INDIVIDUALS
Sometimes, like voting, you might wonder think about the value of individual actions. How can one person’s vote make a difference. But, if, like voting, everyone voted for the right thing, the sheer weight of those individual votes could change the world. And, curiously, with climate change, it doesn’t even have to be difficult. Turning out lights, eating less meat, conserving water , walking or biking instead of driving-- all simple and take neither time nor money. Not even inconvenient.
This section is packed with valuable things to do whatever your resources, whether you have five minutes or 5 hours a week, whether you have the ability to reduce plastics in your world, add solar to your home, or organize a climate change advisory board in your town.
Just a few other places on the website for some deeper dives, after you have made your NYT New Year Resolutions!
- If it is time to think about purchasing an EV there is a major CARS section
- If it is time to shift to heat pumps and away from fossil fuels, you might find what you are looking for in the HEATING AND COOLING section.
- If it is time to replace your gas stove with an induction stove, you might find what you need in the KITCHENSsection.
- And, If you need to learn about the rebates, incentives and tax credits available to support a shift away from fossil fuels, run, do not walk, to CCR’s THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT page. The Biden administration has made a staggering amount of money available to support this shift,
And, if you could do with a bit of hope, try this…
And, if you have patience for a quiz, researchers at Columbia University have created a survey to find out which actions you think are most effective: How well do YOU know what is better for the environment? Only 3 minutes! And, no-one will ask you to donate at the end! Take the quiz here !
20 THINGS YOU CAN DO TODAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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1 TELL YOUR LAWMAKERS
The worst impacts can still be avoided if we compel local and national leaders to step up and lead the fight against climate change. Call on your officials today.
NRDC -
2 REDUCE FOOD WASTE
40 percent of edible food is thrown away by retailers and households in the US. Buy less, reheat and reuse, store properly, compost, donate.
52 Climate Actions -
3 TIME TO BUY AN ELECTRIC CAR
In addition to lowering your carbon footprint, electric vehicles are more affordable to run, have lower maintenance costs, and tax incentives can reduce the purchase price.
My EV -
4 STOP EATING RED MEAT
Keeping everything else (chicken, dairy, pork) we could achieve between 46 and 74 percent of the reductions needed to meet the 2020 greenhouse gas emission goals. Yikes. We can do that!
Climate Crocks -
5 TURN YOUR YARD INTO A CARBON SPONGE
Give your yard a climate makeover and convert it into a carbon sponge. Get Rid of the Gas Guzzlers, and focus Instead on Native Plants and creating a Bird Friendly Habitat.
Audobon -
6 100+ WATER-SAVING TIPS
Saving water is easy. Really easy. Here are more than 100 useful water-saving tips for your home and office. Learn how to save water indoors and outdoors. Incorporate these tips into your everyday habits. Before long, you’ll be a natural at water conservation.
Water Use It Wisely -
7 COMPOST
Enhance the soil, protect the climate, and reduce waste.
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance -
8 NO MORE PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES!
Every day 66 million bottles end up in landfills, or, more likely, as land or ocean litter.
Rainforest Alliance -
9 TURN OFF YOUR ELECTRONICS!
Many appliances use just as much power when off. Washing machines with digital displays, smart TVs, toasters and computers are all drawing power. A coffee maker can use as much in a day as someone in Niger uses in a year.
New York Times -
10 RIDE A BIKE
A bicycle doesn’t burn gasoline, creates less fossil fuel pollution, and is more cost efficient.
Mother Nature Network -
11 TURN DOWN THE HEAT
Every degree reduces your energy use by 3-5%. Add a
ECOSYSTEMS
sweater, a blanket or a nice cup of hot chocolate. -
12 SAVE BY USING LEDS
Switch out your light bulbs, and reduce your electricity by more than 80%.
The New York Times -
13 REDUCE THE CLIMATE IMPACT OF YOUR HOME
From getting an energy audit to setting your water heater at 120 degrees to installing a programmable thermostat, here are simple cost saving solutions.
Huffington Post -
14 WASH IN COLD
Washing your clothes in cold water uses 15X less energy than
Climate Change Connection The New York Times
hot and gets clothes just as clean. -
15 INSTALL SOLAR
A typical two-person household reduces their carbon emissions by three to four tons annually with a solar power system.
Solar energy world -
17 TURN ON THE FANS
The average air conditioning unit in American homes releases
The Takeaway New York Public Radio
about two tons of carbon dioxide each year. -
18 PICK A CAUSE
Understanding and adapting to climate change is a massive, interdisciplinary undertaking and the sites listed here have lots of information from every possible angle.
environmentalsciencedegree -
20 ELECTRIFYEVERYTHING
Starting with a heat pump
REWIRING AMERICA
To replace your HVAC and your hot water heater