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SCIENCE & ACTIONS
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This information is from
official website of...
an
inconvenient
truth
www.climatecrisis.org
the evidence
is overwhelming and undeniable...
WHAT IS GLOBAL WARMING?
Carbon dioxide and other gases warm the surface of
the planet naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a
good thing because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil
fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically
increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere and
temperatures are rising.
The vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is real, it’s
already happening and that it is the result of our activities and not a
natural occurrence.1 The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.
We’re already seeing changes. Glaciers are melting, plants and animals
are being forced from their habitat, and the number of severe storms and
droughts is increasing.
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The number of Category 4 and 5
hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years.2 |
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Malaria has spread to higher
altitudes in places like the Colombian Andes, 7,000 feet above sea
level.3 |
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The flow of ice from glaciers in
Greenland has more than doubled over the past decade.4 |
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At least 279 species of plants and
animals are already responding to global warming, moving closer to the
poles.5 |
If the warming continues, we can expect
catastrophic consequences.
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Deaths from global warming will
double in just 25 years -- to 300,000 people a year.6 |
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Global sea levels could rise by
more than 20 feet with the loss of shelf ice in Greenland and
Antarctica, devastating coastal areas worldwide.7 |
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Heat waves will be more frequent
and more intense. |
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Droughts and wildfires will occur
more often. |
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The Arctic Ocean could be ice free
in summer by 2050.8 |
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More than a million species
worldwide could be driven to extinction by 2050.9 |
There is no doubt we can solve this problem. In
fact, we have a moral obligation to do so. Small changes to your daily
routine can add up to big differences in helping to stop global warming. The
time to come together to solve this problem is now...
TAKE ACTION:
The average American generates about
15,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year from personal transportation,
home energy use and from the energy used to produce all of the products and
services we consume.
CALCULATE YOUR PERSONAL IMPACT
to see how much CO2 you produce each year.
JOIN THE GLOBAL WARMING VIRTUAL MARCH
at www.stopglobalwarming.org.
You have the power to make a difference.
Small changes to your daily routine can add up to big changes
in helping to stop global warming.
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REDUCE YOUR IMPACT AT HOME
Most emissions from homes are from the
fossil fuels burned to generate electricity and heat. By using energy
more efficiently at home, you can reduce your emissions and lower your
energy bills by more than 30%.
In addition, since agriculture is
responsible for about a fifth of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions,
you can reduce your emissions simply by watching what you eat.
Here’s how:
 Replace a regular incandescent light
bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)
CFLs use 60%
less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300
pounds of carbon dioxide a year. If every family in the U.S. made the
switch, we’d reduce carbon dioxide by more than 90 billion pounds! You
can purchase CFLs online from the
Energy Federation.
 Move your thermostat down 2° in
winter and up 2° in summer
Almost half
of the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and cooling. You could
save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple
adjustment. The
American Council for an Energy
Efficient Economy
has more tips for saving energy on heating and
cooling.
 Clean or replace filters on your
furnace and air conditioner
Cleaning a dirty air filter can save 350
pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
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Install a programmable
thermostat --
Programmable thermostats will automatically lower the heat or air
conditioning at night and raise them again in the morning. They
can save you $100 a year on your energy bill.
Choose energy efficient appliances when making new
purchases --
Look for the
Energy Star
label on new appliances to choose the
most efficient models. If each household in the U.S. replaced its
existing appliances with the most efficient models available, we’d
eliminate 175 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year!
Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket
-- You’ll save 1,000 pounds of
carbon dioxide a year with this simple action. You can save
another 550 pounds per year by setting the thermostat no higher
than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use less hot water
-- It takes a lot of energy to heat
water. You can use less hot water by installing a low flow
showerhead (350 pounds of carbon dioxide saved per year) and
washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per
year) instead of hot.
 Use a
clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible --
You can save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide
when you air dry your clothes for 6 months out of the year.
Turn off electronic devices you’re
not using -- Simply turning off your television,
DVD player, stereo, and computer when you’re not using them will
save you thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
 Unplug
electronics from the wall when you’re not using them
-- Even when turned off, things
like hairdryers, cell phone chargers and televisions use energy.
In fact, the energy used to keep display clocks lit and memory
chips working accounts for 5 percent of total domestic energy
consumption and spews 18 million tons of carbon into the
atmosphere every year! |
Only run your dishwasher when there’s a full load and use the
energy-saving setting
You can save 100 pounds of carbon
dioxide per year.
Insulate and weatherize your home
-- Properly insulating your walls and ceilings can save
25% of your home heating bill and 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a
year. Caulking and weather-stripping can save another 1,700 pounds
per year. The
Consumer Federation of
America has more
information on how to better insulate your home.
 Be sure
you’re recycling at home --
You can save
2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of the
waste your household generates.
Earth 911
can help you find recycling resources in your area.
Buy recycled paper products -- It takes less 70
to 90% less energy to make recycled paper and it prevents the loss
of forests worldwide.
 Plant a tree
--
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon
dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce
your air conditioning bill by 10 to 15%. The
Arbor Day Foundation
has information on planting and provides trees you can plant with
membership.
Get a home energy audit -- Many utilities offer
free home energy audits to find where your home is poorly
insulated or energy inefficient. You can save up to 30% off your
energy bill and 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
Energy Star
can help you find an energy specialist.
Switch to green power--
In many areas, you can
switch to energy generated by clean, renewable sources such as
wind and solar. The
Green Power Network
is a good place to start to figure out what’s available in your
area. |
Buy
locally grown and produced foods -- The
average meal in the United States travels 1,200 miles from the farm to
your plate. Buying locally will save fuel and keep money in your
community.
Buy fresh foods instead of frozen --Frozen
food uses 10 times more energy to produce.
 Seek out and support local
farmers markets --
They reduce the amount of energy
required to grow and transport the food to you by one fifth. You can
find a farmer’s market in your area at the
USDA website.
Buy organic foods as much as possible -- Organic soils capture
and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels than soils from
conventional farms. If we grew all of our corn and soybeans organically,
we’d remove 580 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere!
Avoid heavily packaged products
-- You can save 1,200 pounds of carbon
dioxide if you cut down your garbage by 10%.
Eat less meat
-- Methane is the second most significant
greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their
grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which
they exhale with every breath.
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REDUCE YOUR IMPACT WHILE ON THE MOVE
Almost one third of the carbon dioxide
produced in the United States comes from our cars, trucks and airplanes.
Here are some simple, practical things you can do to reduce the amount
of carbon dioxide you produce while on the move.
 Reduce the number of miles you
drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever
possible.
Avoiding just 10 miles of driving every week would
eliminate about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year! Click
here
to find transit options in your area.
Start a carpool with your coworkers or classmates --
Sharing a ride with someone just 2 days a week will reduce your carbon
dioxide emissions by 1,590 pounds a year.
eRideShare.com
runs a free national service connecting commuters and travelers.
Keep your car tuned up -- Regular
maintenance helps improve fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. When
just 1% of car owners properly maintain their cars, nearly a billion
pounds of carbon dioxide are kept out of the atmosphere.
 Check your tires weekly to
make sure they’re properly inflated --
Proper
inflation
can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Since every gallon of gasoline
saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, every
increase in fuel efficiency makes a difference!
 When it is time
for a new car, choose a more fuel efficient vehicle --
You can save 3,000
pounds of carbon dioxide every year if your new car gets only 3 miles
per gallon more than your current one. You can get up to 60 miles per
gallon with a hybrid! You can find information on fuel efficiency
here and
here.
Try car sharing --
Need a car but don’t want to buy one? Community
car sharing organizations provide access to a car and your membership
fee covers gas, maintenance and insurance. Many companies – such as
Flexcar
-- offer low emission or hybrid cars too! Also, see
ZipCar.
Try telecommuting from home --
Telecommuting can help you
drastically reduce the number of miles you drive every week. For more
information, check out the
Telework Coalition.
 Fly less --
Air travel produces large
amounts of emissions so reducing how much you fly by even one or two
trips a year can reduce your emissions significantly. You can also
offset
your air travel by investing in renewable energy projects.
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HELP BRING ABOUT
CHANGE LOCALLY, NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY
Your actions to reduce global warming
can extend beyond how you personally reduce your own emissions. We all
have influence on our schools, workplaces, businesses, and on society
through how we make purchases, invest, take action, and vote. Here are
some ways you can have a positive effect on global warming.
Encourage your school or business to reduce emissions --
You can extend your positive influence on global warming well beyond
your home by actively encouraging other to take action. Download our
toolkits for schools and businesses to take action outside of your home.
Join
the virtual march --
The Stop Global Warming Virtual March is a
non-political effort to bring all Americans concerned about global
warming together in one place.
Add your voice
to the hundreds of thousands of other Americans urging action on this
issue.
Encourage the switch to renewable energy --
Successfully combating global warming requires a national transition to
renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass. These
technologies are ready to be deployed more widely but there are
regulatory barriers impeding them. Take action to break down those
barriers with
Vote Solar.
Protect and conserve forest worldwide --
Forests play a critical role in
global warming: they store carbon. When forests are burned or cut down,
their stored carbon is release into the atmosphere -- deforestation now
accounts for about 20% of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
Conservation International
has more information on forests and global warming.
Consider the impact of your investments --
If you invest your money, you
should consider the impact that your investments and savings will have
on global warming. You can learn more about how to ensure your money is
being invested in companies, products and projects that address issues
related to climate change
here and
here.
Make
your city cool --
Cities and states around the country have taken
action to stop global warming by passing innovative transportation and
energy saving legislation. 194 cities nationwide representing over 40
million people have made this pledge as part of the
U.S. Mayors Climate Protection
Agreement. Find out how to make
your city a
cool city.
Tell
Congress to act --
The McCain Lieberman Climate Stewardship and
Innovation Act would set a firm limit on carbon dioxide emissions and
then use free market incentives to lower costs, promote efficiency and
spur innovation.
Tell
your representative to support it.
Make
sure your voice is heard!
We must have a stronger commitment from our
government in order to stop global warming and implement solutions and
such a commitment won’t come without a dramatic increase in citizen
lobbying for new laws with teeth.
Get the facts
about U.S. politicians and candidates at Project Vote Smart and
The League of Conservation
Voters. Make sure your voice is
heard by voting!
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Download these
10 SIMPLE TIPS
to take with you! |
After reducing your emissions you can do even more
by going "carbon neutral." By supporting clean renewable energy, you can
effectively neutralize your personal CO2 emissions. Your small investment
will ensure that for every ton of carbon dioxide you are emitting, a ton of
carbon dioxide will not be released into the atmosphere. Go NEUTRAL!
Learn about other ways that movies are inspiring people to make a difference
at
 .
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ASTHMA, AIR POLLUTION & GLOBAL
WARMING
--" Asthma is a chronic condition in which these
airways undergo changes when stimulated by allergens or other environmental
triggers that cause patients to cough, wheeze, and experience shortness of
breath (dyspnea). " webmd
http://webmd.lycos.com/content/dmk/dmk_article_5461937
--While some asthma can
be attributed to allergies, environmental or airborne pollutants can also
trigger asthma.
--Ground-level ozone and
other air pollutants are major contributors to asthma and other lung
diseases. Ozone causes up to 10 percent of emergency room and hospital
admissions in people with respiratory ailments in California. (California
American Lung Association)
--Asthma is the third major cause of hospitalization in children under 15.
"Which Children get Asthma? " Web MD
http://webmd.lycos.com/content/dmk/dmk_article_5461938
--Nearly five million
children have asthma. (AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ALLERGY, ASTHMA AND IMMUNOLOGY)
-- We as physicians,
pediatricians, and other community health workers acknowledge the risks that
global warming presents...
FROM THE
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION:
"While exposure to ozone
air pollution causes adverse health effects in most people, children are
especially susceptible to these effects. Children spend significantly more
time outdoors, especially in the summertime when ozone levels are the
highest. National statistics show that children spend an average of 50
percent more time outdoors than do adults.
A recent study conducted
by the American Lung Association shows that as many as 27.1 million children
age 13 and under, and over 1.9 million children with asthma are potentially
exposed to unhealthful levels of ozone based on the new 0.08 ppm, eight-hour
ozone level standard.
Minority children are
disproportionately represented in areas with high ozone levels.
Approximately 61.3% of black children, 69.2% of Hispanic children and 67.7%
of Asian-American children live in areas that exceed the 0.08 ppm ozone
standard, while only 50.8% of white children live in such areas.
Children spend more time
engaged in vigorous activity (i.e., exercise). Such activity results in
breathing in more air, and therefore more pollution being taken deep into
the lungs. A California study found that children spend three times as much
time engaged in sports and vigorous activities as adults do.
Children have a higher
breathing rate than adults relative to their body weight and lung surface
area. This results in a greater dose of pollution delivered to their lungs.
Most biological air pollution damage is related to the dose of pollution
inhaled in relation to the body weight and surface area of the target
organ.
Even when children
experience significant drops in lung function, they do not seem to suffer or
report some of the acute symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing or shortness
of breath, associated with ozone exposure in adults. Thus, children are not
likely to receive or may not understand the biological warnings to reduce
their ozone exposure by stopping their exercise or moving indoors.
Children have narrower
airways than do adults. Thus, irritation or inflammation caused by air
pollution that would produce only a slight response in an adult can result
in a potentially significant obstruction of the airways in a young child.
During exercise, children, like adults, breathe with both their nose and
mouth rather than just their noses. When the nose is bypassed during the
breathing process, the filtering effects of the nose are lost, therefore
allowing more air pollution to be inhaled. Air pollution, including ozone,
can result in more frequent respiratory infections in children due to
impairment of the lung's ability to defend itself. Scientists are concerned
that children who experience more frequent lower respiratory infections may
be at greater risk of lower-than-normal lung function later in life.
When ozone levels are
high, children should avoid calisthenics, soccer, running and other
strenuous outdoor exercise. They should be encouraged to participate in less
strenuous activities such as recreational swimming, swinging or indoor
activities such as floor hockey and gymnastics instead.
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AMERICAN ACADEMY OF
ALLERGY, ASTHMA AND IMMUNOLOGY"
is a very good source
for information on
childhood asthma
http://www.aaaai.org
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AAAAI Initiatives:
Update on Pediatric Asthma: Promoting Best Practice
http://www.aaaai.org/professional/initiatives/pediatricasthma.stm
Nearly five million
children have asthma. Not only do they suffer from the disease, many
children with asthma miss out on childhood fun. Children suffering from
Asthma miss school, too -- accounting for 10 million absences per year.
To care for these
children, parents take time away from work. Lost productivity among parents
of children with asthma results in indirect costs of more than $1 billion
each year. Children with asthma make more than 2.7 million physician visits
annually and require 200,000 hospitalizations.
The annual cost of
treating children with asthma is estimated at $1.9 billion. When children
with asthma can rely on their families and health care providers to
recognize symptoms, diagnose the disease, and help them manage it, many of
the problems associated with asthma disappear.
Lack of comprehensive,
easily referenced information sometimes makes it difficult, however, for
providers to make accurate diagnoses or effective management plans. Many
general practitioners are encouraged to treat pediatric asthma patients
themselves, instead of referring them to asthma specialists. To eliminate
these barriers and to enhance pediatric asthma care, the American Academy of
Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), in partnership with the National
Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP), coordinated by the National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, has launched a comprehensive new
initiative --Pediatric Asthma: Promoting Best Practice.
To
order up to five Pediatric Guides, call 1-800-822-2762. For
more information contact: Barbara Leavitt, AAAAI Executive Offices, 611
East Wells St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 Phone: 414/272-6071 Fax:
414/272-6070 E-mail:
bleavitt@aaaai.org
From
www.KilowattOurs.org
The Dangers of Coal-generated Electricty
Mountain top removal mining, air pollution, haze
in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, methylmercury contamination of
newborns, childhood asthma and global warming ALL stem from the same root
cause.
The most significant cause of each of these problems is our dependence on
coal-generated electricity in America. In other words, the solution begins
at our light switches and power strips.
Today, more than 50% of our nation's electricity is generated from coal.
In the southeast U.S., where household electricity use is highest, this
amounts to more than 12,000 pounds of coal burned per home per year.
Buildings in America consume nearly 2/3 of all the energy we use. The
typical American home emits twice the annual global warming emissions
compared the typical car.
So, if we can make our buildings Net Zero buildings, the benefits to the
environment and our quality of life will be profound. A Net Zero building is
one that generates all the energy it needs with renewable power (like wind
power or solar energy), either on-site or through the electricity grid.
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From Pew Center:
www.pewclimate.org/global-warming-basics
Global Warming Basics
The scientific community has reached a
strong consensus regarding the science of global climate change. The world
is undoubtedly warming. This warming is largely the result of emissions of
carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from human activities including
industrial processes, fossil fuel combustion, and changes in land use, such
as deforestation. Continuation of historical trends of greenhouse gas
emissions will result in additional warming over the 21st century, with
current projections of a global increase of 2.5ºF to 10.4ºF by 2100, with
warming in the U.S. expected to be even higher. This warming will have real
consequences for the United States and the world, for with that warming will
also come additional sea-level rise that will gradually inundate coastal
areas, changes in precipitation patterns, increased risk of droughts and
floods, threats to biodiversity, and a number of potential challenges for
public health.
Addressing climate change is no
simple task. To protect ourselves, our economy, and our land from the
adverse effects of climate change, we must ultimately dramatically reduce
emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. To achieve this goal
we must fundamentally transform the way we power our global economy,
shifting away from a century’s legacy of unrestrained fossil fuel use and
its associated emissions in pursuit of more efficient and renewable sources
of energy. Such a transformation will require society to engage in a
concerted effort, over the near and long-term, to seek out opportunities and
design actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The “Basics of Global
Warming” section of their site
www.pewclimate.org/global-warming-basics,
provides
introductory information on global warming, including fundamental facts and
data on global warming, analysis of the science behind global warming,
frequently asked questions about global warming, and a global warming
glossary. For more detailed analysis of global warming issues, including the
economics of global warming, environmental impacts of global warming, and
global warming solutions, visit the Global Warming In-Depth section of their
site.
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The Dangers of Global Warming
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“It is getting hotter and the
ice caps are melting and there is a build up of carbon dioxide
in the air. We really need to do something on fossil fuels.”
-- Rev Pat Robertson,
8/3/2006 |
Ron Littlefield,
the current mayor of Chattanooga, recently signed on to the U.S.
Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. This agreement urges “…the
federal government and state governments to enact policies and
programs to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol target of reducing global
warming pollution levels to 7% below 1990 levels by 2012, including
efforts to: reduce the United States dependence on fossil fuels and
accelerate the development of clean, economical energy resources and
fuel-efficient technologies such as conservation, methane recovery for
energy generation, wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor
vehicles, and biofuels..”
The overwhelming
body of reputable scientists have found that the mean temperature of
earth in increasing, and we are approaching what is known as the
so-called tipping point, where irreversible damage will occur to our
planet and way of life. This is one of the greatest challenges to the
survival of life on planet earth….ever.
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Nine of the 10
warmest years on record have occurred since 1995. |
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So far, 2006 is
the hottest year ever recorded within the continental United States |
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Since 1979, more
than 20% of the polar ice cap has melted away, and polar bears are
now beginning to drown for lack of solid ground |
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The coral at the
Great Barrier Reef is bleaching and will soon break down to rubble. |
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Due to warming
ocean waters, the population of jelly fish is spreading, as noted
for the coast off Spain all the way to the Puget Sound |
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The thermal
expansion of the oceans is expected to raise sea levels by 20 to 80
inches over the next 500 years – Tennessee may become a refugee camp
for flooded coastal residents. |
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It is now known
that temperatures for over 1500 years have correlated with the
levels of CO2
in the
atmosphere. Unfortunately, human activities are now increasing
those CO2 levels exponentially, and the temperature rise, and
resulting impacts could be catastrophic. |
There really isn’t
much debate among scientists about whether global warming is real.
The only debate now is how fast it’s happening. And unfortunately,
it’s happening much faster than they warned. Keep in mind that not a
single peer-reviewed, scientific paper written in the last 15 years
disagrees with the premise that human-induced carbon dioxide is
causing earth’s ongoing temperature rise. The only scientists still
questioning global warming are on the payrolls of the oil and coal
industries.
As far as what can
be done, that too is pretty simple:
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Increase the use
of clean, alternative energy, like solar and wind |
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Trade carbon
credits among clean and polluting companies |
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Replace
incandescent bulbs with fluorescent |
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Promote tree
planting |
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Recycle, re-use |
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Purchase only
Energy Star appliances |
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Promote
sustainable building practices |
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Promote cleaner
transportation alternatives, like bicycles, hybrid cars, higher fuel
standards for cars sold in America, public transportation, etc. |
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Turn off lights,
and electrical appliances when not in use. |
Please contact us
to learn more about the problem what can be done to address it.
Chattanooga Chapter of Interfaith Power
& Light, Global Warming Task Force:
SANDY KURTZ,
Chattanooga Leader: SandyKurtz@comcast.net
423.892.5237
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Kilowatt Ours Net-Zero Network
Top 10 Steps to Save $600 Per Year on Electricity
1 Take the Pledge!
Sign the Kilowatt Ours
Pledge and join the Kilowatt Ours Net-Zero Network.
2
Audit Your Home
Complete a simple
on-line, home-energy audit
to find out how much energy and money you can save at home.. Most
homes can feasibly save 25% to 50% or more. Make a list of the
steps you would like to take, and get started!
3
Be Conservative
Turning off lights, computers
and electronics when not in use can save 5% on your energy bill
(or more, if you are really dedicated!).
Annual Savings: $65
720 pounds of coal
4
Change Your Lights
Replace incandescent
light bulbs with efficient, compact fluorescent bulbs. Start with
your five most frequently used lights, or upgrade your entire
home.
Annual Savings: $60 (for
upgrading your five most frequently used lights)
662 pounds of coal
5
Adjust Your Thermostat
Setting the thermostat no
higher than 68 degrees in winter, and no lower than 78 degrees in
summer will result in dramatic savings. Or install an Energy
Star** programmable thermostat for greater comfort,
while cutting your heating/cooling bills 15%
to 20%.
Annual Savings: $78
864 pounds of coal
6
Weatherize and Seal
The average home has about 5
square feet of air leaks from gaps around windows, doors, pipe and
cable penetrations, plus significant leaks in air ducts. Use
mastic to seal the ducts. Use caulk, spray foam and weather
stripping on the rest.
Annual Savings: $175
1,872 pounds of coal
7
Upgrade to
Energy Star
For the biggest savings,
replace your refrigerator, clothes washer or HVAC system with new
Energy Star products. For example, a new
Energy Star refrigerator is 60% more efficient than models
more than 10 years old, and 40% more efficient than models before
2002.
Annual Savings: $31 by
upgrading your refrigerator
$54 by upgrading your clothes washer
942 pounds of coal saved by upgrading both
8
Insulate
Improved insulation in
your attic, exterior walls and floors will result in better
comfort and big savings. For more information on adding insulation
to your house read this
insultation
fact sheet.
Annual Savings:
$137
1,518 pounds of coal
9
Finance it (optional)
Make your home makeover
more affordable by financing a complete home energy renovation
with an Energy-Efficient Mortgage (EEM). Your monthly savings will
likely be greater than your extra payment. For more information
visit this website about EEM:
10
Buy Green Power
Use a portion of your savings
to pay for green power, and you could reach net-zero at home with
no extra cost compared to your current energy
bills. How? Most local utilities offer green power pricing
programs, which allow you to purchase wind or solar generated
electricity every month at a nominal cost.
For example: $4 per month will
get you 150 kilowatt hours of wind-generated electricity from the
TVA Green
Power Switch
program.
The Green Power Locator
can help you find a green power program near you, or contact your
electricity provider for details.
Total
Annual Savings:
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$600
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6,578
pounds of coal that remain in the mountains
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61
pounds of asthma-causing sulfur and nitrogen oxides
eliminated
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8,788
pounds of CO2 emissions
avoided
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EVERY
YEAR from your home alone
* Actual savings may
vary by geographic region, current energy usage, size of building,
the weather, and other factors. Potential
savings are based on
US EPA, US Department of Energy and Energy Information
Administration data.
** Energy Star is a federal program that rates the most efficient
products on the market today
BONUS TIP!
Install a solar hot water
heater. They have come a long way since the 1970s. Newer models
are reliable and efficient, and use the sun's energy to heat your
water for free.
Up front cost:
$1,500 to $3,500.
Annual Savings:
$224
3,200 pounds of coal
Or, improve the efficiency of
your existing water heater for a lot less! Turn the water temp
down to 120 degrees, install an insulating tank jacket, and
insulate the first three feet of the hot water pipes.
Annual Savings:
$100
1,108 pounds of coal
Need Help? Download a
DIY Guide
For detailed instructions
on how to make many of these home improvements, you may download a
95-page do-it-yourself guidebook
available from the Southface Energy Institute:
Get More Info on Alternative Power
Where to Shop
Visit the
Buy Energy Efficient Products
page on the Kilowatt Ours website for a list of companies. We are
always adding new companies to this list and some of them even
offer special discounts to our Network members!
You Can Help Us
Spread the Message of Energy Conservation!
|
Trust for the Future, PO Box
60322, Nashville, Tennessee 37206, USA
|
|
Reduce your environmental
and energy usage:
go to
www.climatecrisis.org and click on
"TAKE
ACTION"
Democracy
invites us to take risks. It asks that we vacate the comfortable...
We are nothing but whiners if we are not willing to put our concerns
and convictions on the line.
—Terry Tempest
Williams
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