Reduce your impact on climate change

Here are some ideas

1. Change five lights - Replace your five most frequently used light fixtures or the light bulbs in them with ENERGY STAR–qualified products and you will help the environment while saving $70 a year on energy bills. ENERGY STAR lighting provides bright, warm light; generates 75% less heat; uses about 75% less energy than standard lighting; and lasts from 10 to 50 times longer.

2. Look for ENERGY STAR - When buying new products for your home, look for EPA's ENERGY STAR label to help you make the most energy-efficient decision. You can find the ENERGY STAR label on more than 60 kinds of products, including appliances, lighting, heating and cooling equipment, electronics, and office equipment. Over their lifetimes, products in your home that have earned the ENERGY STAR label can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 130,000 pounds and save you $11,000 on energy bills.

3. Heat and cool smartly - Heating and cooling accounts for almost half your energy bill—about $1,000 a year! There is a lot you can do to drive down this cost. Simple steps like changing air filters regularly, properly using a programmable thermostat, and having your heating and cooling equipment maintained annually by a licensed contractor can save energy and increase comfort while helping to protect the environment. Depending on where you live, you can cut your annual energy bill by more than $200 by replacing your old heating and cooling equipment with ENERGY STAR–qualified equipment.

4. Seal and insulate your home - Reduce air leaks and stop drafts by using caulk, weather stripping, and insulation to seal your home's envelope and add more insulation to your attic to block out heat and cold. A knowledgeable homeowner or skilled contractor can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs and significantly enhance home comfort with comprehensive sealing and insulating measures.

5. Reduce, reuse, recycle - Reducing, reusing, and recycling in your home helps conserve energy and reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from resource extraction, manufacturing, and disposal. If there is a recycling program in your community, recycle your newspapers, beverage containers, paper, and other goods. Also, composting your food and yard waste reduces the amount of garbage that you send to landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions

6. Use water efficiently - It takes lots of energy to pump, treat, and heat water, so saving water reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Saving water around the home is simple. Three percent of the nation's energy is used to pump and treat water, so conserving water conserves energy that reduces greenhouse gas pollution. Reduce the amount of waste you generate and the water you consume whenever possible. Pursue simple water-saving actions, such as not letting the water run while shaving or brushing teeth and save money while conserving water by using products with the WaterSense label. Did you know a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day? Repair all toilet and faucet leaks right away. Running your dishwasher only with a full load can save 100 pounds of carbon dioxide and $40 per year. Be smart when irrigating your lawn or landscape. Only water when needed and do it during the coolest part of the day; early morning is best. 

7. Be green in your yard - Did you know that food scraps and yard waste make up 20-30 percent of what we throw away? Composting your food and yard waste reduces the amount of garbage that you send to landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. 

8. Purchase Green Power - Power your home by purchasing green power. Green power is environmentally friendly electricity that is generated from renewable energy sources such as wind and the sun. There are two ways to use green power: You can buy green power, or you can modify your house to generate your own green power.

9. Consider purchasing online - purchasing items online tends to use less carbon than buying in-store, primarily because online shopping eliminates the need for individual car trips to a physical store, making delivery by a single vehicle more efficient in terms of carbon emissions per item delivered; however, the environmental impact can vary depending on factors like packaging and the distance goods need to be transported. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/shop-online-sustainably/

10. Purchase consumables in cans - aluminum cans are generally considered better for the climate than plastic bottles or glass bottles due to their high recyclability and lower energy consumption in production, making them the most environmentally friendly option among the three. Key points about aluminum cans:

• High recycling rate: Aluminum cans have a significantly higher recycling rate compared to most plastic bottles, meaning they are more likely to be reused and not end up in landfills. 

• Less energy intensive production: Producing aluminum cans requires less energy compared to glass or most plastic bottles. 

• Infinite recyclability: Aluminum can be recycled repeatedly with minimal loss in quality