Reduce Your Energy Footprint Today
Ten Easy Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint:
- Change your light bulbs. Compact fluorescent lights (CFL) use 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last twice as long. LED bulbs are even better.
- Reprogram your thermostat. Many families can save 10% off their home heating bill just by not heating the house when they’re asleep or not home.
- Insulate your home. Most insulation projects pay for themselves in less than a year. Start small by sealing up doors and windows with weather stripping; then move on to bigger projects like the attic and crawlspace.
- Maintain your car. An oil change, clean air filter, and properly inflated tires can increase your gas mileage by 5% - 10%. That’s like knocking 40 cents a gallon off the price at the pump.
- Turn your stuff all the way off. Many household electronics go into “standby” mode, often using almost as much energy as when they are on. Use a power strip to completely shut them down.
- Find a new way to work. Half of Washington’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation. If you’re still driving to work in a single-occupancy vehicle, it’s time to rethink your commute. Commit to finding an alternative way to work at least one day a week.
- Close the loop. Re-use, recycle and buy recycled. Recycled products use up to 95% less energy than those made from virgin materials. And be sure to support businesses that buy locally, sell recycled products and use renewable energy.
- Eat less meat (or none at all). It takes 5 – 10 times more energy, water, fertilizer and other resources to produce meat compared to the same number of calories from grains or vegetables. In fact, the average American can reduce their carbon footprint as much by becoming a vegetarian as by giving up their car!
- Buy local. A big part of your carbon footprint is the energy used to transport food and consumer products across the country or around the world. Check out www.pugetsoundfresh.org for a list of local farmers markets.
- Buy green energy. Nearly every electric utility in Washington offers the opportunity to “green up” your power by investing in renewable energy sources.
Bonus #11
Feeling more ambitious? Washington offers some of the best incentives in America for renewable energy projects at home. You can sell solar or wind power from your home back onto the grid for the full retail price or more!