Climate Change in the US Report: Part 2 Ecosystems, Home and Office

by Kim, June 22, 2009 at 10:40am

The next in our series of overviews from the Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States report is Ecosystems.

One of the most interesting points is made in the introduction to the section: while environmental processes like photosynthesis and decomposition do not have an assigned value within  our economy, our society depends upon them and the life they produce.  These ecosystem processes, which are affected by climate and carbon levels, are a good example of the types of factors left out of traditional economic models.

Key points:

• Ecosystem processes, such as those that control growth and decomposition, have been affected by climate change.
  
  There is more carbon in the atmosphere--and trees and other plants are in the business of capturing carbon from the atmosphere.  This can lead to higher forest growth, but don't expect forests to expand that much. Experiments show that trees put much of this extra carbon into producing fine roots and twigs, rather than new wood.


• Large-scale shifts have occurred in the ranges of species and the timing of the seasons and animal migration, and are very likely to continue.
  
  Think of springtime as an immense event synchronized between species every year. Then imagine a mixup that invites the butterflies a little too early, before the plants they depend on have bloomed. Birds and other species are also at risk of arriving at the wrong time for the serving of their course of plants.


• Tree species shifts
  
  In the climate change lottery, oak and hickory may win out, expanding where maple, beech and birch contract.  Species like spruce and fir may disappear from the US.


• Marine species shifts and effects on fisheries
  
  Recent experience with natural climate trends like El Nino and La Nina have shown how much climate determines marine life--both fish and plankton.  Climate change has marine species in U.S. waters moving north while disrupting the timing of plankton blooms.


• Breaking up of existing ecosystems
  
  The nature of nature may be adaptation, but species can't always adapt fast enough to rapid climate change. Whether a plant or animal can change its timing or location is influenced by factors including their size, lifespan, and seed dispersal techniques in plants.


• Extinctions and climate change
  
  "The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has estimated that if a warming of 3.5 to 5.5°F occurs, 20 to 30 percent of species that have been studied would be in climate zones that are far outside of their current ranges, and would therefore likely be at risk of extinction."


• Fires, insect pests, disease pathogens, and invasive weed species have increased, and these trends are likely to continue.


• Deserts and drylands are likely to become hotter and drier, feeding a self-reinforcing cycle of invasive plants, fire, and erosion.

Okay! Those are all good reasons to get fired up about global warming. Though we have had a lot of rain on the East Coast, recently, it's still late June and in many places that means summer heat and air conditioning. Here are some tips for keeping your home and office ecosystems cool in a more energy-efficient fashion:

• A typical window fan uses 25% (or less) of the energy it takes to run a window-mounted air conditioning unit. Look at the energy efficiency specs on your fans and compare those to a window A/C to see if you would come out ahead using fans.


• ENERGY STAR CFLs produce 70 percent less heat than standard bulbs. This translates into cooler rooms that don't make your air conditioning work so hard.


• Wear more seasonally-appropriate clothing to the office. Japan launched the CoolBiz program in 2005 as part of their commitment to the Kyoto Protocol.   The removal of a jacket and necktie results in a 2-degree reduction in the heat felt by the body, so  if your office does have a variable temperature control, consider having casual Friday every day to save on energy. (A/C can double your office's energy expenditure, so it's worthwhile being more efficient.


• Light-colored or other "cool" roofing and siding products can reduce your peak cooling demand by 10-15%. Start by looking for ENERGY STAR Reflective Roof Products.


• An attic fan can translate to big savings if you use the fan at night. Early in the morning, before the temperature begins to rise, turn off the fan and close the windows to capture the cool air. With this charge of cool air, the house can "coast" without the air conditioner until late morning or early afternoon.


• For every degree you raise the air conditioning thermostat above 78 degrees, you can save 3 percent to 5 percent on cooling costs. Ceiling fans can help you raise the thermostat temperature while staying just as cool.