This
information has been compiled and edited by The Allen-Stevenson School Committee on the Environment (COTE) would like to acknowledge the many resources that contributed to this list.
We
would especially would like to thank the Natural Resources Defense Council for sharing with us the wealth of background
information available on their website.
“75
Things That You Can Do…” was distilled from the following on-line
sources:
To waste, to destroy our
natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to
increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children
the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified and
developed. Theodore Roosevelt,1907
Humankind has not woven the web
of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to
ourselves. All things are bound
together. All things connect. Chief Seattle, 1855
We never know the worth of
water till the well is dry. Thomas Fuller, 1732
We cannot solve the problems
that we have created with the same thinking that created them. Albert Einstein, 1950
We are living beyond our means. As a people we have
developed a life-style that is draining the earth of its priceless and
irreplaceable resources without regard for the future of our children and
people all around the world. Margaret Mead, 1955
The goal of the
Allen-Stevenson Committee on the Environment (COTE) is to help everyone get
started towards building a cleaner, greener, and safer future.
In this booklet, we
have pulled together recommended Actions, Resources and background into a
Complete List of 75 Steps for school, home, office and on the road.
We organized our
“75 Simple Things…” suggestions into 7 categories that
represent the most immediate areas where we can each help save energy and
positively impact the challenge of Global Warming. These categories are:
Each category is
introduced with a very short comment on the overall issue or problem. These comments
are in BOLD so they stand apart from our recommended guidelines (this is the only
text that you’ll find bold-faced other than titles of each section).
The list is
comprehensive. Some of the action items involve no cost and almost no effort;
others require a little effort and investment; and some require a bigger
investment that ultimately will save a lot of money and energy in a relatively
short time.
We suggest that you
start your individual effort with anything that has a "*" in front of it. These
are the things we believe are both the simplest and least costly as well as
appropriate for most children. As time goes on, perhaps you’ll challenge
yourself to do more.
Source: The Natural Resources Defense Council
(NRDC) This section is
broken down into 9 categories:
Clean Air and Energy
Global warming
Clean Water and Oceans
Wildlife and Fish
Parks, Forests and Wildlands
Health and The Environment
Cities and green Living
U.S. Law and Policies
International Issues
1.
Clean Air and Energy
No element of the natural
world is more essential to life than air, and no environmental task more
critical than keeping it clean. Electric power plants, motor vehicles and buildings are by far the
biggest sources of air pollution and has myriad effects, from lung damage, to
acid rain, to global warming,
Air Pollution:
In the past three
decades, environmental measures have cleared up much of the visible pollution
that once hovered over urban areas, but smog, soot and haze persist in many
cities and even cloud the views in wilderness areas. Air pollution can be deadly even if we can't see it. It causes lung disease and cancer. It
poisons rivers and lakes, damages trees, and kills wildlife. At every level of
government and in the courts, power companies, manufacturers and state and
local authorities are being held to pollution standards, and market-based
strategies that are being developed to promote new, less-polluting
technologies.
Energy:
Electric
power plants are the country's largest industrial source of the pollutants that
cause acid rain, mercury poisoning in lakes and rivers and global warming.
Promoted through new and existing laws, better regulations and financial
incentives, non-polluting alternate renewable energy sources like wind and sun,
and energy-efficiency improvements in appliances, business equipment and
buildings are becoming more available.
Transportation:
America's
cars, trucks and buses account for 20 percent of U.S. global warming pollution,
as well as soot and smog that damage human lungs. And our vehicles' inefficient
design leaves the United States, a nation with just 3 percent of the world's
known oil reserves, dangerously dependent on imported oil. Public transportation and the growth of
neighborhoods where people can walk and bike to work are being built to
demonstrate sustainable alternatives, while government and industry are being
pressured to build better cars -- cars that burn less gas, cost less to operate
and drastically cut down on pollution.
2. Global Warming
Higher temperatures threaten
dangerous consequences: drought, disease, floods, lost ecosystems. And from
sweltering heat to rising seas, global warming's effects have already begun.
But solutions are in sight. We know where most heat-trapping gases come from:
power plants and vehicles. And we know how to curb their emissions: modern
technologies and stronger laws. By shifting the perception of global warming
from abstract threat to pressing reality, and by learning about using less
energy and building more efficient products, we can all have an impact on the
future.
3. Clean Water and Oceans
Whether it's the creek
that meanders through town, the lake where we fish and swim, the majestic
oceans and beaches that inspire our awe of nature, or simply the glass of water
we drink, clean water is essential to our well-being. We can learn how to
safeguard our drinking water, to protect, preserve and restore our oceans,
rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands and coastal waters, and to promote
conservation and better water management in the arid western states.
Drinking Water:
Unlike people in many
parts of the world, Americans take clean, safe drinking water for granted. We
shouldn't! Scientists estimate that each year up to 7 million Americans become
sick from contaminated tap water, which can also be lethal. A campaign has been waged to protect
the drinking water of millions of New York City residents by keeping pollution
out of the city's 19 upstate reservoirs. By pushing for citizens' right to know about contaminants in their water
and by conducting scientific research and public education, the Safe Drinking
Water Act, created to safeguard our drinking water, will be ensured.
Water Pollution:
Though much has been
done to clean up our waters, much work remains. Sewer overflows and runoff from
farms and city streets threaten the life-sustaining properties of our waters,
endanger human health and wildlife, and result in thousands of beach closings
each year. Strong federal laws and
regulations to address polluted runoff, raw sewage discharges, and factory farm
wastes are being developed and promoted while reductions in industrial water
pollution and effective pollution controls on agriculture, logging and other
sources previously exempt from them, are being developed.
Oceans:
Pollution,
over-fishing and habitat destruction are pushing our oceans toward a silent
collapse. It is vital to protect and restore the rich diversity of ocean life
and the quality of coastal waters and beaches. State, federal and international governing bodies that develop
better ocean management programs that will preserve the whole web of ocean life
and keep coastal waters clean, need to be encouraged to: stop destructive fishing methods such
as trawling that strip-mines the ocean floor and offshore drilling in coastal
areas; halt the use of military
sonar that can harm or kill whales and other marine mammals; and create safe
havens that will protect special ocean places, allow imperiled fish and
wildlife populations to rebound and help fishermen maintain their livelihoods.
Conservation
and Restoration:
Even
as pollution pours into water bodies, development and water diversions drain
and destroy them. More than half
the wetlands in the lower 48 states are gone, and with them complex ecosystems
that intercept and filter pollution. But thanks to many efforts, the federal
government recently adopted an improved permitting process, eliminating a
virtual rubber stamp for destructive construction projects, targeting the
effects of wasteful agricultural practices in California's Central Valley,
promoting more efficient irrigation, pressing the federal government to remove
subsidies that discourage efficiency, and working to restore water to the San
Joaquin River, after years when diversion for farming ran it dry.
4. Wildlife and Fish
The gray whale, the
bighorn sheep, the desert tortoise, the steelhead trout -- these are just a few
of the creatures whose habitats and very existence are now in danger. The
threats vary, from pollution to logging to harmful development, but the effect
on wildlife is the same: shrinking habitat and the inability to survive and
reproduce. We can learn about threatened species how we can help to protect
from further harm and bring their populations back to sustainable levels.
Animals
and Birds:
Across
the United States and throughout the world, countless animals and birds are at
risk. Their populations and habitat are under assault; in many cases, their
numbers are dropping dangerously low as a result of unwise logging and
development. The root cause of the reduction of animal and bird population is
inefficient wood use and sprawling home and industrial building. Legal
protections through the federal Endangered Species Act and other laws to defend
threatened animals and birds are being developed that challenge the destruction
of habitat, while Consumers are beginning to demand more sustainable products.
Fish:
In
recent years, fish populations around the world, including popular restaurant
species, have declined dramatically. One reason is over-fishing -- fishing
faster than a population can replenish itself. Other factors include pollution,
habitat degradation, the damming of rivers and the diversion of water for
agricultural irrigation. Organizations are working against time to strengthen existing laws and
treaties that seek to restore fish and their habitat; to press for sustainable
ocean fishing practices; to develop preservation plans; andto protect dwindling fish north Atlantic
swordfish. Scientists have
identified critical marine habita,t while fishing groups, chefs and consumers
are being enlisted to protect endangered species.
Whales
and Marine Mammals:
Perhaps
nothing in nature is more impressive than a whale breaching the ocean's
surface. But these creatures are threatened as never before by humankind's
encroachment into the seas and by shore-based industry. Recently an
international victory saved the gray whale breeding grounds in Mexico's Laguna
San Ignacio, which was threatened by industrial development. Meanwhile, many remain vigilant against
similar risks posed to other whale populations. Undersea noise pollution is
being tackled and experimental Navy weapon system that would bombard hundreds
of nautical miles of the ocean with harmful low-frequency nois is being
challenged.
Habitat
Preservation:
Aiding
wildlife by protecting wild places grows ever more difficult in the face of
sprawling development and relentless pressure from the logging, mining, oil and
other industries. The habitat of diverse animals including polar bear and
caribou populations in the Arctic, British Columbia's rare Spirit Bear, the
Pacific gray whale and south Florida's Cape Sable seaside sparrow is being
threatened. The government is being pressed to set aside protected wilderness
and other areas and by developing practical plans to avoid new development by
making already developed areas more livable. The Endangered Species Act and
other laws are supported by legal action, while citizens mobilize to use their
consumer and political power on behalf of preserving habitat.
5.
Parks, Forests and Wildlands
Parks and wild places
rejuvenate our spirits, offer much needed recreation, fortify our connection
with nature, and sustain a vast array of wildlife. But pollution, neglect and
skyrocketing attendance have taken a toll on national parks from Yosemite to
Cape Cod National Seashore, while the livestock, logging, mining and oil and
gas industries keep up the pressure to use our last remaining public wildlands
for profit. We can learn about how some organizations are securing permanent
protection for millions of acres of wildlands, promoting improved management of
publicly owned land, developing practical plans for protecting wildlife and
other natural resources in national parks, and reducing wood consumption and damaging
forestry practices.
Forests:
Half the world's
forests are now gone, and well over 30 million acres more are lost each year.
In the U.S., more than half our national forests have been logged, mined or
otherwise industrialized. The government's role in our national forests covers
selling timber to providing long-term protection. Preserving Alaska's Tongass rainforest and the forests of
British Columbia, California and the Pacific Northwest is a primary concern.
Promoting environmentally sound private forest management by helping to build a
thriving market for certified wood products is a key strategy. In addition,
targeting the underlying cause of forest destruction by working with builders,
architects and others to reduce wood use is underway.
Land Use and Abuse:
The
people of the United States own more than 726 million acres of land, including
parks, forests, grasslands and wilderness. Many of these lands -- our natural
and historic heritage -- are being harmed by logging, mining, drilling, and livestock
grazing. What's more, the below-market prices these industries often pay to use
the land encourage destructive practices. Preserving the wildlife and
ecosystems wild lands support, and the recreational and spiritual enrichment
they offer, laws that govern commercial uses of public lands, many of which
date back to the nineteenth century, are under scrutiny. Intervention in the
federal decision making processes encourages environmentally sound land
management.
Parks:
America's
national park system includes a dazzling array of parks, monuments, historic
sites, lakeshores, seashores, rivers and trails. But pollution, rising
attendance and shrinking funds are damaging the resources these places were set
aside to protect, from spectacular views to natural quiet. Protection,
restoration and creation of parks is needed to rejuvenate the national park
system. Plans to protect park wildlife such as Yellowstone's bison and
Yosemite's threatened bighorn sheep and plans to cut pollution and traffic
within the parks as well as promoting environmentally sound development nearby
is fundamental issues. Parks and open spaces in urban areas, especially in
California and New York City, are under scrutiny as well.
Wilderness
Preservation:
America's
wildlands are among the most beautiful and important natural places on earth --
and the most vulnerable. They are under constant threat, as industries
repeatedly attempt to open them to oil drilling, mining and other development.
The only way to shield these national treasures is by persuading the government
to grant them permanent protection. This includes millions of acres including
California's giant sequoia forests and Utah's spectacular red rock canyons. The
federal government is being pressed to place wildlands off-limits to industry
so that they stay wild forever. Campaigning for a national monument on Alaska's
fragile Arctic coast is underway.
6.
Health and the Environment
When toxic
contaminants -- such as pesticides, mercury pollution and diesel exhaust -- are
released into the environment, their effect on human health can be profound. We
can learn about pioneering work in the 1970s to get lead out of gasoline and to
get the most dangerous chemicals out of Americans' lives. We can better
understand the health threats posed by contaminants in the air we breathe, the
water we drink and the food we eat and what we can do to help.
Kid’s Health:
Children are more
vulnerable to environmental health threats than adults. Their systems are still
developing, and their small bodies receive proportionately greater exposures to
chemicals. Scientists and
childrens’ organizations are working to identify the worst threats to
children's health and to minimize or eliminate these threats, while educating
the public, the press and policymakers about children's special vulnerability.
Special attention is being paid to farm children's exposure to pesticides.
National standards to protect children from pesticides are being strengthened
so that new protections are upheld.
Health Effects of
Pollution:
Our air, rivers, lakes
and drinking water supplies are much cleaner than they were before the passage
of America's basic environmental laws in the 1970s, but even today too often
they cannot be called safe. Industrial pollution, tailpipe exhaust, agricultural
runoff and poor sewage treatment continue to put dangerous levels of
contaminants into our air and water, causing a range of health problems from
asthma attacks to cancer to developmental disorders. Tightening restrictions on
diesel pollution and building a market for cleaner alternatives to dirty diesel
vehicle is a major issue. Protecting Americans from arsenic in tap water and
ridding our drinking water of other toxic pollutants are battles that have been
waged in court and in Congress.
Chemicals at Home,
School and Work:
Harmful
chemicals can infiltrate even the most familiar and comfortable environments --
the places we live, work and play. Some, like lead, may linger from an earlier
era, while newer threats from chemicals in household pesticides, pet products
and even furniture are not adequately regulated. The body of knowledge about
the effects of toxic chemicals on human health is emerging. At the same time,
data to make recommendations to the federal government about the creation of health
standards that protect against chemical threats is being developed -- and the
fight for implementation of those standards continues.
Food,
Farming and Pesticides:
Despite
the hazards that pesticides pose to the environment and human health -- especially
children's health -- farmers apply ever-increasing amounts of these toxic
chemicals to their fields. The health effects of pesticides continue to be
studied in order to take the most dangerous chemicals out of use. At the same
time, we farming methods that reduce the use of chemical pesticides while
maintaining or improving a farm’s profitability are promoted. Advisory
Committees study the effects of pesticides and other chemicals and develop
strategies for reducing pesticide exposure and related illnesses.
Science
and Public Policy:
Public
health policy should be based on sound, independent science. The United States
has a great history of respecting and fostering independent research, which has
made us a world leader in science. But this is changing. Corporate, industrial
and political interests are trying to shape science for their own gain by
funding studies that may use questionable methodology, suppressing unfavorable
data and stocking scientific panels with their own researchers. When bad science
is used to shape public policy, the consequences for public health and
environmental quality are grave.
7.
Cities and Green Living
City
dwellers face a wide range of environmental challenges: dirty air and water,
dwindling open space, garbage, soot-spewing buses, traffic, the impacts of
industry. We can learn about strategies that make our cities healthier and more
livable and about innovations in building design and manufacturing methods that
can reduce wood use and air and water pollution. We can explore plans to
preserve open space and create new urban parks and incentives that revitalize
central cities. And about clean drinking water, expanded recycling programs and
less polluting public transit.
Smart
Growth and Sprawl:
Sprawling
land development is gobbling up the American countryside at an alarming rate --
around 365 acres per hour according to government figures. In most communities
the amount of developed land is growing faster than the population. This
pattern of growth forces us to be overly dependent on automobiles, increasing
the pollution and damage they cause. It also destroys farmland and open spaces
and pollutes more and more watersheds. At the same time it contributes to a
range of serious social problems, particularly for urban populations left
behind. In response to these trends, citizens, public interest groups and all
levels of government have begun to develop smart-growth solutions to revitalize
our cities, promote more compact and transit-oriented development, and conserve
open space.
Green
Buildings:
The
materials we use to create our buildings and the energy we consume to keep them
comfortable take a tremendous toll on the environment. Since 1989, NRDC has
showcased green features, including energy-efficient lighting and appliances
and innovative building components, in four offices. NRDC and others work to
make green design standard practice. They educate developers about
environmental technologies and promote incentives for using them. They develop
energy-efficiency and other standards for buildings and fight for their
adoption. They work with homebuilders to develop forest-friendly building
techniques to save wood in residential construction
Recycling:
Recycling
saves trees. This is one of the first environmental lessons children learn, but
it's only part of the story. Recycling also protects habitat, reduces the need
for landfills, and curbs pollution. Work is underway to improve and monitor New
York City's curbside pickup program while the national market for recycled
materials is being expanded. The federal government now demands paper with at
least 30 percent postconsumer recycled content from its suppliers, a step that
dramatically increased demand for recycled paper. New York and other cities are
being pressed to follow suit order to spur even more demand and create new
incentives for recycled products in a multitude of markets.
Green
Living:
Our
lifestyle choices have a big impact on the environment. Incorporating
eco-friendly decisions into everyday life -- whether it's starting a compost
pile, investing responsibly, buying recycled paper or trading in a gas-guzzler
for a more fuel-efficient car -- can help keep the planet healthy. Even small changes -- a more efficient
lightbulb, a cloth shopping bag -- can make a big difference. A little green
living can go a long way.
8. U.S.
Law and Policies
America’s
framework of environmental laws, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water
Act, and the Endangered Species Act can be brought to life. As we press for
vital new programs to meet such difficult challenges as global warming, urban
sprawl, air and water pollution, depletion of our fisheries, pesticide threats
to children's health, and, of course, disappearing wilderness and wildlife,
other interests attempt to roll back environmental and health protections or
circumvent the democratic process with "riders" quietly attached to
budget bills.
9.
International Issues
Many
of the world's most serious environmental threats transcend national
borders. Global warming pollution
from power plants and cars in the United States increases the risk of floods in
Europe and droughts in Asia. Mercury pollution from overseas contaminates fish
sold in American supermarkets. Meanwhile, intense demand in the United States
and other developed countries for natural resources combines with the long
reach of multinational corporations to threaten forest and marine ecosystems
throughout the Americas. A-S COTE will explore efforts around the world aimed
at protecting indigenous and traditional communities and crucial wildlife
habitat from industrialization, illegal logging and global warming.
China:
China's
booming economic growth has produced major environmental problems. In the next
20 years, China will build the equivalent of two NYC’s per year—every
year. Global warming emissions
have doubled in the past decade, toxic chemical contamination is widespread,
and the nation is home to 20 of the 30 most polluted cities in the world. Yet
China is eager for positive alternatives.
Saving
Endangered Wild Places:
Multiple
organizations around the globe are fighting to protect endangered places
including Conservation International (CI) and the Natuyral resources defense
Council (NRDC). For example every
year, NRDC names 12 BioGems -- unspoiled wildlands across the Americas that are
threatened by development -- and fights to preserve them. These campaigns match
advocacy with the passion of local partners and online activists. At NRDC local activists, called BioGems
Defenders, number more than 500,000 and have sent 6.2 million messages calling
for wildlands protection. Together, they have created a highly effective model
for preserving our most precious landscapes. [NRDC’s 2005 BioGems: Western Arctic Reserve, USA; Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, USA; Tongass National Forest, USA; Heart of the Boreal Forest,
Canada; Castle-Bighorn, Canada; Yellowstone/Greater Rockies, USA; Redrock Wilderness, USA; Cumberland Plateau, USA; Greater Everglades, USA; Upper Gulf of California, Mexico; Tahuamanú Rainforest, Peru; Patagonia Coast, Chile.]
75 Simple Things YOU Can Do To Stop Global Warming:
Lighting
Issue/Problem: By using energy more efficiently at home, you can reduce your emissions and lower your energy bills by more than 30%. This involves how we use and choose: lights, heating and cooling, appliances, and water.
Lighting accounts for 15% of all energy used in homes, much of which is unnecessary. These are some of the easiest changes you can make.
*1. Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
A no-brainer. Simply don’t leave a room without flicking the switch off. It’s just the right thing to do and couldn’t be easier. Teach this to everyone in your household and make it a household rule.
*2. Don’t turn the lights on and work by natural light.
When possible, don’t even turn the lights on. Work by daylight or sunlight.
3. Install automatic timers and dimmers on your lights.
Automatic timers are quite inexpensive and very easy to operate. They are purely mechanical and require no special electrical wiring.
Dimmers reduce the amount of electricity used and are also quite inexpensive and simple to operate.
These more efficient bulbs will fit into most household fixtures and give the same steady light as your incandescents. CFL’s are more expensive than the old light bulbs but you’ll save money over time because they use only 25-33% of the energy used by regular bulbs and last 10 times as long (average life of CFL is 8 years). Remarkably, each CFL keeps half a ton of carbon dioxide out of the air over its lifetime.
Issue/Problem: About half of the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and cooling. Most homes in the US are less than optimally insulated and older homes tend to have higher heating and cooling costs. In an average American house, the gaps around the windows and doors are the equivalent of a three-foot by three-foot hole in the wall. Proper insulation of your walls and ceilings can save 25% of your home heating bill as well as reduce carbon dioxide by 2000 pounds per year.
5. Adjust your heating and cooling temperatures down 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer
Buy an electric thermostat that automatically lowers the heat or air conditioning at night and raises it automatically in the morning.
Set the thermostat to allow your furnace to heat the house to a lower temperature when you’re sleeping and return it to a more comfortable temperature before you wake up.
Adjust temperatures seasonally:
In the winter, set your thermostat at 68 degrees in the daytime and 55 degrees at night.
In the summer, keep your thermostat at 78 degrees.
Seal and caulk around windows and doors, which can save approximately1700 pounds of carbon per year.
Use window putty to seal gaps around loose windowpanes
Look for air leaks that you can seal, such as those around plumbing penetrations or ceiling mounted light fixtures.
Properly insulate your attic, which can save 20-35% in heating and air-conditioning costs.
Insulate under the floor, around hot water pipes and heating ducts and in crawl spaces to further save energy.
For more information on how to better insulate your home see Energy Efficient.
*7.Don’t let heat escape unnecessarily from your house over a long period
Open the windows for only a few minutes when airing your home. Think about this: If you leave a window open even a little bit all day long for six months of cold weather (outside temperature of 10 degrees centigrade or less), the additional energy needed to keep your home warm would result in almost one ton of carbon dioxide emissions.
8.Replace your old single-glazed windows with double-glazing
Reduce energy loss by 50% by installing wooden-framed double-glazed units with low-emission glass and filled with argon gas. This requires an upfront investment but it will be paid off quickly. If you use the best products available, this will save as much as 70% in energy use.
9. Clean or replace filters in your furnace and air conditioner
You can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide output by cleaning a dirty air filter.
10. Get a home energy audit
Many utilities offer free home energy audits to assess the insulation in your home and how energy efficient it is. With this information, you can save up to 30% off your energy bill and reduce carbon dioxide by 1000 pounds per year. For information on finding an energy specialist see Energy Star
11. Switch to green power
Many consumers can now choose their energy supplier. In some areas, you can switch to energy generated by clean, renewable sources such as wind and solar. If you have a choice, choose an electric utility that uses renewable power resources, such as solar, wind, low impact hydroelectric, or geothermal. Residents of California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Texas can get help choosing clean power from the Power Scorecard, developed by NRDC and other groups. To start to figure out what’s available in your area see Green Power Network.
12. Check your utility’s energy-efficiency incentives
Some utility companies have programs that encourage energy efficiency. Check with your utility to find out if it offers free home energy audits, cash rebates for using energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and lower electric rates for households that meet specific energy-efficiency criteria.
*13. Let the sun shine in.
The cheapest and most energy-efficient light and heat source is often right outside your window. Open blinds, drapes, and shutters to let the sun light your home for free, especially on bright days. Also remember that sunlight entering a room equals passive solar heating. Even on cold winter days, sun streaming into a room can raise the temperature several degrees.
DON’T FORGET: SAVE ENERGY ON VACATION
Maintain your good energy-saving habits wherever you are. When staying at hotels and motels, use the same good energy practices you use at home.
Turn off the lights.
Don’t leave your room with the TV turned on.
Reply, “no” to towel/sheet changes (do you really need them changed every day?)
Issue/Problem: Proper use of old or new appliances in your home will significantly reduce your energy use and lower your energy bills by more than 30%. Informed choices about purchases of new energy efficient appliances will result in utilization of 20-40% less energy than standard new products. If each household replaced its existing appliances with the most efficient models available, we’d eliminate 175 million tons of home carbon dioxide emissions annually.
*14. Unplug appliances from the wall when you’re not using them.
Cell phone chargers, digital cameras, cordless phones, tools and personal gadgets that require chargers should be kept unplugged until you need them. Chargers left in electrical outlets unattached to appliances are energy vampires.
*15. Unplug infrequently used appliances, like an extra refrigerator in the basement that contains just a few items.
This could result in a $10 savings in electric bills each month.
*16. Use power strips to switch off televisions, DVD players, stereos, and home theater equipment when you’re not using them.
Even when you think products are off, their “standby” consumption can be equivalent to that of a 75 or 100-watt light bulb running continuously. A TV that’s switched on for three hours a day and remains in standby mode during the other 21 hours uses 40% of its energy in standby mode.
*17. Set computers to sleep and hibernate
Screensavers on today’s computers do nothing but waste energy. They have no role in improving or maintaining functionality.
Use the sleep mode feature on your computer, allowing it to use less power during periods of inactivity.
In Windows, the power management settings are found on the control panel.
For Apple computers, look for energy-saving settings under System Preferences in the Apple menu.
Configure your computer to “hibernate” automatically after 30 minutes of inactivity. This allows the computer to turn off in a way that doesn’t require you to reload everything when you switch it back on. This saves energy and is more time-efficient than shutting down and restarting your computer from scratch.
18. When purchasing new appliances, look for the Energy Star label, which designates the most energy-efficient products in each category.
Today’s major appliances must adhere to minimum federal energy efficiency standards, which have been tightened over the years. This means that any new appliance you buy today uses less energy than the model you’re replacing. Since their inception, these standards have saved consumers over $200 billion while also reducing electricity use by 5%. This has a domino effect: levels of pollution from power plants are reduced and 2% less electricity is output. These savings are projected to double over the next 20 years even without further action.
Energy Star products exceed the energy efficiency minimums that are set by the federal government. According to the EPA, the typical US household can save about $400 per year in energy bills with products that carry the Energy Star label.
The yellow and black Energy Star label can be found in these and other categories of appliances: refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, video tape recorders, televisions, computers, and room air conditions.
19. Use your new and old appliances more efficiently because the way you use an appliance can change the amount of energy it utilizes. For specific information, see NRDC Energy
20. Set refrigerator temperatures no higher than 35-38 degrees Fahrenheit and freezers at 0 degree Fahrenheit.
If refrigerators are kept 10 degrees colder than necessary, they use 25% more energy. Refrigerators utilize more electricity than any other single household appliance, about one-sixth of all electricity in a typical American home. Today’s refrigerators are more efficient than those that were made 20 years ago and use 60% less electricity. New energy-efficient refrigerators will cut your home carbon dioxide output by a ton per year and reduce your annual electric bill up to $65.
Some energy-saving tips:
Move refrigerators and freezers away from heat sources such as the oven, the dishwasher or direct sunlight, to avoid unnecessary energy consumption. Also, leave enough space between your refrigerator and the walls or cabinets so air can circulate around the condenser coils. Trapped heat increases energy consumption.
A full refrigerator retains the cold better than an empty one. The mass of cold items inside will help your refrigerator recover each time the door is opened.
Some purchasing tips:
Manual-defrost refrigerators use half the energy of automatic defrost models but must be defrosted regularly to stay energy-efficient.
Refrigerators with the freezers on the top or bottom are more efficient than the side-by-side models. Bottom freezers use 16% less energy and top freezers use 13% less energy than the side-by-side models.
21. Dry only full loads in dryer and clean lint filter for every use. A dirty lint screen uses s30% more energy and is also a fire hazard.
Clothes dryers are the second biggest users of energy among home appliances.
Some energy-saving tips:
Locate in warm areas for more efficient use. A cold basement will make it less efficient.
Dry two or more loads in a row, taking advantage of the dryer’s retained heat.
Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer.
Reduce dryer time by hanging clothes outside or on a line in the bathroom. Consider keeping clothes in dryer for ten minutes only to eliminate some of the moisture and then hang to dry for whatever time is necessary. This will also reduce shrinkage in many of your clothes and the need to replace them.
22. Machine wash clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot water and use environmentally friendly detergents. Avoiding hot water in the washing machine can save up to 500 pounds of carbon dioxide production per year.
The typical US household does nearly 400 loads of laundry per year, using about 40 gallons of water per full load with a conventional top-loading washer. New washers on the market can cut energy use by as much as 70% as well as get clothes cleaner.
Some energy-saving tip:
Pre-soak or use the soak cycle when washing heavily soiled garments like your kids’ soccer uniforms. You’ll avoid the need for two washings and save energy.
Purchasing tips:
Front-loading washers cut water use by 40% compared to top loading machines. They use about 20-25 gallons of water per full load. Front loaders also cause less wear and tear on clothes as they squeeze more water out of the laundry, thereby reducing drying time.
Also, remember to use environmentally friendly products that are phosphate-free and biodegradable. Buying green cleaning products also means you’re probably supporting a smaller local business rather than buying products from large corporations that involve shipping costs.
23. Tighten oven gasket and avoid peeking into oven while it’s in use. If you open the oven while in use, the temperature is reduced by 25 degrees.
Some energy-saving tips:
Preheat for as little time as absolutely necessary
Avoid using foil on the oven racks as it makes the food heat up more slowly
Use microwave ovens instead of conventional ovens to cook foods faster and to reduce energy by about 2/3.
Use crock-pots and pressure cookers for more efficient energy use. They save about 70% energy
Avoid use of a full-size oven when a toaster oven is sufficient
Remember to dover your pots while cooking to save energy
24. Use dishwashers only when they are full and use more energy efficient settings.
New dishwashers are more efficient than old models and get dishes cleaner. The newest Energy Star dishwashers are 25% more efficient and can save $25 per year on energy costs.
Some energy-saving tips:
Use short-cycles for everything but the dirtiest dishes.
Use economy settings with lower temperatures to reduce energy use. Today’s detergents are efficient enough to compensate for high temperatures, an unnecessary use of energy
Install dishwashers away from refrigerators. The dishwasher’s heat and moisture makes the refrigerator work harder. If you have to put them next to each other, place a sheet of foam between them.
Many of today’s new dishwashers don’t require you to rinse dishes off before loading. If you prefer to pre-rinse, use cold water on your dishes before loading them.
25. Be sure water heaters are properly insulated
Water heating is usually the third largest energy expense in your home, accounting for 14% of your energy bill. If your water heater is more than 10 years old, it probably operates at less than 50% efficiency.
Some energy-saving tips:
Insulate the pipes that carry hot water throughout your home.
Wrap an insulating jacket around your water heater if it’s more than five years old.
Turn down the thermostat if it’s set higher than 120 degrees.
Use “vacation” setting when you’re away for more than a few days. Turn the thermostat “down” or “off” when you’re gone for more than three days.
Issue/Problem: Groundwater is being used at a rate that is 25% greater than its rate of replenishment. This trend is further worsened by the increasing amounts of pollutants that spill into our water systems thereby making less clean, fresh water available for consumption. About 25% of home energy dollars are used to heat water. The average US family consumes 300 gallons of water per day including washing dishes, washing clothes, and watering lawns. This approximates about 495,000 gallons of water use per person per year.
26. Install a low-flow showerhead
Showers account for 32% of home water use. New laws mandate that all new showerheads must be low-flow. Low-flow showerheads deliver 2.5 gallons per minute compared to standard showerheads that release 4.5 gallons per minute. Using a low-flow showerhead allows a family of four to save about 20,000 gallons of water per year. A low-flow showerhead also saves about 350 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.
*27. Take a shower instead of a bath.
A bath uses four times more energy than a shower.
28. Install an ultra-low-flow-flush toilet or a toilet displacement device
About 40% of the water you use in your home is in flushing toilets. More than 4 billion gallons of water are flushed in toilets each day. Federal law no mandates that all new toilets for residential use be low-flush toilets. New low-flush toilets use 1.5 gallons of water per flush while conventional toilets use 3.5-5 gallons of water per flush. You can install a new toilet anytime regardless of whether you’re building a new home or bathroom. At a minimum, you can make an old toilet more efficient and reduce the amount of water used per flush by putting a brick or plastic milk jug filled with water or pebbles in the toilet tank. This allows you to save 1 gallon of water per flush.
29. Install flow restrictor aerators
You can place these inside faucets to save 3-4 gallons per minute when you turn on the tap.
30. Repair water leaks
Fix leaking and dripping faucets and toilets as soon as possible. A leaking faucet can waste up to 20 gallons of water per day. A leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day.
*31. Use water wisely in everyday activities.
Water is easily and quickly wasted.
Some energy-saving tips:
Don’t run water continuously from the faucet while brushing your teeth, washing your face, or rinsing dishes. About 5 gallons of water flow every 2 minutes from a faucet.
Take a shorter shower to save water. Turn off the shower while you’re soaping!
Operate the clothes dryer only when it is full.
Operate the dishwasher only when it is full.
Wash clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot which saves about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.
Sweep driveways and sidewalks instead of hosing, which uses about 50 gallons of water every 5 minutes.
32. Use a clothesline instead of clothes dryer when possible.
If you air-dry your clothes for six months, you’ll save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide.
33. Plan and care for landscapes in tune with the natural environment.
Landscape consistent with the natural environment:
Use plants that are native to your area, which saves more than half the water normally used to care for outdoor plants.
Avoid raising thirsty plants in arid areas, which requires drowning them almost daily in gallons of sprinkler or irrigation water
In dry areas, periscope landscaping uses plants that need little water, which results not only in saving water and labor but also avoids use of pollution causing fertilizers.
For lawn care:
Water lawns early or late in the day and on cooler days to reduce evaporation
Allow grass to grow a bit taller than you normally do. This helps to reduce water loss by providing more ground shade for roots and promoting soil water retention.
Issue/Problem: Most of the materials that are used to make what we use – from airplanes to toilet paper – are made from nonrenewable resources that are being rapidly depleted. US reserves of oil, aluminum ore, and iron ore are disappearing. At today’s rates of consumption, world copper reserves will be depleted in less than 100 years. The world’s forests are falling quickly under loggers’ saws.
*34. Recycle materials you use at home
There are many benefits to recycling: saves resources, decreases the use of toxic chemicals, cuts energy uses, helps curb global warming, stems the flow of water and air pollutions, reduces the need for landfills and incinerators. You can save 2400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by recycling half of the waste you’re your household generates. Find out where you can take items such as paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, plastic, and tires to be recycled. If there’s no recycling program where you live, encourage local officials to start one. To find recycling resources in your area, see Earth 911.
35. Recycle materials in your workplace or home office
If your workplace doesn’t have a recycling program, work with your office manager and custodial staff to set one up, paper, aluminum cans, and plastic bottles are easy to start with and additional materials, such as inkjet cartridges, an be add as the staff gets used to recycling. Set up bins in convenient are to collect each type of material your office recycles, and make sure everyone knows they are there.
36. Dispose of e-waste properly
E-waste includes the technology products you are no longer using: computers, printer, televisions, stereos. The UN Environmental Program estimates that 50 million tons of e-waste is generated each year. Before you dispose of them, consider these possibilities:
Upgrading with a new part
Giving to a friend or family member. If you want to look outside your immediate circle and want to pursue opportunities in the community, contact: Freecycle or Craigslist.
Examine whether the manufacturer has “take-back” programs in which they take back old electronic products and reuse parts.
Donate to a charitable organization such as: Computers for Schools.
37. Buy recycled products.
Check labels on products and packaging for those with the greatest percentage of post-consumer recycled content. Try to buy paper products that have more than 50% post-consumer content.
38. Buy products that come with less packaging and buy refills when offered.
Much of the paper, cardboard, and plastic we use goes into packaging, much of which is wasteful and unnecessary.
39. Buy energy-efficient products for your workplace or home office
Energy Star –labeled equipment can save up to 75% of total electricity use according to the EPA. Energy Star equipment has features that allow it to reduce its power use or turn itself off when not in use.
40. Commit to environmentally friendly purchasing practices
Purchase paper and plastic materials made with post-consumer recycled content for your home or in your workplace. Companies should avoid paper products made from 100 percent virgin fiber content and switch to paper that is a minimum of 30% post-consumer content. Look for plastic and metal products made with recycled or scrap material.
41. Be thrifty with paper at home and in your home office or workplace
Imagine:
If every household in the US replaced just one box of virgin fiber facial tissues (175 sheets) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 163,000 trees.
If every household in the US replaced just one roll of virgin fiber toilet paper (500 sheets) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 423,900 trees.
If every household in the US replaced just one roll of virgin fiber paper towels (70 sheets) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 544,000 trees.
If every household in the US replaced just one package of virgin fiber napkins (250 count) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 1 million trees.
Paper purchase tips:
Buy paper with recycled content, especially post-consumer fibers. Look for products that have a high-recycled content, including high post-consumer content. Post-consumer fibers are recovered from paper that was previously used by consumers and would otherwise have been dumped into a landfill or incinerator.
Buy paper products made with clean, safe processes. Paper products are bleached to make them whiter and brighter, but chlorine used in many bleaching processes contributes to the formation of harmful chemicals that end up in our air and water and aware highly toxic to people and fish. Look for products labeled “totally chlorine-free (TCF) or processed chlorine-free (PCF).
Tips for thrifty paper use:
Avoid printing out every email or memo you receive. Read and delete the ones you don’t need and electronically file others you might refer to later
Be sure your paper copier can make two-sided copies. High-speed copiers can be set to automatically make two-sided copies, which not only save paper but also reduce paper costs.
Use the blank sides of used paper for note-taking and printing drafts.
42. Use durable goods when possible
Replace:
Paper towels with cloth rags
Paper napkins with cloth napkins
Aluminum foil and plastic wrap with reusable food containers
Disposable razors with reusable onesPlastic bags with cloth bags
43. Re-use plastic products such as utensils and plastic bags but avoid using when possible
Plastic utensils and plastic bags are made from non-renewable fossil fuels and are completely non-biodegradable. They are meant to be used once and thrown out. The vast majority ends up in landfills or clogging natural ecosystems and posing a major threat to wildlife. They discharge carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere and pollute the air, groundwater and soil.
Tips for plastic use:
When disposable utensils are most appropriate, avoid plastic and use items that are biodegradable and made out of easily renewable resources like corn, potato, and wild reed.
Avoid taking plastic bags in stores for taking home groceries and other purchases and bring cloth bags or a knapsack with you to the store
Bring a waste-free lunch with you for out-of-home use.
Store your food in reusable containers rather than wrapping it in foil or plastic. Bring eating utensils and cloth napkins with you to avoid using plastic and paper napkins.
Bring your hot or cold drinks in a thermos and drink them from a mug.
44. Install a composter
Composting reduces the burden on overcrowded landfills and gives you a great natural fertilizer for plants and gardens. Start with yard trimmings, fruit and vegetable food scraps, and coffee grounds. If you don’t know how to compost, check out this guide.
45. Recycle your organic waste
About 3% of greenhouse gas emissions are released by decomposing biodegradable waste. By recycling organic waste or composting it you can help eliminate this problem. Just make sure that you compost it properly so it decomposes with sufficient oxygen; otherwise your compost will cause methane emissions and smell foul.
46. Leave grass clippings on the lawn
Grass clippings make good fertilizer when they decompose. Leaving them on your lawn keeps them from occupying limited space in the local landfill.
47. Plant a tree.
A single tree will absorb one tone of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by 10-15%. For information on planting trees see The Arbor Day Foundation.
Issue/Problem: Pesticide use, which has increased 50% over the last 30 years, has been linked to cancer, birth defects, and reproductive problems. Studies show that pesticides are among the five worst environmental threats to children’s health. Pesticides also contaminate water and often poison wildlife. Non-sustainable farming has also been shown to lead to topsoil erosion, toxic runoff from farmland into rivers, lakes, and streams and decreased biodiversity.
48. Buy locally grown and produced foods
The average meal in the US travels 1200 miles from the farm to your plate. Buying locally will save fuel and keep money in your community.
Buy fresh foods instead of frozen
Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce.
*49. Buy organic foods as much as possible
Organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels than soils from conventional farms. If we grew all of our corn and soybeans organically, we’d remove 580 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Often, organic produce cost more and is more difficult to buy, but many supermarkets and greengrocers are willing to stock organic food if they know customers will buy it regularly. Talk to your friends and neighbors about their willingness to buy organic and let your produce manage know that many customers are interested. As organic produce becomes more commonplace, prices will drop.
50. Seek out and support local farmers markets.
If you can’t find a local grocer who will stock organic food, contact organic growers and suppliers directly or visit a local framer’s market. This reduces the amount of energy required to grow and transport the food to y you by one fifth. You can find a farmer’s market in your area at the USDA website.
*51. Buy fresh foods instead of frozen
Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce.
*52. Eat less meat.
Cows are one of the greatest emitters of methane, the second most significant greenhouse gas. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with every breath.
53. Become a community supported agriculture supporter.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) cooperatives bring together local farmers and consumers. As a member of the cooperative, you pledge to cover farm operation costs for the season. In return, you share in the harvest. CSA farms are not all organic, but they all strive to operate sustainably.
54. Encourage farms to cut down on pesticide use.
Innovative and successful farms around the country are switching from conventional pest management practices, which are heavily reliant on pesticides, to profitable alternative agricultural practices that substantially reduce pesticide use.
Issue/Problem: US cars are responsible for about 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions, which is about 20% of the greenhouse gas worldwide. Cars and other motor vehicles are a major source of pollutants that create smog and acid rain, and release other harmful substances that exacerbate conditions such as asthma and heart disease, and damage the lungs.
54. Consider buying a more fuel-efficient, less polluting car
One of the biggest ways to help reduce Global Warming is by choosing to drive more fuel-efficient vehicles. A car that gets 20 miles to the gallon will emit about 50 tons of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. If you double the gas mileage, you cut the emissions by half. Today’s passenger vehicles get worse gas mileage than they did 20 years ago, largely due to the popularity of SUV’s. 34 million American SUV’s emit up to 30% more carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons than normal passenger cars and up to 75% more nitrogen oxide. You can save 3000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year if your new car gets only 3 miles per gallon more than your current one. Remember, you can get up to 60 miles per gallon with a hybrid. Investigate the many new ultra-clean alternative fuel vehicles. To find information on fuel efficiency cars see Fuel Economy, and Green Cars.
*55. Improve your fuel economy through better driving habits
You can save money on both fuel and car maintenance by readjusting your driving style.
Energy-saving driving tips:
Drive less aggressively. Aggressive driving reduces fuel economy and adds stress and accidents try to accelerate and decelerate more smoothly and gradually. Driving like a jackrabbit consumes up to 50% more fuel than slow steady acceleration.
Choose proper gears: Don’t abuse the gas pedal but use the engine break instead of the pedal brake when possible
Turn off your engine when your vehicle is motionless for more than one minute.
*56. Keep your car tuned up
Proper maintenance can increase your car’s fuel efficiency by 10% and reduce emissions. When just 1% of car owners properly maintain their cars, nearly a billion pounds of carbon dioxide are kept out of the atmosphere.
Energy-saving maintenance tips:
Get your engine tuned up regularly
Change the oil
Keep wheels aligned
Maintain spark plugs, air filters, hoses, and belts.
*57. Check your tires weekly to make sure they’re properly inflated
An estimated 32 million US cars and trucks ride on at least two under-inflated tires, wasting 500 million gallons of gas annually. Properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Every gallon of gas saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. So every increase in fuel efficiency makes a difference. For more information about proper tire inflation see inflation.
58. Purchase and conserve fuel wisely
Use the right grade of gas. Regular grade fuel costs about 20 cents less than premium.
