Each of us must take steps to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and thereby our impact on the climate.

There are many small things that you can do to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. Not only will they reduce emissions without significantly impacting your lifestyle, many of them will save you money!

• Choose energy efficient lighting and appliances for your home Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use 66% less energy than incandescent bulbs, and many newer models of appliances have been designed to operate much more efficiently than older appliances. In the USA, consider purchasing Energy Star certified appliances, which must meet efficiency requirements. While CFLs and highly-efficient appliances have higher up-front costs, their reduced energy-use will not only reduce emissions, it will save you money in the long-run.
• Heat and cool your house intelligently: Heating and air conditioning often accounts for approximately 45% of a household’s energy use. By lowering your thermostat a few degrees in the winter and setting your air conditioner a few degrees higher in the summer, you can greatly reduce electricity use. This lowered energy use will reduce emissions and, like CFLs and efficient appliances, keep more money in your pocket.
• Reduce standby power waste: 25% of the power that a television uses is consumed when it is “off”. Many of your appliances, from cell phones to dishwashers, draw small but continuous amounts of power when they are in standby mode. When your appliances are not in use, consider unplugging them or turning off the power strip to which they are connected.
• Make the switch to green power: As time goes on, there are more and more ways in which to switch to clean energy options. Talk to your energy provider about purchasing green energy!
• Drive less: Simply by driving 20 miles less per week, you can eliminate about 1,000 pounds of CO2 emissions per week! There are many ways in which to reduce the miles you put on your car: plan your shopping ahead of time to reduce the number of trips you need to make, ride a bike or walk instead of driving short distances (the exercise will do you good, as well), consider joining a carpool for trips to and from work. By driving few miles, you’ll reduce your emissions and spend less on gasoline.
• Drive smarter: Simply by driving “smarter” you can greatly reduce your automobile emissions. Regular maintenance of your car, properly inflated tires, and driving a few miles per hour slower will all tend to improve mileage.
• Make your purchases last: Whenever possible, purchase durable goods rather than disposable ones. For example, consider using a lightweight cotton sack to carry your groceries rather than using plastic bags. If possible, repair a damaged item rather than simply throwing it away.
• Recycle: While it does take energy to sort, clean and reprocess recycled items, it takes a whole lot less than producing brand new items and landfilling the discarded ones. Most communities recycle paper and plastic, glass, aluminum and steel. Many communities also recycle motor oil, tire, asphalt shingles and other products, as well. Check with your local government to find out what materials you can recycle.
• Use a refillable water bottle: Not only does it require a significant amount of energy to produce a disposable plastic bottle, the long-distance transport of bottled water also results in great amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. Carrying and refilling a bottle of water will reduce emissions and save you money.
• Buy locally produced food: It is estimated that the average meal travels over 1,200 miles to reach your table! By buying locally produced food you can greatly reduce the transport-related emissions of your groceries. Not only that, you will be helping to support your local farmers.
• Purchase offsets to balance out your remaining emissions! Virtually every activity that we engage in, from eating to driving to work, produces greenhouse gas emissions. Indeed, even breathing produces carbon dioxide! By making minor changes here and there we can greatly reduce our climate impact, but we cannot reduce it to zero. You can, however, purchase carbon offsets to neutralize your climate impact! By funding projects that reduce emissions or pull carbon from the atmosphere, it is possible to become “climate neutral” at very low cost.

To become a part of the carbon neutral community, all you need to do is:

• Calculate your carbon footprint
• Choose a quality carbon offset vendor
• Purchase offsets to balance your carbon emissions

After these simple steps, you’ll be able to tell your family and friends that you’ve gone climate neutral!