Certain gases in the atmosphere, mainly carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons, act like the

glass in a green house, allowing sunlight through to heat up the Earths surface but trapping some of the heat as it radiates back into the space. Without this protective layer, the Earth would be frozen and lifeless. Nevertheless, owing to Mans activities, these greenhouse gases are accumulating in the atmosphere, causing a relatively great amount of heat that is reflected back to the Earth compared to that is radiated back into the space. Since this greenhouse effect affects the people globally, certainly, our country, Malaysia cannot be excused from this disaster. In the process to achieve our Vision 2020 to become an advanced country by the year as stated, we need to ponder about a question, are we managed to get this problem solved? The answer to it is definitely a yes! However, this still depends on the attitude of all the citizens. It actually takes only a few simple steps to achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets.

Firstly, save electricity. Unplug your cell phone charger, TV and other electronics from the wall when you are not using them, because they use energy when plugged in and on standby. The process can be made easier if you have everything plugged into a surge protector with its own switch. Turn off lights and other energy-sucking devices when they arent being used. Next, replace older light bulbs with energy-saving fluorescent bulbs. Fluorescent light bulbs are a little more expensive, but much more efficient. In fact, they use about a seventh of the power and last about twelve times longer. If you're leaving your computer

for a while, put it on stand-by. You will be able to restart it quickly, and it will take less energy than shutting it down and then restarting it.

Secondly, reduce the use of water heater. The water heater is the second largest energy consumer in the home and using it efficiently can reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. If your house will be vacant for two or more days, you can lower the temperature of your water heater or even switch it off until you return. If you have a new water heater, drain a few gallons from your tank every six months to remove sediment that accumulates and reduces the heater's efficiency. If you only use your hot water once or twice a day, consider installing a timer on your hot water heater and set it up to run two hours in the morning and the evening. The hot water heater setting can safely be lowered to about 60 C. Wrapping a fiberglass blanket around your water heater and securing it with duct tape, or installing a ready-made insulation kit, can save up to 10% on water heating costs. Most new water heaters are already insulated, so this tip is most effective for heaters that are more than five years old. Also, insulate hot water pipes to reduce heat loss as the hot water is flowing to your faucets. Thirdly, adopt good driving habits. Practise the saying drive less and drive smart. Less driving means fewer emissions. Besides saving gasoline, walking and biking are great forms of exercise. Walk short distances rather than drive . It may be convenient to drive, but let's face it, it probably takes longer than walking would, and emits pollutants to the atmosphere. For long trips, use public

transportation or carpool. When you do drive, make sure your car is running efficiently. For example, keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent. Every gallon of gas you save not only helps your budget, it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Lastly, purchase things wisely. Buy only post-consumer recycled paper products, including toilet paper and tissues. The paper industry is the third greatest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Buying recycled is as important as recycling. Avoid buying things from companies that refuse to make post-consumer paper. Producing new paper, glass, and metal products from recycled materials saves 70% to 90% of the energy and pollution that results from products made from raw materials. When buying things, we should also look for Carbon Counted logo. There is a logo called Carbon Counted that companies can put on their products to communicate their carbon footprint. Look for products that have a low Carbon Counted footprint number. Also, avoid using plastics bags from grocery stores. Use reuseable bags, boxes, or just carry your items. If you need a plastic one, make sure you use it repeatedly.

In conclusion, these few steps will definitely bring us closer to our Kyoto Protocol goals set in 1997. The Earths well-being is significant to the whole humankinds. Climate change, with its potential to impact every corner of the world, is an issue that must be addressed by the world, the sooner the better.

Name: Yap Gee Shiuan

I/C : 930508-01-5061

School : Sekolah Tinggi Kluang