Your Carbon-Saving Equation – Do you know what your footprint looks like? Try these energy saving tips and see if your footprint number is enough to offset the use of 1 car for a year. The average car emits around 12,037 pounds of CO2 per year.
Action: Recycle Aluminum and Steel Cans
Totally worth it: When we recycle cans and other metals we save 95 percent of the energy required to manufacture new aluminum cans from scratch and 74 percent of the energy needed to make steel. CO2 saved: 414 pounds. Car off the road: Doing it for 1 year is like taking 3,934,118 cars off the road.
Action: Recycle Newspapers and Magazines
Totally worth it: We Americans throw away more paper than anything else. When we recycle we not only save trees but we could cut air pollution by 95% CO2 saved: 581 pounds Cars off the road: 5,511,566
Action: Wash Laundry on a Cooler Setting
Totally worth it: Did you know that almost 90% of the energy used to wash your clothes goes to heat up the water. CO2 saved: 349 pounds Cars off the road: 3,316,442
Action: Switch Five Light bulbs to Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs
Totally worth it: We’ve heard it before, but CFL uses 1/3 of the energy and lasts 10 times longer. Changing just 5 bulbs can save you about $400 over the CFL’s lifetime. CO2 saved: 500 pounds Cars off the road: 4,751,350
Action: Compost a Fifth of Your Garbage
Totally worth it: Less trash means less energy to haul it away. Plus composing it saves on greenhouse gases that rotting food emits. CO2 saved: 832 pounds Cars off the road: 7,906,246
Action: Modify the Temperature on Your Thermostat
Totally worth it: Save yourself about $150 per year when you turn your house down just 4 degrees when no one is home. CO2 saved: 1,300 pounds Cars off the road: 12,353,510
Action: Follow the Speed Limit
Totally worth it: You may be in a hurry, but following the speed limit helps your MPG by almost 15%. And it will save you about $200/yr at the pump. CO2 saved: 1,500 pounds Cars off the road: 28,121,158
Action: Buy Green Power
Totally worth it: Visit epa.gov and see if you can’t purchase some green power in your area. Those in the Chippewa Valley with Xcel Energy have the option to purchase wind power. Check out more at www.xcelenergy.com CO2 saved: 20,508 pounds Cars off the road: 194,881,372.
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