Here are some quick and easy steps to start doing your part to reduce carbon emissions. Getting to a greener planet will take effort from each and every one of us, and it’s not hard to get started. You just need to setup a plan and execute.
Set goals
In order to minimize your energy consumption, a great place to start is to set specific energy reduction goals. Try starting with a goal of reducing your energy consumption by 20%.
Track your progress
You need to chart the number of gallons of fuel that you buy on a monthly basis for your car. For your home and office, you need to chart the gas “therms” and/or electric kilowatts per hour (kWh) used in the last year or so.
Buy green energy
If one is available, choose a utility company focused on renewable energy. If you live in a deregulated state in the U.S., Green-e provides information about certified clean electricity providers for your state. In the U.K., visit Green Helpline.
Home shade
In hot areas, if you have west-facing windows, it is advisable that you employ window tints, blinds, deciduous trees or trellises. This will assist you in keeping out heat from the summer sun. If your main objective is to reduce your summer air-conditioning bill then you need to plant trees and bushes along the west side of your home.
Paint colors
You should paint your home with a light color especially if you live in a warm climate. The opposite is true f you live in a cold climate - you should go for a dark color.
Standby power
You need to minimize standby power of electronics and appliances at home and at work. The simple method to implement this is to unplug appliances that you are not using. You also have a choice of plugging your appliances into power surge protector strips. Furthermore, also turn the power off at the strip.
Location of your home
Choose a location to live that minimizes the requirement to drive.
Invest in energy
Investing in renewable energy production is pretty much identical to investing in a home or office building. On the other side of the coin, purchasing energy from a utility is like renting. Solar panels that can produce energy for more than 40 years are a good investment option.
Resources
Some additional great resources with tips on how to save energy:
- Home Energy Saver
- Energy Star energy efficient appliances
- Choosing Energy Efficient Products
- Energy Efficient Windows
- Power Smart
- Home Improvement Toolbox
- This site details a fun new technology that helps people become more aware of their carbon footprints. To help motivate them even more, they can upload it on facebook for all their friends to see!
- Excerpt of an interview with Rajendra Pachauri, who is Chairman of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Novel Prize winner, and what he does to minimize his carbon footprint
