Take steps to reduce your energy use, improve efficiency and
help end global warming. The biggest cause of global warming is the carbon dioxide
released when fossil fuels -- such as oil and coal -- are burned for energy. So
when you save energy, you fight global warming and save money, too. Here are some easy steps that you can take to help make a
difference:
LIMIT GLOBAL WARMING POLLUTION
Raise your voice. Congress needs to enact new laws that cap
carbon emissions and require polluters pay for the global warming gases that
they produce. Send a message to your elected officials, letting them know that
you will hold them accountable for what they do -- or fail to do -- about
global warming.
GREEN JOBS AND CLEAN ENERGY
Choose renewable energy. Pick a Green-e-certified energy
supplier that generates at least half of its power from wind, solar energy and
other clean sources. If you don't have that option, look at your current
electricity bill to see if you are able to support renewable energy in another
way.
Offset your carbon footprint. You can make up for your
remaining carbon output by purchasing
carbon offsets. Offsets represent clean power that you can add to the nation's
energy grid in place of power from fossil fuels. Not all offset companies are
alike.
DRIVE SMARTER CARS
Choose an efficient vehicle: High-mileage cars such as
hybrids and plug-in hybrids use less gas and save money. Over its lifetime, a
40-mpg car will save roughly $3,000 in fuel costs compared with a 20-mpg car.
Compare fuel economy performance before you buy.
Drive smart. If all Americans kept their tires properly
inflated, gasoline use nationwide would come down 2 percent. A tune-up could
boost your miles per gallon anywhere from 4 to 40 percent, and a new air filter
could get you 10 percent more miles per gallon.
GREEN HOMES AND BUILDINGS
Weatherize your home or apartment. Heating and cooling
consume about 40 percent of energy in the home. Sealing drafts and making sure
that your home has adequate insulation are two easy ways to become more
energy-efficient.
Buy energy-efficient appliances. Look for the Energy Star
label, which identifies the most efficient appliances.
Replace your light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
What's more, CFLs lower your energy bills and keep a half-ton of carbon dioxide
out of the air.
BETTER COMMUNITIES AND TRANSPORTATION
Drive less. Choose alternatives to driving such as public
transit, biking, walking and carpooling, and bundle your errands to make fewer
trips. Choosing to live in a walkable "smart growth" community near a
transportation hub will mean less time driving, less money spent on gas and
less pollution in the air.
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