Who’s Afraid of the GG Gang?

the greenie patch


by Jeneen R. Garcia


published March 25, 2006



 


 


The last time we met here at the greenie patch, we got to know Methane and Nitrous Oxide, two members of the Greenhouse Gas (GG) Gang. They form a blanket around the Earth and do crazy things to our climate--like create super typhoons in summer, or killer heat waves in the rainy season.


 


So kids, let’s meet the rest of the gang and discover how we can keep them from messing with our climate.


 


Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and their relatives, HFCs and PFCs, are GGs made by humans to make refrigerators and airconditioners work. But they are also used in spray paint, air freshener sprays, and the styro containers that our chicken and spaghetti meals come in. When scientists made CFCs, they didn’t know these would become GGs!


 


So next time you eat fastfood, ask the cashier to put your food on a plate instead of in a styro box. Better yet, eat at places that don’t use styro. If you go shopping for appliances, tell your mommy and daddy to buy those that say “CFC-free”, so you can cool off without adding to the craziness of climate change.


 


Carbon Dioxide (CO2) comes from machines that use fossil fuels. These are fuels that come from underneath the ground, like coal, gasoline, and diesel. Right now, we have power plants that use coal to supply us with electricity. And of course, we ride cars that use gasoline or diesel.


 


How do we avoid using fossil fuels? Well, for one, we can take fewer trips in our car. If the mall or grocery is just in your neighborhood, ask your parents to walk there with you. Or better yet, bike! Exercise those legs!


 


If you need to go to really far places, take public transportation like buses (not taxis--they’re just like cars). Or form a carpool with your friends so that you all ride just one car to where you’re going. The trip will be more fun. Your parents will be happy, too, because they will spend less on gas.


 


Ah, but there’s more to these GGs than we think. Be sure to be back at the greenie patch in two weeks to get to know these GGs’ secrets better.

Comments

  1. Alistair IsraelApril 24, 2006 at 9:31 PM

    'Kala ko galunggong. Paborito ko pa naman yon.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ivy MCApril 24, 2006 at 10:37 PM

    hehehe. promise, natawa ko sa hirit mo. No offense meant ha. =)
    promise, natuwa talaga ko. =) Peace tayo ha...=)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jeneen GarciaApril 24, 2006 at 11:26 PM

    har har har alistair. making galunggong probably produces some methane, too.

    ReplyDelete

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