Support Nature and Nature Will Fight Climate Change
Deforestation: causes 15% of carbon emissions; the rain forest could mitigate 50% of carbon emissions through 2050
- -Plant a tree(s)
- -Support organizations that fight deforestation by preserving land
- -Globally: Rain forest Trust
- -Domestically: Nature Conservancy, Vital Ground
- -Support organizations that fight deforestation through legal actions
- -Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for Biological Diversity
- -Support organizations that fight deforestation by educating children
- -Jane Goodall Institute's Roots and Shoots
Be a Concerned Consumer
- -Food
- -Buy more local foods
- -Buy more seasonal foods
- -Eat less meat (Bison may be better than beef)
- -Grow a vegetable victory garden
- -Compost
- -Buy sustainably grown coffee
- -Shopping in General
- -Buy paper and wood products certified as to sustainably produced (such as by FSC)
- -Buy products with recycled packaging or components
- -Buy more locally made products
- -Vehicles: A gallon of gasoline creates about 20 pounds of CO2 emissions, plus greenhouse gasses with even higher global warming potential. If practical:
- -Telecommute
- -Ride share or carpool
- -Public transportation (once safe)
- -Walk or bike
- -Opt for electric, hybrid or fuel-efficient cars
- -Radial tires and tires at the correct PSI reduce fuel consumption
- -Don't idle your car, turn off the engine to reduce emissions and gas consumption
- -Travel
- -Pay for carbon offset if the airline offers it
- -Pay for carbon offset if the rental car company offers it
- -Electricity, Electronics, and Appliances
- -Consider having ComEd obtain electricity for your usage from renewable sources (i.e. MC Squared Energy Services and Arcadia Power)
- -Consider using solar energy
- -Buy electronics and appliances with the Energy Star badge, meaning they meet the EPA's requirements as energy efficient
- -Turn off lights and electronics when they are not needed
- -If possible, unplug appliances when they are not in use (they draw power even when switched off)
- -Use efficient lighting such as LED's or compact fluorescent
- -Wait to wash dishes and clothes until there is a full load
- -If possible, unplug or reduce the brightness on microwaves and programmable coffee makers as they use more power displaying the time in one year than in heating food
- -If possible, power down electronics like TV's, cable boxes, video game consoles, as over the course of a year, they can use more energy in "standby mode" than when in active use
- -Computers and Phones
- -Unplug your chargers when not in use as they draw energy even when your device isn't plugged in
- -Laptops consume 5x less electricity than desktops
- -Use low power or sleep mode instead of screensavers as most screensavers use the same amount of energy as when the screen is in normal use
- -Use LCD screens for external monitors
- -Make monitors more efficient with power saving such as SpeedStrip or Energy Saver
- -Switch your computer off if you aren't using it
- -Only print what you have to and print double sided
- -Inkjet printer uses less energy than lasers
- -HVAC
- -Set AC up 2 degrees to lessen CO2 emissions by 2,000 pounds
- -Set heat down 2 degrees (and wear a sweater/sweatshirt)
- -Consider an energy audit
- -Effective insulation for attics, doors, and windows
- -Use caulking and weather strips to prevent leaks
- -In summer, stay cooler using shades, curtains, etc...
- -Electric heat pumps are twice as energy efficient as natural gas
- -Reduce, Reuse, Up-cycle, Recycle
- -Avoid single use plastic bags
- -Reuse your plastic bags
- -Shop with reusable bags
- -Try to up-cycle or re-purpose before tossing it in the garbage
- -Know what can be recycled
- -Use recycled paper
- -Try to avoid food and other products with a lot of packaging
- -Choose sustainable, non-plastic toys for children
- -Cosmetic packaging, shampoo bottles and makeup compacts can be recycled through teracycle.com
- -Do an internet search for drop-offs for responsibly disposing of eWaste such as computers and cell phones.
- -Do an internet search for drop-offs for properly disposing of batteries
- -Water
- -Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving
- -Install water shaving shower heads
- -Install dual-flush toilets
- -High efficiency (HE) washing machines use 25% less energy and 33% less water
- -Your water heater is probably hot enough at 120 degrees
Political Actions (if you choose to support them)
- -Urge local government to use green energy
- -Urge local and state government to divest oil and gas investments
- -Support the Illinois Clean Energy Jobs Act (each utility to use renewable energy of 25% by June 2025, 100% by June 2050 with an interim goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by June 2030)
- -Support federal green energy and green jobs legislation
- -Support and vote for candidates who will take action against climate change