What we can do at home

Replace three frequently used lightbulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs – reduce your carbon footprint by 450 pounds a year
Carpool, use public transportation or drive a fuel-efficient car – reduce your carbon footprint by 1 pound for every mile you do not drive
Keep your tires properly inflated and get better gas mileage – reduce your carbon footprint another 20 pounds for each gallon of gas saved
Change your car’s air filter regularly
Run your dishwasher only when it’s full
Make sure your printer paper is 100% post consumer recycled
Move your heater thermostat down 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer – reduce your carbon footprint by 2,000 pounds
Keep your water heater insulated and the thermostat no higher than 120°F
Clean or replace dirty air conditioner filters as recommended
Take shorter showers because showers account for 2/3 of all water heating costs
Use a low-flow showerhead because less water means less energy to heat the water – reduce your carbon footprint 350 pounds a year
Use cold water to wash your clothes – reduce your carbon footprint by 500 pounds a year
Buy locally and reduce the amount of energy required to drive your products to your store
Buy products with less packaging and recycle paper, plastic and glass – reduce your garbage by 10% and you’ll reduce your carbon footprint by 1,200 pounds a year
Plant a tree because trees suck up carbon dioxide and make clean air for us to breathe
Buy energy-efficient appliances
Weatherize and insulate your home, and consider double-pane windows
Turn off what you’re not using and even unplug electronics you’re not using – reduce your carbon footprint by thousands of pounds a year
Buy organic food because the chemicals used in modern agriculture pollute the water supply, and require energy to produce

Fall 2007