SOLUTIONS Personal Steps

Individuals can have an impact on global climate change. Making choices that reduce your family's heat-trapping emissions does not mean forgoing modern conveniences; it means making smart decisions and using energy-efficient products that may require an additional investment up front, but often pay you back in energy savings within a couple of years.

Since Americans produce 5.6 tons of heat-trapping emissions on a per capita basis—more than double the amount of western Europeans—we can all make choices that will greatly reduce our families' contributions to global warming.

1. Drive a fuel-efficient car.
   Your next car is the most important climate decision you will make, so look for the model with the best fuel economy in its class. Each gallon of gasoline you use releases 25 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. Better gas mileage not only reduces global warming, but will also save you thousands of dollars at the pump over the life of the vehicle. Compare the fuel economy of the cars you're considering and look for new technologies such as hybrid engines.
   
   
2. Choose clean power.
   More than half the electricity in the United States comes from polluting coal-fired power plants, and power plants are the single largest source of heat-trapping emissions. None of us can live without electricity, but in some states, you can switch to electricity suppliers that provide 50 to 100 percent renewable energy.
   
   
3. Look for the Energy Star.
   When it comes time to replace appliances, look for the Energy Star label (refrigerators, freezers, furnaces, air conditioners, and water heaters use the most energy). These items may cost a bit more initially, but the energy savings will pay back your extra investment within a couple of years. Household energy savings really can make a difference: if each U.S. household replaced its existing appliances with the most efficient models available, we would save $15 billion in energy costs and eliminate 175 million tons of heat-trapping emissions.
   
   
4. Unplug a freezer.
   If you own an extra refrigerator or freezer you rarely use, one of the quickest ways to reduce your global warming impact would be to unplug it (except when you need it for holidays and parties). This can reduce the typical family's carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 10 percent.
   
   
5. Get a home energy audit.
   Take advantage of the free home energy audits offered by many utilities. Simple measures, such as installing a programmable thermostat or sealing and insulating heating and cooling ducts, can each reduce a typical family's carbon dioxide emissions by about five percent.
   
   
6. Light bulbs matter.
   If every U.S. household replaced one standard incandescent light bulb with an energy-saving compact fluorescent model, we could reduce global warming pollution by more than 90 billion pounds over the life of the bulbs—the same as taking 6.3 million cars off the road. Compact fluorescent bulbs now come in all shapes and sizes and not only cut back on heat-trapping pollution but also save money on your electric bill and replacement bulbs.
   
   
7. Think before you drive.
   If you own more than one vehicle, use the less fuel-efficient one only when you can fill it with passengers or cargo (driving a full minivan may be kinder to the environment than two mid-size cars). Whenever possible, carpool or take mass transit.
   
   
8. Buy good wood.
   When buying lumber, check to see whether it has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Supporting forests that are managed in a sustainable fashion makes sense for biodiversity and it may make sense for the climate too. Forests that are well managed are more likely to store carbon effectively because more trees are left standing and carbon-storing soils are less disturbed.
   
   
9. Plant a tree.
   You can also make a difference in your own backyard. Get a group together in your neighborhood and contact a local arborist or forester about planting trees on private property and public land. In addition to storing carbon, trees planted in and around residences and urban areas can provide much-needed shade in the summer, reducing energy bills and fossil fuel use.
   
   
10. Let policy makers know you are concerned about global warming.
    Our elected officials and business leaders need to hear from concerned citizens. Sign up for the Union of Concerned Scientists Action Network to ensure that policy makers get the timely, accurate information they need to make informed decisions about global warming solutions.