Harry Bruin

Mrs. Young

ELA 7, Class 1/2

19 January 2018

Proposal Essay Example

According to the Nobel Prize Speech in 2007, the speaker Al Gore claims that the ultimate solution for global warming is a universal cap on emissions. Gore claims that reducing our current levels of emissions is a viable way to mitigate the effects of global warming on our planet. One way to reduce the individual amount of emissions produced by each person is to exchange conventional incandescent light bulbs for more energy efficient LED light bulbs. LED light bulbs are the best option because they use less energy, don’t contain harmful substances, and last longer.

        Global warming is caused by using natural non-renewable resources and producing carbon dioxide (CO2) which, among other harmful substances, can degrade the protective layer around our planet: the Ozone Layer. Everyday activities, such as turning on the lights, can produce emissions when the electricity source comes from a non-renewable resource. According to SpecGrade, a leading contracting company for lighting schools, “LED Lighting systems can reduce energy lighting consumption by up to 70%.” (SpecGrade LED). If a school is using less energy to light its classrooms then it will produce less emissions from non-renewable resources. Even if a school is using a sustainable energy source, using less energy overall will still benefit the school.

        Another benefit of LED light bulbs is that they aren’t made with harmful substance like mercury or lead. In the excerpt “Silent Spring” by Rachel Carson, she warns against the dangers of using harmful chemicals. Carson showed the correlation of using the chemical pesticide DDT and human deaths by stating “in the town the doctors had become more and more puzzled by new kinds of sickness… there had been several sudden and unexplained deaths.” (Silent Spring 364).  Mercury and lead are also harmful chemicals and if a conventional light bulb were to break in a classroom it would expose students to these chemicals. LED light bulbs do not contain these substances or other harmful substances which makes them the better choice for the health and safety of students, teachers, and staff.

Despite the many benefits, LED light bulbs produce more of a blue-white light rather than the traditional yellow-orange glow of incandescent lights. This can make LED light bulbs seem less cozy because of their corporate or modern lighting ambience. However, the benefits of LED light bulbs far outweigh the effects on ambience. LED light bulbs last longer and according to Melissa Denchak, from the Natural Resource Defence Council, switching can “save up to $125 per average household”, therefore making them the best option for larger community spaces like schools (Natural Resource Defence Council). The average savings for a school like Brinley Middle School per year could go to buying more English Language Arts novels or materials to conduct more varied and in-depth science experiments to enrich the learning of the students and benefit the quality of their education.

        In conclusion, LED light bulbs are the better choice when it comes to mitigating the negative impact of the ever-growing population of humans on planet Earth. LED light bulbs use less energy, don’t contain harmful substances, and last longer making them ideal for a place like Brinley Middle School. Each of us can reduce our carbon emissions by using more sustainable practices in our daily lives like switching conventional incandescent light bulbs for LED ones.

Works Cited

Carson, Rachel. “Silent Spring”. MyPerspectives Textbook, Pearson. 2017. Print

Denchak, Melissa. “How You Can Stop Global Warming: Healing the planet starts in your
        garage, in your kitchen, and at your dining-room table”. 8 January 2018. Web.

Retrieved from: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/how-you-can-stop-global-warming 

Gore, Albert. “Nobel Speech 2007”. MyPerspectives Textbook, Pearson. 2017. Print.