City of Lake Forest Park News Release

TAKE THE CARBON REDUCTION CHALLENGE

Your daily decisions affect climate change. The primary cause of global warming is carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels. Whenever you save energy, or use it more efficiently, you reduce the demand for gasoline, oil, coal, and natural gas.

ACTION STEPS FOR CARBON REDUCTION

TRANSPORTATION

Transportation is the number one cause of greenhouse gases and air pollution in the Northwest. Increasing your car’s fuel efficiency also saves you money on gasoline.

Get to work without your car one day each week. Walk, bike, carpool or take the bus. Every mile you don’t drive saves one lb of CO2.
Keep the tires on your car properly inflated. Check them monthly. Every gallon of gasoline saved reduces CO2 by 20 lbs.
Check your car’s air filter monthly. Clean or replace it when dirty. Save 800 lbs of CO2/year.*

Buy a more fuel efficient car. Save 2,500 lbs/year if your new car gets 10 mpg more.
Buy a hybrid car. Save 16,000 lbs/year.

Shop at local merchants to reduce miles in your car. Save 500-800 lbs/year. Bonus: Keep $$ in the community.

LIGHTING

Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Each bulb can save 100 lbs CO2/year.

ELECTRONICS

Turn off your television, DVD player, stereo and computer when you’re not using them. Save 1,000 lbs/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. Save 300 lbs/year.

SHOWERING

Take shorter showers. Save 175 lbs/year for each person who reduces showers to 5 minutes or less.

Install a low-flow showerhead to use less hot water. Save up to 250 lbs/year.

WASHING DISHES

Run your dishwasher only with a full load. Don’t use heat when drying. Save 200 lbs/year.

Minimize hot water use in hand dishwashing. Save 125 lbs/year.

Bonus: Buy an Energy Star dishwasher within the year. Save 100 lbs/year.

WASHING & DRYING CLOTHES

Switch one load of laundry each week from hot to cold water. Save up to 250 lbs/year.

Eliminate one dryer load per week. Save 200 lbs/year.

Bonus: Buy an Energy Star front-loading washer within the year. Save 500 lbs/year.

HEATING & COOLING

Set your thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer. Save 500 lbs/year.
Install a programmable thermostat. Save 600 lbs/year.

Annually, maintain your furnace and air conditioner and replace filters. Save 300-500 lbs/year.

Set your water heater at 120°. Save 150 lbs/year.

Wrap your water heater in an insulating jacket. Save 175 lbs/year.

Caulk and weatherstrip around doors and windows to plug air leaks. Save up to 1,000 lbs/year.

RECYCLING AND GARBAGE

Recycle all of your home’s waste newsprint, cardboard, glass and metal. Cut garbage by 10% in this way and save 400 lbs/year.

Buy food and other products with less packaging, or with reusable or recyclable packaging. Cut garbage by 10% in this way and save 900 lbs/year.

FOOD

Eat less beef. One pound less a week saves 500 lb/year of CO2.

Eat organic, locally grown, food or grow your own.

OTHER IMPORTANT ACTIONS

Purchase carbon offsets when you take a trip by air. See www.carboncounter.org or www.carbonfund.org.
Purchase green power for a portion of your electricity and support investment in renewable energy. Both Seattle City Light and Puget Sound Energy have green power programs.
Tell your senator, congressman, and representative that climate protection is important to you.
Learn more and tell friends, family, and colleagues that global warming needs urgent attention. See www.climatesolutions.org or www.stopglobalwarming.org.