Bike or walk when possible..
Avoiding just 10 miles of driving each week would eliminate about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Take the Sun Tran bus to campus.
Visit Parking and Transportation services on 6th Street to buy cheap student passes.
Source:
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Carpool when you can.
Call 884-RIDE to be matched to a carpool.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Keep your car tuned up.
Regular maintenance helps improve fuel efficiency and reduces emissions.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Check your tires often to make sure they're properly inflated.
Proper inflation can improve gas mileage by more than 3%, reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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When it is time to buy a new car, choose a more fuel-efficient vehicle.
You save 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year if your new car gets only 3 miles per gallon more than your current one. Get up to 60 miles per gallon with a hybrid!
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Try car sharing.
Need a car but don't want to buy one? Community car sharing organizations provide access to a car and your membership fee covers gas, maintenance, and insurance.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Use power strips to turn off TVs, stereos, computers, etc. when not using them.
Even when these are off, their "standby" consumption can be equivalent to that of a 100 watt light bulb running continuously.
Source: Natural Resouce Defense Council
Weblink: http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy/easy.asp |
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Enable the "sleep mode" feature on your computer, allowing it to use less power during periods of inactivity.
In Windows, the power managemet settings are found on your control panel. Mac users, look for energy saving settings under sytsem preferences in the Apple menu.
Source: Natural Resouce Defense Council
Weblink: http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy/easy.asp |
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Configure your computer to "hibernate" automatically after 30 minutes or so of inactivity.
This turns the computer off in a way that doesn't require you to reload everything when you switch it back on.
Source: Natural Resouce Defense Council
Weblink: http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy/easy.asp |
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Use passive solar heating in winter.
During the cool season, leave shades and blinds open on sunny days, but close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows.
Source: Natural Resouce Defense Council
Weblink: http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy/easy.asp |
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Reduce solar heating in summer..
When it is hot, close shades and blinds during the day to keep your home cool.
Source: Natural Resouce Defense Council
Weblink: http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy/easy.asp |
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Set the appropriate water level in the clothes washer for the size of the load.
This both saves water and is energy-efficient.
Source: Natural Resouce Defense Council
Weblink: http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy/easy.asp |
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Clean the lint filter in the dryer after each use.
But a clothesline is still the most energy-efficient clothes dryer of all!
Source: Natural Resouce Defense Council
Weblink: http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy/easy.asp |
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Don't forget to flick off the light switch when you leave a room.
Source: Natural Resouce Defense Council
Weblink: http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy/easy.asp |
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Use "sweeps" or "shoes" at the bottom of doors.
The gaps around the windows and doors in an average American house are the equivalent of a 3-ft. by 3-ft. hole in the wall.
Source: Natural Resouce Defense Council
Weblink: http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy/easy.asp |
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Use window putty to seal gaps around loose window panels.
The gaps around the windows and doors in an average American house are the equivalent of a 3-ft. by 3-ft. hole in the wall.
Source: Natural Resouce Defense Council
Weblink: http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy/easy.asp |
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Cover bare floors with padded rugs for added insulation.
The gaps around the windows and doors in an average American house are the equivalent of a 3-ft. by 3-ft. hole in the wall.
Source: Natural Resouce Defense Council
Weblink: http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/genergy/easy.asp |
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Buy used clothing and products.
Visit a thrift store, yard sale, craigslist.org, or post a wanted ad on http://www.freecycle.org.
Source: ECOalition
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Try not to buy beverages in glass containers on the UA campus.
You cannot recycle glass at the UA.
Source: ECOalition
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Print double-sided copies in the library.
Printers in Aisle C of the Main Library have a double-sided option which saves $.05 per copy!
Source: ECOalition
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Donate used clothing and products.
Your garbage is someone else's treasure. Donate to charities and thrift stores.
Source: ECOalition
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Reuse paper.
Use scrap paper and both sides whenever possible. A lot of scrap paper is available in the library!
Source: ECOalition
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Get off junk mail lists.
The junk mail Americans receive every day consume about 1.5 trees per household! Visit dmaconsumers.org/offmailinglist.html for more information.
Source: Melanie Lenart
Weblink: http://www.dmaconsumers.org/offmailinglist.html |
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Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). But make sure you dispose of them properly.
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This switch saves about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Set your thermostat 2 degrees lower In winter and 2 degrees higher in summer.
About half the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and cooling. You could save 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Clean or replace filters or pads on your furnace, air conditioner, or swamp cooler.
Clearning a dirty air filter can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Install a programmable thermostat.
By letting the thermostat automatically adjust temperature in the evenings and mornings, you can save up to $100 a year on your energy bill.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Choose energy-efficient appliances when making new purchases.
Look for the Energy Star label on new appliances to choose the most efficient models.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket.
You'll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Install a low-flow showerhead.
You can save about 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Wash your clothes in cold water instead of hot.
You can save about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible.
You can save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide when you air dry your clothes for 6 months out of the year.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Turn off electronic devices you're not using.
Turning off TVs, DVD players, stereos, computers, etc., will save thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Unplug electronics from the wall when you're not using them.
Even when turned off, things like cell phone chargers, hairdryers, and TVs use energy.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Only run your dishwasher when there is a full load.
You can save water and 100 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Use the energy-efficient settings including AIR DRY on your dishwasher.
You can save water and 100 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Be sure to recycle at home, school, and work.
You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of your waste.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Buy recycled paper products.
It takes 70-90% less energy to make recycled paper and it prevents the loss of forests worldwide.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Plant a native-species tree.
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce your electricity bill 10 to 15%.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Buy locally grown and produced foods.
The average meal in the U.S. travels 1,200 miles from the farm to your plate. Buying locally will save fuel and keep money in your community.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Buy fresh foods instead of frozen.
Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Seek out and support local farmers' markets.
They reduce the amount of energy required to grow and transport to you by one fifth. The UA farmers' market takes place every Friday morning on the mall.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Buy organic foods as much as possible.
Organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels than soils from conventional farms. Organic products are also better for your health!
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Avoid heavily packaged products.
You can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you cut down your garbage by 10%.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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Bring a reusable cloth bag to the store.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags.
Source:
Weblink: http://www.reusablebags.com/ |
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Eat farther down on the food chain (less meat).
Far more resources are used to produce grains, fruits and vegetables than are used to produce meat. And cows emit methane, the second most significant greenhouse gas.
Source: An Inconvenient Truth Website
Weblink: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/ |
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