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