1. Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle
Do your part to
reduce waste by
choosing reusable
products instead
of disposables.
Buying products
with minimal
packaging
(including the
economy size when
that makes sense
for you) will help
to reduce waste.
And whenever you
can, recycle
paper, plastic,
newspaper, glass
and aluminum cans.
If there isn't a
recycling program
at your workplace,
school, or in your
community, ask
about starting
one. By recycling
half of your
household waste,
you can save 2,400
pounds of carbon
dioxide annually.
2. Use Less Heat
and Air
Conditioning
Adding insulation
to your walls and
attic, and
installing weather
stripping or
caulking around
doors and windows
can lower your
heating costs more
than 25 percent,
by reducing the
amount of energy
you need to heat
and cool your
home. Turn down
the heat while
you're sleeping at
night or away
during the day,
and keep
temperatures
moderate at all
times. Setting
your thermostat
just 2 degrees
lower in winter
and higher in
summer could save
about 2,000 pounds
of carbon dioxide
each year.
3. Change a Light
Bulb
Wherever
practical, replace
regular light
bulbs with compact
fluorescent light
(CFL) bulbs.
Replacing just one
60-watt
incandescent light
bulb with a CFL
will save you $30
over the life of
the bulb. CFLs
also last 10 times
longer than
incandescent
bulbs, use
two-thirds less
energy, and give
off 70 percent
less heat. If
every U.S. family
replaced one
regular light bulb
with a CFL, it
would eliminate 90
billion pounds of
greenhouse gases,
the same as taking
7.5 million cars
off the road.
4. Drive Less and
Drive Smart
Less driving means
fewer emissions.
Besides saving
gasoline, walking
and biking are
great forms of
exercise. Explore
your community
mass transit
system, and check
out options for
carpooling to work
or school. When
you do drive, make
sure your car is
running
efficiently. For
example, keeping
your tires
properly inflated
can improve your
gas mileage by
more than 3
percent. Every
gallon of gas you
save not only
helps your budget,
it also keeps 20
pounds of carbon
dioxide out of the
atmosphere.
5. Buy
Energy-Efficient
Products
When it's time to
buy a new car,
choose one that
offers good gas
mileage. Home
appliances now
come in a range of
energy-efficient
models, and
compact florescent
bulbs are designed
to provide more
natural-looking
light while using
far less energy
than standard
light bulbs. Avoid
products that come
with excess
packaging,
especially molded
plastic and other
packaging that
can't be recycled.
If you reduce your
household garbage
by 10 percent, you
can save 1,200
pounds of carbon
dioxide annually.
6. Use Less Hot
Water
Set your water
heater at 120
degrees to save
energy, and wrap
it in an
insulating blanket
if it is more than
5 years old. Buy
low-flow
showerheads to
save hot water and
about 350 pounds
of carbon dioxide
yearly. Wash your
clothes in warm or
cold water to
reduce your use of
hot water and the
energy required to
produce it. That
change alone can
save at least 500
pounds of carbon
dioxide annually
in most
households. Use
the energy-saving
settings on your
dishwasher and let
the dishes
air-dry.
7. Use the "Off"
Switch
Save electricity
and reduce global
warming by turning
off lights when
you leave a room,
and using only as
much light as you
need. And remember
to turn off your
television, video
player, stereo and
computer when
you're not using
them. It's also a
good idea to turn
off the water when
you're not using
it. While brushing
your teeth,
shampooing the dog
or washing your
car, turn off the
water until you
actually need it
for rinsing.
You'll reduce your
water bill and
help to conserve a
vital resource.
8. Plant a Tree
If you have the
means to plant a
tree, start
digging. During
photosynthesis,
trees and other
plants absorb
carbon dioxide and
give off oxygen.
They are an
integral part of
the natural
atmospheric
exchange cycle
here on Earth, but
there are too few
of them to fully
counter the
increases in
carbon dioxide
caused by
automobile
traffic,
manufacturing and
other human
activities. A
single tree will
absorb
approximately one
ton of carbon
dioxide during its
lifetime.
9. Get a Report
Card from Your
Utility Company
Many utility
companies provide
free home energy
audits to help
consumers identify
areas in their
homes that may not
be energy
efficient. In
addition, many
utility companies
offer rebate
programs to help
pay for the cost
of
energy-efficient
upgrades.
10. Encourage
Others to Conserve
Share information
about recycling
and energy
conservation with
your friends,
neighbors and
co-workers, and
take opportunities
to encourage
public officials
to establish
programs and
policies that are
good for the
environment.
These 10 steps
will take you a
long way toward
reducing your
energy use and
your monthly
budget. And less
energy use means
less dependence on
the fossil fuels
that create
greenhouse gases
and contribute to
global warming.
Stop Global
Warming
http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/default.asp