Ten Things you can do right now...

By now you know that burning fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal, oil and gasoline raises the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and that carbon dioxide is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect and global warming.

Here are ten steps you can take to help reduce your use of fossil fuels.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Look for products with as little packaging as possible. By economy size when you can. Recycling half of your household waste can save as much as 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

Use Less Heat & Air Conditioning

Turning down the heat at night or while you're away during the day saves CO2 and saves you money! You can save 2,000 pounds of CO2 each year by setting your thermostat 2 degrees lower in the winter and higher in the summer.

Replace your Light Bulbs

Replacing just one 60-watt incandescent light bulb with a CFL will save you $30 over the life of the bulb. Your new bulbs will last ten times longer and use 2/3rds less energy. They also give off 70% less heat than your old bulbs.

Many people are now using LEDs instead of incandescent, which are even more efficient and last even longer!

If every US family replaces one regular bulb with a CFL, it will eliminate 90 billion pounds of greenhouse gases - the equivalent of taking 7.5 million cars off the road!

Walk, Bike or Drive Smart

Driving less is a great way to cut your carbon footprint. When you must drive, plan your errands efficiently, share a ride when you can and make sure your tires are properly inflated to improve your gas mileage by more than 3%. You'll save money on gas and 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere for each gallon of gas save.

Purchase Energy-Efficient Products

If you're replacing a washer, dryer, water heater, dishwasher or automobile, look for Energy Star rated products. Energy Star products will reduce your utility bills and save CO2

Consume less Hot H2O & less electricity

If you have an hot water heater more than 5 years old, wrap it in an insulating blanket (available at hardware stores). Set it to 120 degrees for safety as well as energy savings. Low-flow showerheads can save about 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

Consider changing the settings on your dishwasher and letting the dishes air dry. Washing your clothes in warm or cold water instead of hot water can save at least 500 pounds of CO2 annually!

Turn it Off!

Use lights only as much as you need them. Remember to turn off your television, DVD player, Stereo and computer when you're not using them.

Plant a Tree

And why not? They're free! Contact the Jenkintown Shade Tree Commission for your tree. Trees and other plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. A single tree will absorb approximately one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime.

Get an Energy Audit

PECO offers an EasySave Energy Kit that can save $144-$282 per year on your energy bill. They also provide a free online energy audit tool, the Home Energy Saver, a lighting calculator and energy tips. Visit PECO/Save Energy/Money for information.

Encourage your Friends & CoWorkers!