What are some ways one can save energy and thus make one's "cabon footprint" smaller?
Answer:
1. Use led bulbs rather then incandescent or compact fluorescent.
2. Use the power saving features on your desktop, not just your laptop.
3. Use battery powered devices and use rechargeable batteries with them and always recycle the batteries when their no longer rechargeable. Alarm clocks are the best example, why do you need one that plugs in? There are battery powered options.
4. Charge your cell phone with a solar charger rather then the household current.
Here's a nifty little solar charger for cell phones and its relatively inexpensive
http://www.goldengadgets.com/product_inf...
5. Seal your house up, get that expandable foam and seal up every crack and crevasse.
6. insulate the attic.
7. Insulate the basement, under the flooring and around the walls. You can put up wallboard in the basement that will double as insulation.
8. Get a water heater blanket and wrap all your pipes, hot and cold.
9. Walk more places and ride a bike more rather then driving everywhere.
10. Make your car more fuel efficient or buy a more fuel efficient vehicle.
There are ways to make a car more fuel efficient:
a. stop driving so fast, stay at a constant speed.
b. free up the exhaust
c. get a new air filter, k & n is good.
d. if you car is relatively newer then consider switching to synthetic oil
e. reduce weight, get all that junk out of the trunk.
f. check tire pressure once a month
g. get new spark plugs, bosch platinum are good fuel saving ones.
h. get the the injectors cleaned. Ultrasonic cleaning is best for injectors.
you can spell carbon right
use public transportation, don't take flights or reduce taking them, turn up the AC, turn down the heat, reduce flushing the toilet, try to walk to work, MAYBE plant some trees
Thats a good list of things you can do
Invest in solar power, there are some great personal solar products on the market these days. Write to your local politicians to encourage their support in renewable energy. Support businesses that conserve energy, even by turning off some of their lights. Change the filter in your a/c & furnace (assuming you are in a living situation where this is possible). Turn off lights in unused rooms don't leave the t.v on unless one is watching it. (My dogs would disagree with me here)
Educate yourself; learn why solar, wind & water are solid energy sources. If you can, create less dependency on fossile fuels. The suggestion above of taking public transportation is excellent. If you can, walk and/or cycle as much as possible. Recycle. Clean up trash off the streets & parks, even if it's not your trash. Live minimally. Check out Freecycle and pass on what you no longer need.
and yes, plant trees!
All of Michael Y's ideas are valid--but here's a different tack: help save green by going green. :)
What I mean is that you can use a LOT less energy--in ways that will put money in your pocket--and without changing your lifestyle. Most things mean an up-front investment. But that can be kept to a minimum with some advance plannig (the first item I'l explain how--but the principle applies to everything):
1) replace old appliences as they wear out with energy-efficiet ones. Planning: by waiting till the useful life of the item is over, you minimize any added cost--because it will be only the difference (if any) between an energy eficent model and the replacement you'd buy anyway. The reduced energy use will almost certainly save you more over time than any cost differential.
2) energy efficient light bulbs. Note: cheaper thanyou think-check Loews/HomeDepot, etc.
3) Home insulation, weatherstripping, etc
4) thos trees Michalel Y mentioned. Shade on the southern side ofa house can cut cooling bills by up to 20% (awnings or a covered deck work-the idea is to keep the sun off the house).
5) at trade in time, a higher-mileage car. Hybrids are great, but its tough to actually save money because the cars themselves are expensive.
6) solar energy (cost-effective now with tax credits, etc. In 5 years though, even without credits, solar enrgy is going to be cheap enough to pay for itself--a lot of new technology ut there).
Remember--this a (partial) list ONLY of things that will cut carbon emissions AND save you money in the long run. :)
1) Buy CFC free refrigerators & air conditioners.
2) Use public transport. If not, do car/bike pooling to save fuel and emit less carbon mono oxide which plays important role in global warming.
3) Switch off lights & fans when not needed. Use energy efficient bulbs/tube lights at home.
4) Use water economically for washing, bathing etc., Remember there are millions of people out there who don't have access to potable water. Even drops of water leaking from your tap could waste many litres of water per day.
5) Protect trees & plants around you. Plant more trees.
6) Lastly, educate people around you on the above and many other things that you have learnt to spread the awareness and protect the environment.
Fly when possible instead of driving alone. Sounds crazy, but most large jets get 50 passenger miles per gallon. Put on a sweater if you're cold instead of turning up the heat. 60' is comfortable if you take the time to get used to it. Sleep with a friend to keep warm. Hang clothes on a clothes line- inside if you can't do it outside. The evaporation will cool your house. Only use dryer to fluff clothes after dry. Don't drink bottled water shipped from Europe! Get a good filter and drink tap water with a little flavoring added if you must. Install window shades to block sun in summer and keep heat in in winter.
There are some simple ways to save energy around the home, for a start switch off appliances at the wall - standby power can amount for about 10% of a household energy bill. Switch off and begin to save.
Change your light globes to low energy ones, they might be more expensive but they will last longer. Also think about your hot water system, if you have the money go solar, if you have an electric system you can actually switch off the hot water system for most of the day but still have the hot water you need. The trick is to turn it on for an hour or two before you shower, wash or do the dishes. For heaps of ideas try http://www.coolmob.org/default.lasso...
As the others have suggested take public transport where you can, combine trips when you have to use a car and think about riding or walking to your destination. Just think you save emissions and get fitter, a win win situation.
When buying new appliances, pay attention to the energy ratings. Replace as many light bulbs as you can with compact fluorescent or other more efficient lamps. Carpool or use public transportation. Don't turn up the heat, put on a sweater.
And one of the biggies in my house, turn off the light when you leave the room .
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