How to lower Global Warming

Recently in the April 9th issue of Time magazine, they had an article called “51 Things We Can Do” to make a difference in Global Warming. There were a few that I use and try to get others to follow all the time
#16     Pay Your Bills Online: eliminating your paper trail by banking online does more then save trees. It also helps reduce fuel consumption by the trucks and planes that transport paper checks. if every U.S. home viewed and paid its bills online, the switch would cut solid waste by 1.6billion tons a year and curb greenhouse-gas emissions by 2.1 million tons a year, according to Javelin Strategy & Research. Worried about security? Don’t be. Just ignore e-mails “phishing” for personal data, and monitor all (electronic) statements for any unauthorized debits. Report problems immediately, and your credit won’t take a hit. To avoid unnecessary carbon dioxide-emitting car trips to the bank on payday, ask your employer to directly deposit your paycheck. You’ll get your money faster that way too. –M.M.B. My reason for Online Banking is that it’s Real Easy.
#17     Open A Window: Most of the 25 tons of CO2 emissions each American is responsible for each year comes from the home. Here are some easy ways to get that number down in a hurry without rebuilding. Open a window instead of running the AC. Adjust the thermostat a couple of degrees higher in the summer and lower in the winter. Caulk and weatherstrip all your doors and windows. Insulate your walls and ceilings. Use the dishwasher only when it’s full. Install low-flow showerheads. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water. Turn down the thermostat on the water heater. At the end of the year, don’t be surprised if your house feels lighter. It just lost 4,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide. –By Carolyn Satre. I always have my doors and windows open.

#30     Shut Off Your Computer: A screen saver is not an energy saver. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 75% of all the electricity consumed in the home is standby power used to keep electronics running when those TV’s, DVR’s, computers, monitors, and stereo’s are “off.” The average desktop computer, not including the monitor, consumes from 60 to 250 watts a day. Compared with a machine left on 24/7, a computer that is in use four hours a day and turned off the rest of the time would save you about $70 a year. The carbon impact would be even greater. Shutting it off would reduce the machine’s CO2 emissions 83%, to just 63 kg a year. –C.M. I’ve been saying this since I got into computers, Turn Them Off When Not In Use. Leaving your computer and monitor on all the time is like leaving 2 TV’s on 24 hours a day. Would you leave 2 TV’s on 24 hours a day? I don’t think so!
#44     Check Your Tires: So you own a plain-vanilla, nonhybrid, American made gas guzzler and can’t afford (or can’t wait for) a Hybrid. Now what? Just giving your engine a tune-up can improve your gas mileage 4% and often much more. Replacing a clogged air filter can boost efficiency 10%. And keeping tires properly inflated can improve gas mileage more then 3%. The bottom line? If you can boost your gas mileage from 20 to 24 m.p.g., your old heap will put 200 fewer pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. – By David Bjerklie. Americas Tires gives Free Tire Air Checks, what are you waiting for?

All items courtesy April 9th issue of Time magazine.