What does housing and lifestyle have to do with global warming?

Answer 1

This is not a definitive scientific answer but I hope will suffice as it's from the viewpoint of an informed member of the public.

Take two workers, same job, eg one from New York and one from New Delhi. The NY worker drives 20 miles to work in car which does 18 mpg, the ND worker catches a bus.

The house they go home to. NY worker lives in a four bed air conditioned heated (or gas), big fridge, clothes dryer, cooker, shower/bath, 3 or 4 tv's,2 or 3 cars in garage, so on and so forth (swimming pool, heated??) I think you get the picture.

The ND worker also commutes 20 miles, most people in New Delhi use the train or bus but lets say they have a car (a relative luxury in India) car will do 30 mpg. ND worker lives in a house which may have aircon (unlikely), which will have a shower (bath unlikely in India), clothes dryer unlikely, fridge yes, tv's 1 or 2 yes, garage (unlikely unless live well outside Delhi). Swimming pool (you're kidding). ND water supply is woefully inadequate and polluted with human sewage. Always drink bottled when there myself.

There are lots of other imponderables to add in to calculate an individuals carbon footprint, eg type of power generation (usually coal in both cases). You can compare by doing a simple online search as I'd like you to be shocked at difference in the amount of power these theoretical persons use. Water usage, again an enormous difference. Cost of food which is very energy intensive to grow and transport. Again easy to compare food miles etc.

Why you may ask do I not just copy and paste these documents for your perusal. Simple answer is that if you've got a conscience you'll look into it and maybe your curiosity is piqued and you'll start investigating for yourself the legacy this and previous generations are leaving to your poor (and they will be poorer) grandchildren.

There's only so much honey in the honey pot and some people are being very fat and greedy. Too many people, too many greedy companies, too much corruption.

If each individual makes an effort by trying to use less power, less water, less fuel, consumes less and puts pressure those corporations that are looting resources.

Buy fuel efficient cars and household appliances, Insulate if living in a cold climate, turn lights off, don't leave things on standby, the list of things that help is simple. Changing peoples arrogant mindset very difficult (especially those of a conservative nature, they'll do as they please as it's a God given right). Seriously doubt that, but hey I have a conscience and they don't.

I could go on but I don't want to be too pedantic. So many things to say but each individual has to make a choice and do their own research and come up with an answer.

Good luck.