1. Lower your thermostat. Buy a programmable thermostat.

2. Reuse your water bottle. Avoid buying bottled water. In fact, reuse everything at least once, especially plastics.

3. Check out your bathroom. Use low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets.

4. Start a compost in your back yard or on your rooftop.

5. Buy foods locally. Check out Eat Local Challenge and FoodRoutes to get started. Buy locally made products and locally produced services.

6. Buy in season.

7. Buy compact fluorescent light bulbs. You’ll find more on energy-efficient products and practices at Energy Star.

8. Turn off lights and electronics when you leave the room. Unplug your cell phone charger from the wall when not using it. Turn off energy strips and surge protectors when not in use (especially overnight).

9. Recycle your newspapers.

10. Car pool. Connect with other commuters at eRideShare.

What’s So Bad About Greenhouse Gases?

The United Nations intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released conclusive evidence that global warming is indeed happening, primarily as a result of the atmosphere being “overweight” with greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

Greenhouse gases are a family of gases that trap radiant energy. When we burn fossil fuels, a non renewable energy source, primarily to make electricity, we are releasing carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere, thereby increasing our effect on the environment in the form of global warming and climate change.

Scientists have shown that climate changes will alter vegetation, wildlife habitats, crop growing seasons and distribution of pests and diseases. As well, global warming will cause a continued and accelerated rise in sea levels, threatening half of the world’s most critical coastal wetlands and that soon the world will be warmer than at any time in the last 10,000 years.

Where Does My Carbon Footprint Come From?

The fact is everyday seemingly-innocent activities lead to CO2 emissions that leak into the atmosphere. These include simply driving to work, cooking breakfast, heating your home in the winter or flying to a business meeting. All lead to accumulating carbon dioxide pounds—or your “carbon footprint.”

What are Greenhouse Gases?

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are often called greenhouse gases.

Some greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide occur naturally and are emitted to the atmosphere through natural processes and human activities. Other greenhouse gases (e.g., fluorinated gases) are created and emitted solely through human activities. The principal greenhouse gases that enter the atmosphere because of human activities are:

·    Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), solid waste, trees and wood products, and also as a result of other chemical reactions (e.g., manufacture of cement). Carbon dioxide is also removed from the atmosphere (or “sequestered”) when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle.

·    Methane (CH4): Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock and other agricultural practices and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills.

·    Nitrous Oxide (N2O): Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste.

·    Fluorinated Gases: Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a variety of industrial processes. Fluorinated gases are sometimes used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (i.e., CFCs, HCFCs, and halons). These gases are typically emitted in smaller quantities, but because they are potent greenhouse gases, they are sometimes referred to as High Global Warming Potential gases (“High GWP gases”).

What Can I Do To Reduce My Carbon Footprint?

Taking measures to reduce your carbon footprint can (and will literally) mean the world. The first step is to determine the current size of your footprint. Please calculate your household emissions on the Environmental Protection Agency’s website: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html