Our main concern at the moment friends is not those ever increasing gas fuel costs but the virtually irreversible changes in the environment due to our carbon footprint being left on this planet which is causing global warming. We may be different in many respects but when the effects start to be felt, we will all come under attack from a new enemy. A large number of cases of life threatening conditions such as skin cancer, lung cancer, and other respiratory diseases into the millions will be the result of 40 years of global warming.

You need to be aware of your own personal carbon footprint, which refers to the impact you have on the environment - both positive and negative - and make choices that are good for the earth instead of detrimental. For example, if you plant a tree a day, you'll offset about 720 kg of carbon over the tree's life. But if you take a plane from San Francisco to Los Angeles, you'll put almost 800 kg of carbon back into the environment, which definitely isn't good.

On average, each American citizen is responsible for almost 22 tons of carbon dioxide per year, far in excess of the world's average of just 6 tons per person. And while I'm not suggesting you bicycle to your next business trip, there are a number of ways you can dramatically cut your carbon footprint: -

Tip #1: Buy local. "Carbon cost" is added to virtually everything within the consumer society. You have to take into account transportation, distance and the amount of energy that is consumed in the final delivery of a product to it's point of sale. Recent U.S. Department of Agriculture studies show that the majority of fruit and vegetables have to be transported an average of 1500 miles from the farm up to the kitchen table. This is a complete and utter waste of resources, so do your bit and buy local farm produce.

Tip #2: Dress appropriately. Well I mean why don't we just dress according to more acceptable temperatures. Reduce the thermostat if it's cold and put on a sweater and when it's hot put the thermostat up a bit and take off your shirt. These small hardships will help reduce 2,000 pounds of co2 every year as well as high savings on energy costs. This is all in aid of helping our planet remember, so please make an effort.

Tip #3: New for old: I don't know whether you have seen those new energy-efficient CFL light bulbs that you can buy nowadays. Well they do cost a bit more than normal light bulbs and changing only 3 would result in energy savings per American home of $60 per year and as a planet this would result in a trillion pounds of CO2 not being emitted into the atmosphere. You should also try and upgrade appliances and computers to Energy Star rated machines, and remember to turn off the lights as you leave a room.

Tip #4: Keep it clean. A poorly maintained car can add to global warming 500% more than a normal vehicle, and it costs money too. Keep air and fuel filters clean, replace fouled spark plugs and injectors, and get regular tune ups. And shop locally when you do drive, not at a discount store 50 miles away.

Tip #5: Improve gas mileage. Definitely consider driving a hybrid car or installing an alternative energy booster. I would definitely recommend a water fuel car converter being installed into your existing car. This is a fine way to reduce your carbon footprint by half and you will see a 40% reduction in gas mileage.

Everybody on the planet has a personal responsibility to stop the destruction that will, if left unchecked, effect us all. If we begin now, it'll be a much better world for our children and grandchildren.