Greening Your
Home
REDUCING YOUR PERSONAL GREENHOUSE GAS
EMISSIONS
Chandler Paulsen
Greening Your Home ∙ Chandler Paulsen
Greening Your Home
Reducing your personal greenhouse gas emissions
Did you know that by our everyday habits and choices, the
average American puts out 22 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per
year? Experts studying the recent climate history of the earth
agree now that global warming is occurring at a precipitous rate,
and human activities are the dominant force driving the trend.
Our smokestacks, tailpipes, and burning forests emit CO2 and
other gasses that add to the planet’s natural greenhouse effect,
allowing sunlight in, but preventing some of the resulting heat
from radiating back to space. Many climate experts say that
without big curbs in greenhouse gas emissions, the 21st century
could see temperatures rise 3 to 8 degrees, weather patterns
sharply shift, ice sheets shrink, and seas rise several feet. The
problem of global warming seems overwhelming, but there is a
lot you can do to help. Reducing your personal share of global
warming emissions is easier than you think.
If every U.S. household replaced
six regular 60-watt bulbs with
compact fluorescent light bulbs
(CFLs) it would be equivalent to
removing roughly four million
cars from the road –
permanently.
Environmental Protection Agency
Small Steps to Take in Your Home and Yard
All of us are capable of making a few small changes in our home and yard that can lead to big reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions, increase the nation's energy independence, and save money on energy bills.
Change your light bulbs
Replace the conventional bulbs in your most frequently used light fixtures with bulbs that have the Energy star label, such
as CFL bulbs. If every household in the U.S. took this one simple action we would prevent more than 1 trillion pounds of
greenhouse gas emissions.
Use Energy Star labeled
products and maintain
appliances
Energy Star products are available
in more than 50 product categories,
including lighting, appliances, and
home electronics. If your fridge
door can't hold a dollar, you're
leaking CO2 and money, as well as
cold air, so get it fixed. You also
save by cleaning your refrigerator's
coils, defrosting regularly, and
keeping the top shelf clear of
clutter.
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Greening Your Home ∙ Chandler Paulsen
Heat and cool your home efficiently
Composting
Use a programmable thermostat, which will automatically adjust your
home's temperature while you're asleep or away. Also, clean your air filters
regularly, especially during winter and summer months, and have your
heating and cooling equipment tuned regularly by a licensed contractor.
Install adequate insulation, seal the cracks and gaps in your house, and
replace old windows with windows that qualify for the Energy Star. If all this
seems too overwhelming, a home energy auditor can help to identify areas
with poor insulation and evaluate the energy efficiency of your home.
Reduce, reuse, and recycle
Yard trimmings and food waste
together constitute 24% of the
waste sent to U.S. landfills -- a lot to
waste when it could become useful
and environmentally beneficial
organic compost instead.
What to Compost
Cardboard rolls and clean paper
Coffee grounds and filters
Dryer and vacuum cleaner lint
Eggshells and nut shells
Fireplace ashes
Fruits and vegetables
Grass clippings and leaves
Hay and straw
Houseplants
Shredded newspaper
Tea bags
Wood chips and sawdust
Yard trimmings
What Not to Compost
Black walnut leaves or trimmings
Coal or charcoal ash
Dairy products
Diseased or insect-ridden plants
Fats, grease, lard, or oils
Meat or fish bones and scraps
Pet wastes
Yard trimmings treated with
pesticides
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If there is a recycling program in your community, recycle your newspapers,
beverage containers, paper, and other goods. Buy products made from
recycled materials or in containers that can be recycled, and use items that
can be repaired or reused.
Be green in your yard
Opt for a push mower, which, unlike a gas or electric mower, consumes no
fossil fuels and emits no greenhouse gases. If you must use a power mower,
make sure it is a mulching mower to reduce grass clippings and add natural
compost to your lawn. Composting your food and yard waste reduces the
amount of garbage that you send to landfills and reduces greenhouse gas
emissions.
Use water efficiently
Municipal water systems require a lot of energy to purify and distribute
water to households, and saving water, especially hot water, can lower
greenhouse gas emissions. Don’t let the water run while shaving or brushing
your teeth, don’t flush the toilet unless necessary, and repair leaky toilets
and faucets right away.
Greening Your Home ∙ Chandler Paulsen
Use Green Power
Green power is environmentally friendly electricity that is generated
from renewable energy sources, such as wind and the sun. There are
two ways to use green power: you can buy green power for your
home, or you can modify your house to generate your own green
power, for example, by installing solar panels.
Measure Your Impact
What are renewable energy resources?
Renewable energy resources are continuously replenished and
include wind, solar, geothermal, low impact (small) hydropower,
biomass (wood, straw, manure), and biogas. All of these resources
reduce the environmental impact associated with traditional power
generation. Currently, the majority of electricity in the U.S. is
generated from fossil fuels, with less that 2% generated from nonhydro or biomass renewable resources.
Shorten your shower by two
minutes and save 342 lbs. in CO2
emissions.
Replace one incandescent bulb with
a compact fluorescent light bulb
(CFL) and save approximately 55 lbs.
Current Fuel Mix for U.S. Electricity
Generation
Other
Renewable
1%
Oil 2%
Hydro
7%
Recycle paper, plastic, and glass and
save over 1,000 lbs.
Replace red meat in your diet with
fish, eggs, and poultry to save over
950 lbs.
Biomass
7%
Wash at least half your laundry in
cold water and save 72 lbs.
Natural
Gas 14%
Nuclear
20%
Use an Energy Star refrigerator and
save 500 lbs.
Hang half your laundry to dry and
save 723 lbs.
Coal 49%
Plug your home entertainment
devices into a power strip and turn it
off when not in use to save 240 lbs.
Lower your thermostat one degree
below 70° to save 320 lbs. for natural
gas heat and 236 lbs. for electrical
heat.
Raise your air conditioning
thermostat one degree above 72° to
save 121 lbs.
Lower your water temperature from
140° to 120° to save 479 lbs.
Sources: www.epa.gov and www.thegreenguide.com.
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