by Kirstin McPolin
The Quick Facts: In a weekend, your family can reduce the amount of carbon they emit. To improve your family’s energy efficiency: turn your thermostats to 68ºF when you’re home and 55ºF when you are away; use compact fluorescent light bulbs; unplug electronics (cell phone chargers, DVD players and televisions) when they aren’t in use or use power strip. To conserve hot water: reduce the temperature on your hot water heater to 120ºF (most are set at 140ºF); take shorter showers; only run washer and dishwashers when full; wash clothes in cold water; and insulate your water heater. To reduce transportation needs, combine errands; walk, bike, take a bus and car pool; keep your car tuned with the tires properly inflated; don’t leave your car idling; accelerate slowly; use cruise control; obey the speed limit; and frequent farmer markets and downtown areas to buy locally grown or made products which could save 1500 travel miles for food shipped from farm to dinner plate. To consume less: reuse more; recycle; plant a tree; and calculate your carbon footprint and offset it.
