Fighting Climate Change at Home

There are steps you can take to fight climate change in your home and even in your car. You don't have to wait for the government or big businesses act. It is better to take the initiative and do your part.

I've started changing my light bulbs. I didn't do it all at once. Every time I changed a bulb I replaced the old incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent. Not only does this reduce greenhouse gases, it also saves me money in the long run. I recently bought my first LED bulb, but these are still expensive.

It has always been smart to insulate your home. Now, it's even more important. You can reduce energy loss and some say that you can stop your home from emitting greenhouse gases and contributing to global warming by doing this. (I'm not sure about thsi last part.) If you have any doubts about where your home needs additional insulation, you can hire an energy auditor to help you decide.

You can also impact climate change by taking care of the cooling and heating equipment in your home. Change filters every 90 days and have the equipment cleaned and services regularly. Most importantly of all, when the heater or air-conditioner needs to be replaced, get a more efficient model.

You should buy all your appliances with energy efficiency in mind. Energy Star is a rating system in the U.S. that is reserved for efficient products. Buying such products will save energy and may help decrease climate change.

Recycling is one of the easiest ways to help fight climate change and global warming. Check with your local recycling agency for exactly what you can recycle. Best Buy now recycles computers and electronics (with a limit of two per day). You can also further the process by using products that are made from recycled materials.

Consider usuing a push mower instead of a power mower to mow your lawn. Since a push mower uses no energy but your own, this is a great savings. Even if you do use a power mower, you can still help. Use a mower that mulches the grass clippings or one that catches them so you can compost or mulch them.

Consider buying a hybrid, but you can actually take a number of steps without buying a green car. Drive your current auto sensibly, with no rapid starts. Keep your car well-maintained. Things like changing your oil and keeping your car tuned up can make a big difference the greenhouse gasses you produce.

Poorly inflated tires can greatly decrease your gas mileage. This happens because tires must have the proper amount of air in them for the car to reach maximum fuel efficiency. The less efficient your car is, the more it adds to global warming. Make as few trips as possible. Walk when you can. When you have to drive, combine as many errands into one trip as possible.

If you fight climate change and global warming in your home and your car, you can make a difference. Some basic changes can be easily made. If everyone made these simple changes, it would have a powerful impact on the planet.

Green Living - A New Start

We are all feeling the need to help the environment in the face of population growth, pollution, and climate change. Most people would like to "go green," but think that it would be more expensive to change their ways than just going on about their lives.

The good news is that we can save money while staying green. You can adopt a variety of environmentally friendly habits that will keep a good chunk of your hard earned money firmly in your pocket.

I've been working on these strategies for a while, and I want to share these with you here. Stay tuned for even more ideas and share your comments as we help each other go green.