The Consumer Corner - Tuesday, October 14, 2008 10:01 - 0 Comments

Tips on how individuals can help fight global warming

Our national government has failed miserably to deal with the issue of climate change. While the Bush record on this critically important issue is unbelievably bad, individual citizens also have the responsibility to get involved. Not all of us have recognized that we can do our part to fight global warming. The following are simple things that we can do to help out:

• Ask for paper bags when you check out at the grocery store instead of plastic.
• Recycle and buy minimally packed goods as much as possible.
• Wash clothes in cold or warm water - not hot water.
• Install low flow shower heads to use less water.
• Run the dishwasher only when full and don’t use heat to dry dishes.
• Replace standard light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Plug air leaks in windows and doors to increase energy efficiency.
• Replace old appliances with energy-efficient models.
• Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation whenever possible.
• Adjust your thermostat - lower in winter, higher in summer.

Share these simple steps with family, friends and co-workers and help to increase the awareness of the need to fight global warming. You might even take the time to pass the message on to your elected officials and especially to the man currently in the White House.

Source: Environmental Defense Fund, www.edf.org