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Be an Energy Saver
When it comes to global warming, our personal actions can make a difference. And they show people we care about lowering carbon emissions and fighting climate change .
Here are some things that you and your family can do to save energy and be climate champions. Some of these are easy, some are harder, and some are fun! Everything you can do helps.
Post this list on a refrigerator or bulletin board as a reminder of what you can do to save energy.
Getting Around
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Bike, carpool, walk, or take public transportation
Start a bike bus in your neighborhood: Bike with other kids and adults in a group that stops like a school bus to pick people up along the route. Always use a helmet and be safe!
Travel light
Extra weight in a car means more fuel burned and more emissions. So pack light.
Shopping
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Eat the food you buy
A fifth of the world's food supply goes to waste. That's enough to make one billion meals a day! Food loss and waste is responsible for up to 10 percent of greenhouse emissions. If you end up with extra, try out new recipes.
Buy less inedible stuff, too
It takes a lot of energy to make new things, like clothes, phones, and toys. Try sharing things with friends, repairing things, or using what you already have for a longer amount of time. And try to choose secondhand goods when you have to buy something.
Choose recycled goods
Look for the recycled logo on the things you buy, like paper, tissues, and paper towels. Or use washable cloth napkins and rags, instead.
Bring your own bags
Instead of taking a new plastic bag, you can put your purchases in cloth bags, backpacks, or reusable plastic bags.
Eating and Drinking
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Drink tap water
It takes a lot of energy to produce and ship bottled water. And most plastic bottles are not recycled. If you want to carry water with you, get a reusable bottle and fill it with tap water.
Use fewer disposable containers
Plastic takeout containers, utensils, and bags all take energy to produce.
Buy locally grown foods
Flying, trucking, and shipping foods around the world uses oil. Help your family shopper find locally grown food in your supermarket.
Eat more fruits, grains, and vegetables
Not only are they good for you, but they produce less greenhouse gases, too! It takes a lot more energy to produce animal products (like meat and dairy) and processed foods (like fruit juice, soda, candies, and chips) than to grow fruits and vegetables.
At Home
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Use less electricity
Turn off and unplug electronics, like lights, computers, and televisions, when you're not using them.
Switch to "Energy Star" products
From light bulbs to refrigerators, your family can look for products with an Energy Star label. It tells you how much energy an item uses and saves.
Compost
Compost food scraps instead of putting them in the landfill. That way, bacteria break them down without releasing methane, a very potent greenhouse gas. And you can use the compost to grow plants, too!
Check the thermostat
Try keeping the temperature settings lower in the winter (at most 68°F) and higher in the summer (at least 78°F). If you're still hot, try using a fan.
Wash differently
Run dishwashers and washing machines only when full. Also, wash using cold or warm water instead of hot water.
Turn to clean energy
Wind , solar , and hydroelectric power provide energy without emitting carbon dioxide. Your family can explore energy options.
Outdoors
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Plant trees and shrubs
They shade buildings, cool outdoor spaces, and absorb greenhouse gases from the air.
Do outdoor work differently
Leaf and snow blowers use gas or electricity. Raking and shoveling emit no carbon dioxide!