by Joe Morris
I am often asked what can be done about climate change in light of the current administration in Washington’s denial of climate change? There is much state governments can do. For example, California has mandated solar panels and solar roofs on new homes, while New York set goals for a significant reduction in energy usage by 2025. The aim is to reduce greenhouse gases, i.e., carbon dioxide and methane, emissions which are the primary drivers of climate change. Then there is us as individuals, if we take personal responsibility, there is much we can do.
I thought it might be worthwhile to reiterate some of the simple actions we can take to fight climate change. I don’t pretend this list is all inclusive, but it will certainly serve as a guide.
The graph shows the approximate breakdown of the sources of greenhouse gas in the US. We can have influence over each of those categories.
Transportation. Automobiles are one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas, but one we can impact fairly easily. Hybrid vehicles can reduce emissions around 40%, plug-in hybrids around 50-60%, and all electric vehicles around 70% to-75%. Selecting one of these types of vehicles is the right choice.
Electricity and Residential. I combined these two to reflect what we can do at home:
Replace bulbs with LEDs. First results from the Men’s Club replacing the lights in the office, part of the open area, and the kitchen indicate savings of more than $200/mo. The price of LED bulbs has come way down.
Buy Energy Star appliances. Pay attention to efficiency.
Insulation, repairing drafts around windows, and installing mart thermostats can save 20% or more of your home energy useage, therby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Renewable energy. You don’t have to buy solar panels for renewable energy at home. You can purchase Renewable Energy Certificates through your utility that gives you credit for selecting renewable energy as your energy source. Purchasing these certificates encourages the construction of wind and solar farms.
Agriculture. Turns out food animals emit methane which is an even more virulent form of greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Eating more vegetables and less meat offers more than health benefits. (This is the one I struggle with the most. I love my steak.)
Industry. Where possible, consider companies that have embraces energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. If enough of us do this, we can influence industry to make better choices.
The most important thing is to consider your choices and think about energy uses and sources when taking actions such as purchasing cars and new appliances. If we all do this, we can truly make a difference despite what climate change deniers might do or tell you. It’s a matter of taking responsibility for your actions.
Last Updated on 04/25/2019 by Marc Slonim