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In an effort to combat climate control problems, federal government agencies have pinpointed the two largest sources of carbon dioxide pollution in America: the first is power plants, including those coal-burning plants that emit massive amounts of carbon dioxide, and cars. Together, these two are estimated to produce over 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year.
So what’s the problem? Carbon dioxide and other elements are called “greenhouse gases” because they trap heat and contribute to global warming.
Now, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other civic and business groups are hoping Americans will rise to the challenge and learn to rely less on costly fossil fuel solutions, using more alternative energies as well as human resourcefulness to curb this national problem. Though we’ve just begun serious research into alternative energies, many solutions are already available, and lots of them will save the individual consumer money as well as helping to save the environment. Here are ten of the top things you can do to use your best judgment and contend with global climate change.
1. Cut the Commute
Choose an alternative to commuting in your car one day a week and save up to 800 pounds of carbon emissions or more annually. Another way to drastically reduce your carbon output is to use common sense to move closer to the job you go to every day.
2. Recycle
Yes, that’s right: in addition to helping save landfill space, reducing your garbage output is a huge carbon emissions saver: a 1/4 reduction, according to some estimates, can save a household 1000 pounds or more per year.
3. Seal Your Home
Another giant energy saver is based on the power lost in the average home or commercial building: now planners and homeowners are scrambling to use smart tools like weather-stripping, innovative panes, and new insulators to save boatloads of money and unnecessary power usage.
4. Buy a Fuel-Efficient Automobile
Because many of us inevitably spend hours driving the highways and byways in our personal vehicles, buying one that guzzles less gas can save untold amounts of carbon emissions and put hundreds or dollars annually back in your pocket. Skip the classic cars and find efficient, compact vehicles for getting from A to B.
5. Replace Old Home Appliances
This is another great energy saver, and the EPA has pitched in to endorse a whole line of ENERGY STAR products to help planners and households buy into the best future for our world. ENERGY STAR appliances are rated for best energy use, and using them in place of yesterday’s power-slurping home appliances will reap huge rewards for the environment.
6. Change out Light Bulbs
Here is another well-known solution: some might think it’s a negligible energy saver, but changing the lights in a standard home to new energy-saving bulbs would save an average of $100 annually, by conservative estimates.
7. Do ‘Optimal Drive’ Maintenance
Keep tires inflated, offload heavy gear, and use efficient routing for vehicle transport. Again, this saves more fuel than you might think.
8. Keep an Eye on the Water
Other home ENERGY STAR products ration water use, and for heated water, that ties back into efficient utility options for energy savings. Insulating a water heater is also a good idea.
9. Buy Local
Buying local goods means they aren’t shipped as far, and though it’s hard to put a price tag on this basic practice, experts agree that it is a great energy saver and a common sense solution to some of our energy and climate control problems.
10. Switch off Idle Screens
Televisions and computers also burn energy when left plugged into wall outlets. This can add up over time. New studies call for the use of power strips for optimal energy use.
Everyone’s top ten list is different, but these trusted pointers will help battle climate change and ensure a better future.
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