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Human activity on our planet puts 7 billion tons of carbon dioxide in the air each year. 3 billion tons are not absorbed by oceans or trees or plants. Of this 40% is from fossil fuels used to generate electricity.
Trees Also Reduce Pollution by:
One Acre of Trees Will:
One Tree Will store an average 13 pounds of carbon annually.
Ohio produces as much carbon dioxide as South Korea or all of Australia! 70,000,000 metric
tons a year.
Ohio area = 41,004 sq. mi.
Ohio forests = 12,301 sq. mi.
To absorb all of the carbon dioxide produced in Ohio we would need to have 58,393 Sq. miles of forest - more land than Ohio has! Thus we need more than just trees.
| Practices that lower carbon dioxide: | Savings in carbon dioxide pounds of emission/yr. |
| In the home | |
| Run dishwasher with full load only | 200 |
| Wash clothes in WARM water | 500 |
| Water heater 120 degrees or less | 500 |
| Reduce home heat in winter and colling in summer | 500 per each 2 degree change |
| Clean or Replace air filters | 175 |
| Buy energy-efficient compact fluouescent bulbs | 500 |
| Wrap water heater in insulation | 1000 |
| Install low-flow shower heads | 300 |
| Caulk and weather strip doors and windows | 1000 |
| Have energy company do and energy audit | Potentially, thousands of lbs/year |
| Transportation | |
| Walk, use a bus, carpool | 20 pounds per gallon saved |
| Car with good gas mileage | 2500 |
| At work or school: | |
| Reduce household and office waste | 1000 |
| Largest Reductions | |
| Recycle car coolant when serviced | 1000 |
| Plant trees and paint home a darker color | 5000 |
| Replace appliances with energy efficient one | 3000 |
| Recycle | 4 for each pound recycled |
Among the top 50 air-purifiers profiled in B.C. Wolverton's How to Grow Fresh Air ($15.95, Penguin Books) are a number of flowering plants. In fact, some of the plants best able to remove a cache of chemical vapors from a room are flowering varieties, including the florist's mum, peace lily and tulip. The peace lily is a particularly good choice, since not only does it absorb large amounts of benzene and formaldehyde, but it releases water vapor into the air, further freshening it. It's also relatively easy to grow and will bloom reliably indoors. Other flowering plants recommended by Wolverton include the wax begonia, Dendrobium, moth orchids and poinsettia.
Plant-It 2000: Benefits of Trees Page