Switching-Off  Turn off lights, computers, and appliances and unplug battery re-chargers when not in use.  Phantom loads can count for up to 30% of energy use.

Natural Ventilation and Light 

• Open home windows from top (warm air escapes) and bottom (cool breezes in) during nice weather.  Circulating fans make one feel cooler in summer and mix air for more even heating in winter. 
• Layer clothing to keep thermostats comfortably lower in winter and reduce air conditioning in summer. 
• Position reading and work areas near windows to reduce the need for electric lighting. 
• Adjust blinds strategically: opening shades and blinds on sunny days in winter accesses solar heat gain, while closing blinds to sun on hot days helps keep interiors cooler.

Cut back on driving  Car pool, plan errands around other trips to an area, and walk, bike or use public transportation as much as possible.

See On the Road for more tips and this woman's example...

Air dry clothes  Clothes lines and racks indoors or out reduce electricity used in dryers.

Reduce, reuse, re-cycle  Eliminating waste saves money and energy –

• Both in one’s household and on a community level (lower taxes) when less is sent to landfills, or disposal costs are avoided entirely through reduced use and re-use.  When renovating, donate used but usable appliances and building supplies to Habitat For Humanity's Re-Store.  You can also lower your building and project costs and give materials added life by purchasing supplies there.
• Additional building materials can be salvaged when owners invite Habitat's Deconstruction program to dismantle all or parts of structures.  The "de-constructionists" lower carbon footprint by reclaiming and recycling all kinds of materials that might otherwise go to landfills.
  

Outside Energy Savings  Switch to a push mower (with zero emissions)

• Compost kitchen and yard waste (eliminating the energy involved in transporting waste or purchasing mulch)
• Water at cool (low evaporation) times of day – preferably with rain water (treating water uses significant energy)

Budget energy savings towards investing in future efficiency improvements

• Improving energy efficiency through home design changes or major systems upgrades can require significant up front investment. 
• Tax credits and lower utility bills help offset those costs over time, but budgeting from on-going energy savings can help raise needed funds.

Buy Local  Goods produced close to home require less energy to be delivered to you.  Supporting local producers creates a supply network less vulnerable to interruptions caused by international political economics /oil supply shocks.

Produce grown locally is just one example of what you can purchase that is locally produced. To find out more and some of the many benefits of eating local, click on this image.

Avoid Excess Packaging  Purchase products with as little packaging as possible – and voice concerns to manufacturers and marketers about over-packaging (or feedback praise about recyclable and well-designed packaging).  Take a canvas bag to bring home purchases - and check out this great video!

Use Green Power  KU and other utility providers are beginning to offer green power (generated through renewable sources) for a small premium.  

Offset your remaining contribution to global warming  Once you have reduced your use of energy use as much as possible, calculate your remaining carbon/energy footprint and consider offsetting the balance through investment in initiatives that absorb CO2 to move towards ‘zero (net) carbon’ and climate impact. Explore how this works at carbonfund.org.

Be an agent of change - Educate those in your household about opportunities for energy improvement and involve family members in measuring progress.  Contact companies you patronize with suggestions for energy improvements and praise for well-conceived improvements.  Share your individual energy improvements and progress with colleagues and neighbors or by posting an example on this or other web sites.  Encourage schools and organizations you join to adopt more climate-friendly policies.  Inform government representatives of ways local, state and federal agencies can reduce global warming.  See In Your Organizations and With Your Government for more details.

Celebrate your progress along the way.  Remember that big changes can be made one step at a time – and the more fun you have along the way, the more likely your efforts will be sustained.

Content:  Nina McCormack, Northwest Earth Institute, Dick Shore