Climate Change: What Can You Do?

Great Sand Dunes, Colorado

Global Warming is not a "theory" or a "belief" -- it's a fact. A recent report announced that Arctic sea ice has melted to record new levels*, water-born diseases are on the rise*, atmospheric CO₂ is the highest it's ever been*, 2009 was the second warmest year on record and the end of the warmest decade, sea levels continue to rise and ice sheets and glaciers continue to melt.*

But all of this does not have to spell doom for the planet if we all work together to shrink levels of CO₂ in the atmosphere.  Besides some of the obvious actions, such as driving less and using more fuel-efficient vehicles, there are also quite a few things you can do at home that will not only help stem the tide of climate change but save you money as well! 

Here is a list of 12 from the Climate Crisis website (with a few notes from me):




Most emissions from homes are from the fossil fuels burned to generate electricity and heat. By using energy more efficiently at home, you can reduce your emissions by more than 30%.

Here's How:

• Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)*.

• Move your thermostat down 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer.*

• Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner.

• Install a programmable thermostat.

• Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases.

• Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket.

• Use less hot water.

• Buy fresh foods instead of frozen.

• Seek out and support local farmers markets.

• Buy organic foods as much as possible.

• Eat less meat.

• Only run your dishwasher when it is full and use the energy-saving setting.

• Insulate and weatherize your home.

• Buy recycled paper products.

• Plant a tree.

• Get a home energy audit.

• Switch to green power.

• Buy locally grown and produced foods.

• Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible.

• Turn off electronic devices you're not using.

• Unplug electronics from the wall when you're not using them.

  *  Even better, replace incandescent bulbs with LEDs, which last a lot longer.
  * Burn locally available, sustainably harvested wood to augment or replace fossil fuel such as propane, heating oil or electricity from a coal-burning plant.

   

   * Arctic ice levels hit historic low, researchers say

  * Global warming: Water-borne diseases on the rise

  * Steep Increase in Global CO2 Emissions

  * Global Climate Change

  Global warming effect seen in pole-to-pole data-gathering flights