| With Americans creating almost three times the | | | | in your home. |
| amount of carbon emissions as citizens of other | | | | Work for change. There is no better time than now to |
| countries, and climate change on everyone's lips and | | | | apply your skills towards making a difference. |
| minds, now is the time for action. Here are eight ways | | | | Opportunities abound in sales, education, installation, |
| you can shrink your carbon footprint and reduce your | | | | design, and engineering, for a variety of types of |
| family's impact on the planet. | | | | emerging green companies. |
| Food not lawns. The production, transportation and | | | | Think globally, act locally. In our global world, the |
| distribution of food releases millions of tons of carbon | | | | transport of materials, from food to lumber, adds a |
| into the atmosphere. Consider taking out your lawn | | | | tremendous amount of carbon dioxide to our |
| (which consumes vast amounts of water), and use | | | | atmosphere. Buying local is a great way to reduce |
| your yard to cultivate edible vegetables which remove | | | | how much carbon is embodied in your shopping cart, |
| carbon dioxide from the air! | | | | while supporting your local economy. Learning skills and |
| Build it green. The construction of buildings accounts for | | | | "doing it yourself," whether in your house, car, garden, |
| almost 10% of the world's production of greenhouse | | | | or neighborhood, is about as local as you can get. |
| gases. Houses built using green principles and | | | | Install renewables. Wind, water, and solar power save |
| technologies can be much more energy efficient than | | | | money, reduce carbon emissions and provide cleaner |
| conventional houses, and save money from the | | | | sources of energy. These alternative energies have |
| moment building starts all the way to the end of a | | | | become increasingly affordable and are easy to use in |
| building's life cycle. | | | | homes and businesses. |
| Change Your fuel. Cars are the best-known cause of | | | | Educate yourself and join others! The power is ours to |
| carbon emissions in the country. With gas prices | | | | create a safer, healthier, more sustainable future. Visit |
| skyrocketing and fossil fuels becoming more and more | | | | the Solar Living Center to explore real life examples of |
| scarce, it is high time to switch to a more sustainable | | | | implemented solutions. Our 12 acres include |
| fuel. Plant-based fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol | | | | demonstrations of renewable energy, alternative fuels, |
| have made a comeback recently | | | | green building, permaculture, and sustainable living |
| Use energy efficiently. Most electricity is produced by | | | | technologies. We welcome volunteers, donors, and |
| the burning of coal, a major contributor to carbon | | | | friends. We have the tools to turn inspiration into action! |
| emissions. Thankfully, there are many easy ways to | | | | Established in 1998 as a spin-off from Real Goods |
| save electricity every day. Designing your home with | | | | Trading Company, the Solar |
| passive solar, buying energy saving fixtures and | | | | Living Institute in Hopland, CA, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit |
| appliances, choosing double-paned windows, and | | | | educational organization whose mission is to promote |
| turning down your thermostat in favor of a sweater | | | | sustainable living through inspirational |
| can keep carbon out of the atmosphere and comfort | | | | environmentaleducation. |