 of all water heating costs. You can save 160 kilos of carbon
dioxide and 140 YTL per year.
Avoid Products with Excessive Packaging
Less packaging could reduce your garbage by about 10%. Save 550 kilos of carbon dioxide
and 1,400 YTL per year.
Wear a Sweater
Instead of turning up the heat in your home during the winter, wear more clothes and save
460 kilos of carbon dioxide and 350 YTL per year.
Plant a Tree
Trees suck up carbon dioxide and make clean air for us to breath. They save 900 kilos of
carbon dioxide per year and over a ton of carbon dioxide over their lifetime.
Unplug Unused Electronics 
Even when electronic devices are turned off, they use energy. By unplugging your
television, DVD player or computer when you're not using them, you can save over 460 kilos
of carbon dioxide and 360 YTL per year. You can save even more by replacing your
10-year-old electronic device with a new one, since newer models use less electricity.
For more information please go to: www.stopglobalwarming.org
and www.climatecrisis.net
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