What Can I Do?

We know we humans have been impacting the environment for some time now. Some of the impacts are dramatic and harmful, such as the CFC impact on the ozone layer, and others are still being figured out, such as global warming. Whether global warming is our fault is still not absolutely known, and even if it is, the mechanisms by which we are causing this damage are not fully understood. However, greenhouse gases appear to be a real phenomenon, and one which we can counteract by changing our lifestyle in several small ways. This week I want to summarize many of the tips I've suggested in the past and add a few new ones as well.

The amount of carbon a person or group adds to the environment is referred to as their carbon footprint. In general, we should all strive to have as small a footprint as possible.

To reduce your carbon footprint, here's what you can do today without spending a single new dollar:

• Drive less: Every gallon of gas you use adds something to the overall carbon levels in the atmosphere. By reducing your use of the car, you reduce your footprint. Run your errands all at once so that you can drive to the mall (or wherever) fewer times.
• Drive proactively: Do you remember the slogan from about 30 years ago, "Jackrabbit starts can hurt fuel efficiency."? Sudden changes in speed take exponentially more energy than small adjustments. Think of it like this: the further down you push the pedal, the more fuel you burn in the same distance traveled. 'Flooring it' suddenly dumps a lot of fuel in the engine, and this immediately dumps a lot of carbon in the air. Using small pedal movements might get you where you're going 48 seconds later, but you'll use 10-20% less fuel in the process.
• Turn off the lights: If you're not in a room, why have the light on? Turn off lights when you aren't using them.
• Stop buying incandescent bulbs: The new high-efficiency fluorescent bulbs are nearly indistinguishable from incandescent light bulbs, but use about 70% less energy to light a room. They also last several times longer than regular bulbs, so you'll replace them less often. As your current bulbs burn out, replace them with fluorescent bulbs.
• Recycle: The more we reuse our waste, the less new material we must manufacture. Recycling is simply more efficient overall.
• Change your energy source: Many power companies now offer you the ability to specify you want to use only 'green' energy. As more people request it, they will stop using producers that aren't green. Make your voice heard.
• Eat locally grown food: The shorter distance a carrot is transported, the less fuel is used to get it there. Simple. Buy from markets that obtain food from nearby sources rather than across the country.
• De-regulate your house temperature: On a cold day, keep the heater turned down lower than is fully snug. On a hot day, have the air conditioner set to a warmer temperature. Better yet, don't use air conditioning at all. Changing the temperature of your house is very expensive, both to your wallet and to the earth. Get used to a wider temperature range.
• Air-dry your dishes: If you use a dishwasher, do not use the heat setting to dry dishes, let them air-dry instead. It takes a little longer, but it uses a lot less energy. In a dry climate, it will also add a little humidity to the house, which is nice.
• Air-dry your clothes: If you live in an area where you can hang your clothes out to dry, do it. The clothes dryer is one of the biggest energy users in the house.
• Avoid air conditioning in the car if possible: Your car air conditioner gets its energy from the engine, which has to work harder to keep your car cool. If you're sitting still in traffic, open your windows (at highway speeds the air conditioner is more fuel-efficient than open windows). Get used to being a little warmer in the car. It all helps.

If you can afford to make some small investments for the earth, here are more drastic (and more effective) steps you can take to reduce your footprint:

• Replace your shower-heads: Low-flow shower-heads reduce water consumption, which affects both your water bill and your electric bill, since you're also heating less water to take a shower.
• Check windows for heat leakage: Check for windows that are not sealed properly, and re-caulk any that need it.
• Replace all the lighting in your home: Out with the incandescent bulbs, in with the fluorescent bulbs. Your power bill will go down immediately.
• Paint your home a different color: If you live in a warm climate, make your house a light color. If you live in a cold climate, make it a dark color. Take advantage of basic solar physics.

And if you can afford them, here are a couple more expensive options that can make a significant impact:

• Replace your home appliances: Look for appliances that are designed for high efficiency.
• Buy a fuel-efficient car: Look for a car that meets your needs and does it using less gas.
• Re-landscape: The smaller your lawn is, the less you (or your gardener) use the mower. Lawn mowers are a significant cause of pollution. Go for a more natural, wild look rather than a large, perfect lawn.
• Replace home insulation: Is it time to gut the walls and put new insulation in? Poor insulating can cost hundreds per month in heating and dump tons of carbon per year into the air.

Make the changes you can afford to make. Many are free or at least don't cost you anything above what you're already spending. Some of the larger changes will pay for themselves over a few months or a couple years in reduced utility bills. All of these changes are steps towards a better future for us all.

Resources:

• Global Warming/Climate Change: What we can do about it [www.eartheasy.com]
• 20 Simple Steps to Reduce Global Warming [www.greenhousenet.org]

Other news

• A return to barbarianism? New York City mulls circumcision campaign [www.msnbc.msn.com]
• Just keep the knife away until you're sure: Veteran has wrong testicle removed, files claim [www.msnbc.msn.com]
• Quality-of-life starting to win the war: Women willing to sacrifice pay for fewer hours [www.msnbc.msn.com]

From the editor

How many of the changes above have you already implemented? How many are you willing to implement? Are there other things you do that weren't mentioned? Let me know what you're doing to help the earth.

I am going to write one more newsletter on this theme, then we'll make a switch to other areas. Next week's look at the environment won't be about the earth, but about our attitudes. Stay tuned!

Healthy thoughts,
Jeff