Debate over coal-fired power from Sunflower Electric Power Corp. and other utilities has raised awareness of global warming.

That's not to say all agree on the potential environmental impact of additional carbon dioxide emissions from an expanded Sunflower facility at Holcomb. CO2 emissions and their relationship to global warming remain a point of contention for scientists, climatologists and other experts.

What we do know is the Earth is indeed getting warmer, likely the result of man-made forces and natural means.

As awareness of global warming grows, industries have drawn much of the scrutiny in terms of CO2 and other emissions. While that's understandable, we also know the world's inhabitants aren't doing enough to curb their own output of greenhouse gases.

A typical American household generates some 45,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Scrutinizing what and where we drive, and how our homes are built and maintained are easy ways to reduce our carbon footprint.

For example:

n Carpooling or walking as often as possible

n Recycling

n Switching to more efficient lighting with compact fluorescent bulbs to reduce electricity use

n Making homes more energy efficient by installing a programmable thermostat, plugging air leaks and tuning heating and air conditioning units

n Adding home insulation, particularly in older homes

On Tuesday communities nationwide marked Earth Day, the national day to rally behind environment-friendly endeavors. As part of that, we again heard from climate scientists who warned that global warming could spur more hurricanes, coastal flooding, wildfires and other problems unless there's more done to curb greenhouse gases.

The challenge is in crafting strategies that won't negatively disrupt an already shaky economy, which is why in a nation using more electricity, the pursuit of technologies that mitigate CO2 emissions while still providing access to affordable energy from coal makes sense.

Federal lawmakers must weigh that and other issues as they take action on global warming -- to include new rules for electric power providers and other leading emitters of greenhouse gases.

Such change is to be expected. Still, it seems unreasonable to demand that government make headway when so many individuals aren't willing to be part of the solution by making changes in their own lives.