Save energy. Save money. Save wildlife. Who would have thought switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs could have such an impact!

Using compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) has become one of the most commonly suggested ways to address global warming, and for good reason. CFLs last up to 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs and they use less energy because they require less power to light, one fifth to one quarter less power to be specific. In addition, CFLs throw off less heat, therefore saving even more energy by decreasing the need to run cooling systems in the warmer months. Despite the higher price, a 2007 US News & World Report stated, “A household that invested $90 in changing 30 fixtures to CFLs would save $440 to $1,500 over the five-year life of the bulbs, depending on your cost of electricity. Look at your utility bill and imagine a 12% discount to estimate the savings.” Not bad!

 

Reducing your vehicle’s “carbon treadprint” will help stop global warming and still get you where you’re going.

The world is on a path to surpass 1 billion cars by 2020. That’s a lot of traffic, a lot of gasoline and A LOT of carbon dioxide emissions. Fortunately many of those cars will be hybrids and other environmentally-friendly vehicles, but even if only 10% were to burn fossil fuels they would be pumping 6 million tons of CO2, a leading contributor to global warming, into the atmosphere every year. Though trading your car in for a good pair of walking shoes may not be a viable option for most of us, there are still ways to mitigate the impact of our driving habits. Keeping your tires inflated and checking your air filter every month helps your car use less gas and emit less CO2. Of course driving less is best and using public transportation is a great way to get from here to there without your “ride.” Not near a transit stop? Try using the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Share-a-Ride program, a free computerized service that can potentially match you with a carpool or van pool going your way.

 

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts an increase in the Earth's average surface temperature of between 2.5 and 10.4 degrees F by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced; trees can help to cool it down. Plant a tree today.

As part of its Footprints program, the Philadelphia Zoo has developed three habitat restoration projects that will offset carbon dioxide emissions that are warming the planet. The “Kinabatangan Forest Restoration” project in Borneo, the “Greenland Woods” project in our own Fairmount Park and the “Philadelphia Zoo Carbon Offset Project” on Zoo grounds represent approximately seven collective acres of deforested landscape. Once planted, native tree species will not only sequester CO2, but they will also provide valuable habitat for wildlife such as endangered orangutans in Borneo that have lost more than 80% of their homes to conversion for agricultural purposes. By calculating and offsetting your carbon footprint you can make a difference for the future of wildlife and the environment we share.

 

Not so keen on being green? Well, reducing your carbon footprint may be easier than you think, especially when you start with everyday activities at home.  Five first steps that will have minimal impact on your daily routine, but will cut back on your electricity usage and help stop global warming are – filling your dishwasher before each use, washing your laundry in cold water, unplugging unused electronics, adjusting your thermostat up or down in the summer and winter months and taking shorter showers. Check your water, heating and electric bills before taking these steps and then again a month later. Then multiply by 12! In addition to saving the Earth, you may be surprised at your financial savings.

 

The majority of your favorite dishes can be prepared with produce, meats and vegetables that have been grown or raised locally, using techniques that don’t harm the environment and are beneficial to human health. Unlike agribusiness and factory farming that contribute significantly to air, water and soil pollution; both sustainable and organic farms produce foods that are as rich in flavor as they are in nutrients while conserving resources and using farming practices that are in sync with natural biological cycles. Carbon dioxide-emitting fossil fuels are among those resources conserved when you source locally versus purchasing food that has to be shipped long distances. Buying from community farms also helps to strengthen local economies and offers incentive to farmers who rely on consumer demand to make sustainable farming techniques cost-effective.