Frequently Asked Questions

What is climate change?

We have burned coal, oil, and trees for electricity, warmth, and transportation, sending millions of tons of carbon dioxide, methane and other gases — not to mention toxic mercury — into the atmosphere, where they stay for as long as a century.

Climate change makes all of the other issues worse. It causes more water to evaporate from rivers and lakes. It causes soil to lose moisture, making it more vulnerable to erosion and expanding deserts. It slows and even stops photosynthesis. It threatens living species everywhere in the food chain, disrupting the “web of life" with unknown consequences. It melts our glaciers, denying us moisture needed for agriculture. It’s melting our ice caps, threatening us with seas that are already rising. It increases storm intensity, creates drought and flooding, and causes people in China, India, Africa and even Alaska and New Orleans to leave their homes and become refugees.

Everywhere environmental degradation has occurred, political instability and human suffering have followed.

Bridging The Gap does some of its own climate change research! Find out more!

What are greenhouse gases?

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat to the earth’s surface, making it livable. But now we have too much of a good thing. Burning materials like wood, coal and oil are putting too many gases in our atmosphere. Two thousand scientists from around the world agree that the earth is getting warmer as a result of human activity.

The Fourth U.S. Climate Action Report stated that carbon dioxide emissions have risen 20 percent since 1990-2004 and are still climbing. We can reverse this by using new energy sources such as geothermal, wind, or solar. And by reducing our use of fossil fuels through carpooling, insulating our homes, our everyday choices about commuting, housing, electricity use and recycling can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted.

Will washing in cold water still clean my laundry?

Advances in clothes washers and laundry detergents have made it possible to get white and colored clothes perfectly clean in cold water. Drum washing machines with no special sterilizing functions have been found capable of killing almost all bacteria in laundry. If you’re still concerned, switch to a detergent designed for cold water washing!

Are compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) dangerous to use?

The amount of mercury in a CFL bulb is very small. Much more mercury is emitted by manufacturing electricity to light a conventional bulb and it is floating freely in our air. If you break a CFL, sweep it into a shoebox and take it to your local Community Recycling Center. You can also choose to use LED bulbs, which are as energy efficient or more than CFLs and do not contain any mercury.

How can I determine my gasoline use?

You can find out how much gasoline you use on average in a year by using the calculator below or by following these simple instructions:

• Divide the miles on your car by the number of years you’ve owned it. Divide that number by twelve to get your average mileage per month. Your new goal for gas use will be 75 percent of that number.
• Example: If you have owned your car 2 years and it has 2,000 miles on it, your goal would be to drive no more than 62 miles each month. You'd figure it like this:

2000 miles ÷ 2 years = 1000 miles a year
1000 miles a year ÷ 12 months = 83 miles (this is how many miles a month you currently drive)
83 miles x .75 (75 percent) = 62 miles (this is your new mileage goal per month)

How can I adjust my thermostat if I’m too hot or cold?

You may find it easier to reduce your heat gradually in winter, maybe a degree per month. Same thing in summer. Your body will gradually make the adjustment. Dressing appropriately for the weather and drinking hot or cold liquids (depending on the weather) can also help you adjust your body temperature naturally. Try it — you might be surprised!

What’s wrong with bottled water?

Americans consume 1 billion bottles of water each week. It takes 1.5 million barrels of oil to produce all those bottles, enough to fuel 100,000 cars for a year. Plus, it takes the equivalent of 37,000 eighteen wheelers just to haul it!

Taking a natural resource, like water, and shipping it around the world is not sustainable and it takes our attention away from keeping our streams and rivers clean.

Aren’t reel mowers hard to use?

Most people find reel mowers very easy to use. It may require more upper body strength than your typical gas or electric mower, but the exercise is another benefit for you!

What if my yard is too big for a reel mower?

If you have a very large lawn, use some of the space for planting native and drought-resistant plants or a vegetable garden. After you’ve cut down on the amount of work you need to do, using a reel mower should be a breeze!