Climate change: Be the solution you want to see!

Climate change affects us all, and all of us contribute to climate change through the greenhouse gas emissions we cause. So, our individual carbon footprint — the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by our activities — matters. At home, on the road or at school or work, we make lots of choices each day that have an impact on our carbon footprint, and therefore impact climate change. What can you do to help? Here is the first of three installments of ourTop Tips to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint:

Top Tips to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

1. Reduce your energy use

• Make it a habit to turn off the lights as you leave a room
• Change five lights — replace your five most frequently used light fixtures or the lightbulbs in them with ENERGY STAR® qualified products and you will help the environment while saving $70 a year on energy bills. ENERGY STAR lighting provides bright, warm light; generates 75 per cent less heat; uses about 75 per cent less energy than standard lighting; and lasts from 10 to 50 times longer.
• Turn off your computer and unplug electronics when they are not in use

2. Change the way you think about transportation

• Walk or bike whenever possible
• Take public transit or carpool whenever possible
• When buying a vehicle look for one with better fuel economy
• Increase your fuel economy when driving by sticking to posted speed limits and avoiding rapid acceleration and excessive braking

3. Insulate your home

• Insulate yourself and your home. By properly insulating your home, you can ensure that heat stays in or out depending on the season.
• Purchasing windows and window coverings that will block out or keep in warmth, and by sealing any existing cracks
• In winter, reduce your thermostat to enjoy energy savings and a cozy sweater
• In summer, use fans to circulate air, and set air conditioners to make your home a comfortable temperature
• Lowering the temperature on your water heater  and insulating your pipes also makes a difference

In the world's conversation about energy, one point is beyond debate: Energy makes a vital contribution to people's quality of life, to society and to human progress. This is true today, and it will remain true in the future. That's why Energy Matters was created. We believe it's important to equip people with unbiased information so they may form opinions, join the conversation and feel confidence in the work and accomplishments of the energy sector. Energy Matters is an initiative that provides transparent information and perspective on energy. Here, we'll cover a range of topics: the scale of global energy; the ways energy is sourced and produced; current energy technology; forthcoming innovations; the world's future energy needs; and the sustainable sources of energy that will fill them. Because energy matters to everyone, we hope you'll rely on Energy Matters as an ongoing source of balanced information.