Carbon Reduction Action Items
		Next	Done
At home:
	Set your water heater to 120°F (or to the lowest practical setting)
	Get a programmable thermostat and turn the heat or A/C down/off when you’re not home
	Set the thermostat a few degrees cooler in winter and warmer in summer
	Take shorter showers (~5 min.)
	Cancel your junk mail - see http://www.newdream.org/junkmail/index.php
	Install a low-flow shower head
	Recycle green waste, or even better, start a compost bin
	Defrost your fridge and freezer regularly, clean the heating coils, and check door seals for degradation and cleanliness
	Make sure your fridge and freezer temperatures aren’t set too low (35-38°F for the fridge, 0°F for the freezer)
	Set dishwasher to do no-heat or air dry, and avoid "rinse and hold" cycles
	Wash your clothes in cold water
	Air dry your clothes (start with one load/week)
	Wash fewer clothes (one load less/week)
	Keep an empty freezer full of frozen containers to retain cold air
	Turn off lights in rooms you're not in
	Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents
	Use shades and blinds to maximize heating and cooling efficiency (e.g. open shades during the day in winter)
	Weatherize your living space (install weather stripping, seal windows and doors)
	Recycle everything you can
	Set energy-saving settings on your computer(s)
	Turn appliances off (including computers) when you're not using them
	Make your waterbed when you get up; saves 20-30% of the heat
	Run dishwasher, washer, and dryer at night (saves energy in summer and usually saves money year-round)
	Use shortest oven preheat times, don't open while cooking, and turn off promptly (crack door for residual heat)
HOMEOWNERS	Get a home energy audit from the utility company (usually free)
	Get a water heating system that only heats on demand
	Limit use of gas powered lawn eqipment (lawn mowers, leaf blowers, etc.)
	Practice "grasscycling" with your lawn (leave grass clipping on the lawn when you mow)
	Give your water heater a blanket, possibly electric, and insulate the first two yards of hot and cold pipes from the heater
	Capture rainwater for your garden
	Replace old appliances with energy efficient ones
	Change/replace air filters in your heating and cooling system as scheduled
	Install energy saving windows
	Plant trees to soak up CO2, help shade your home, and protect it from wind
	Investigate household renewable power generation systems (solar, wind, etc.)
	Investigate household renewable power heating/cooling (geothermal, green design)
	Install a green roof
At work: (see additional info on reverse)
	Work from home (start with 1 day/week)
	Use recycled paper
	Print only when necessary, and print double-sided
	Start or join the green business movement at your workplace (see reverse)
In the car:
	Drive 20% fewer miles: carpool, carshare, bike, walk, plan trips well, and use mass transit
	Buy the most fuel efficient car that meets your needs
	Drive at the speed limit, gradually accelerate and decelerate, and don’t idle (most cars are most efficient at 35-55mph)
	Remove excess weight from your car (empty roof racks cause drag, even 100 lbs. of junk in the trunk makes a difference)
	Do basic car maintenance: tune-ups, check tire pressure and filters
In the store:
	Buy local produce
	Buy local products
	Buy products with less packaging and avoid disposables
	Don’t drink bottled water
	Bring reusable bags when shopping
	Use recycled goods whenever you can
	Eat less meat (declare one meatless day/week)
	Buy green power and/or carbon offsets to achieve carbon neutrality (see reverse)
In your community:  (see additional info on reverse)
	Contact your elected officials and tell them what you think
	Write a letter to the editor of your local paper, radio, or TV news program
	Throw an An Inconvenient Truth house party
	Educate yourself about the issues in your community (see reverse)
	Checklist - and other handouts - available for download at www.joylette.net.com/tcp