How to Solve Global Warming

World leaders gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark, are working to hammer out a treaty to address global warming as scientific evidence mounts that global warming contributes to increasingly erratic weather worldwide.

Scientists have tied global warming to wildfires, droughts and heat waves, and the phenomenon is believed to make hurricanes stronger as it begins to destroy the balance of the ecosystem in our oceans.

Meanwhile, the United States is the biggest contributor of carbon dioxide emissions, which is believed to trigger global warming.

As leaders from across the world fight to work out a response to global warming, it can feel impossible to make a difference as just one person. But the the good news is that there are key steps each of us can take to put an end to global warming.

Instructions

• 1

  Get your electric service from an eco-friendly provider such as Green Mountain Energy. Install a solar energy or wind turbine system in your home. Invest your savings in companies that provide electricity from renewable sources such as solar, wind and geothermal.

• 2

  Conduct an energy audit to see where your home is losing energy. Add weatherstripping and caulk where necessary to block drafts. Add low-e film on windows to block the summer sun. Increase your attic insulation if it's not sufficient. Install an electronic programmable thermostat. Set it to automatically raise the temperature 2 degrees at night during the summer and lower it 2 degrees at night during the winter. You'll never notice the difference, yet your carbon footprint will be significantly lower.

• 3

  Replace incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent. Compact fluorescent bulbs produce the same light as incandescents. However, they produce less heat and therefore use less energy. They also last considerably longer than incandescents. Thus, they're the best choice, both for saving the planet and for saving money.

• 4

  Look for the Energy Star logo when you're thinking of buying new appliances such as water heaters, dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators and air conditioners. These devices are designed to be more efficient in their energy use. They can help you to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions. They'll also reduce your electricity bill.

• 5

  Reduce your vehicle emissions. Ride a bicycle or walk if your destination is nearby. Use public transportation whenever possible. Get regular tune-ups for your car and keep your tires inflated. Look for a more efficient vehicle when your car needs to be replaced. Invest in a vehicle with high fuel efficiency, such as a hybrid car.

• 6

  Get proactive. Join organizations such as Greenpeace that favor the environmental cause. Write to your local congressperson about your concerns about global warming. Support laws that are tough on big companies that pollute the environment. Campaign for power plants that use renewable energy and vehicles with higher mile per gallon (MPG) averages.