Sign The Declaration of Independence from Fossil Fuels
Do the Easy Stuff
Let's start with the easy stuff. The basics. The slam-dunks.
Below we've pulled together ten incredibly simple things you can do at home to reduce your energy use, fight global warming and save some cash. These may sound obvious, but you've got to learn to walk before you can shatter Olympic records.
1. Update your light bulbs
Compact fluorescent light bulbs—those pretty curlicued thingies—use ¼ the energy, last 10 times longer, and produce more light per watt than incandescent bulbs. WOW! If every American household replaced just 1 light bulb with a CFL, it'd be like taking 800,000 cars off the road. And, there's also the little issue of saving boatloads of money on your electric bill too.
- ACE ACTION: Do the swap! Go home today and switch out 5 regular light bulbs with CFLs. CFLs are everywhere these days—pick them up at your local store. Check out PG&E.com for locations.
- Check out Unscrew America, a totally sweet site all about CFLs, LEDs and old bulbs!
2. Unplug your stuff
All your favorite electronics—Xboxes, cell-phone chargers,computers, lava lamps, etc—still use energy when plugged in even if they're turned off. Yeah, it sounds ridiculous, but that's how they're designed. Unplugging these energy vampires can reduce your family’s carbon output by 1000 lbs. a year.
- ACE ACTION: Power off! Plug your home appliances and electronics into easy-to-reach power strips that you can turn off when not in use. Also, learn about your home’s carbon footprint at Joinclimatesmart.com.
3. Buy green stuff
No, they don't have to be the COLOR green, just good for the planet. Vote with your dolla dolla bills y'all by supporting companies that go the extra mile for climate protection.
For example, Patagonia keeps down the carbon footprint of all their products, and lets you track their carbon impact from design through delivery. Plus they'll make you look hot on the ski slopes.
- ACE ACTION: Find out how your favorite company ranks in climate protection at climatecounts.org. Check out the Climate Counts pocket guide and take it along next time you hit the mall.
4. Cut out the junk
Everything we use, wear, and eat, requires energy to create and transport. Acquiring less stuff, and avoiding single-use disposable items, are easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint. And do you really need that thirtieth pair of cheap shoes anyway?
- ACE ACTION: Buy less junk! Save up and get quality products that will last—
and make you look good like you should - ACE ACTION: Get rid of all those paper-based catalogs clogging up your mailbox—use services like Catalog Choice to get the digital version instead
5. Use it over and over again
Go for pre-loved and reusable stuff to save on the transport and production of new materials.
- ACE ACTION: Hit your local thrift store for stylin back-to-school threads – check out Karla's Bonanza for green fashion tips that save money and make you look mahvelous.
- ACE ACTION: Pick up reusable bags for grocery shopping and reusable containers for your grub. Lunch always tastes better when you're saving the planet.
6. Throw it in the blue bin
We’ve heard it a million times and it’s the oldest one in the book—recycle, duh! It's hard to believe, but lots of otherwise smart people don't recycle, even in 2009. Here's are some reasons why they don't—and ways you can help fix it.
- Maybe your school or town doesn’t have a recycling program? Say what????! Not to worry, the good people at earth911 have broken down the easy how-to’s of starting a recycling program from scratch. And our friends at DoSomething have put together a guide specifically for helping schools.
- Some people aren't sure if their trash is recyclable. The easy rule of thumb is, when in doubt, recycle it (duh)! For more specifics, check out this sweet recycling cheat sheet.
7. Kick the bottle habit
Bottled water is TERRIBLE for the environment. It wastes energy AND creates millions of unnecessary plastics. Approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil—enough to run 100,000 cars for a whole year—are used to make plastic water bottles each year, and transporting these bottles burns even more oil.
Yeah, but plastic bottles are recyclable, you say. That may be true—but nearly 90 percent of water bottles are not recycled and wind up in landfills where it takes thousands of years for the plastic to decompose. And—get this—bottled water costs 10,000 times more than tap water!
- ACE ACTION: Don’t buy any more bottled water! Instead, pick up a styling reusable container from Klean Kanteen and fill up with tasty, clean—and basically free—tap water
8. Eat local
We all love our fresh grapes from Chile—but that food has been picked, packaged, trucked, flown and trucked again to get to you. It's a huge waste of oil—especially when local farmers produce delicious grub that supports the local economy.
- ACE ACTION: Nothing's hotter than a green thumb. Start a garden in your own backyard or sign up for a plot at a community garden, and get hoeing! Salads never tasted so good.
- ACE ACTION: If you're feeling lazy, leave the gardening to professionals. Hit up your local farmer's market for food made near you – you can find them using the handy dandy service over at localharvest.org.
9. Walk or bike to school
Walking or biking gives off zero carbon! Plus, it can be a pretty fun way to get around. You’ll emit one less pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you don’t drive.
- ACE ACTION: Walk or bike to school once a week. Get your friends to join you to multiply your positive impact (and make the commute more fun). Check out safe routes to your school. Video of sweet biking action!
10. Get the word out!
Your friends and family are influenced by, well—YOU! You have the power to change behavior and contribute to solving the climate crisis by influencing others. And if you don't believe us, just check out this party animal. Video!
- ACE ACTION: Use and share the ACE Cards with your family and friends- once you've started going green, share these with your family and friends so they will too.
- ACE ACTION: Sign our Declaration of Independence from Fossil Fuels—and send it to 10 friends to sign. (They'll also get to star in our awesome "Crush Global Warming" music video)
- ACE ACTION: Post your new climate-saving actions on your Facebook or Myspace profile and watch your friends drool with jealousy
Got more ideas on easy ways to cut your carbon emissions? Let us know! Drop your ideas on our Facebook wall, or shoot us an email here—thanks!
Looking for more than a top ten? Brighter Planet has a ton more tips for conserving energy!