What You Can Do to Help Solve the Climate Crisis

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DRIVE SMARTER
Some simple changes in driving habits can improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Avoid commuting in rush hour, if possible. You’ll waste less time sitting in traffic and your vehicle will consume less fuel. Observe the speed limit: A car’s fuel economy drops off sharply at speeds above 55 mph. Avoid unnecessary idling and keep your car in good running order. And, as much as possible, plan ahead and combine errands into one trip. For information about maximizing the fuel efficiency of your car, visit www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.shtml.

MORE EFFICIENT VEHICLES
Make your next vehicle purchase a more efficient one. Driving a car that gets more miles to the gallon will not only save you cash at the gas station, it will also reduce your CO₂ emissions. You can look up fuel-efficiency estimates for most cars at www.epa.gov/autoemissions or https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=garage.

Hybrids consume far less gas and are much cleaner for the environment. Some hybrids get up to 60 mpg. For more information, visit www.hybridcars.com.

REDUCE AIR TRAVEL
Reducing air travel even by one or two flights per year can significantly reduce emissions. Take vacations closer to home, or get there by train, bus, boat or even car. Buses provide the cheapest and most energy-efficient transportation for long distances, and trains are at least twice as energy efficient as planes. If your airplane travel is for business, consider whether you can telecommute instead. If you must fly, consider buying carbon offsets to compensate for the emissions caused by your air travel. For assistance in planning green travel and purchasing carbon offsets, visit the Better World Club.

Consume Less, Conserve More

In America, we have grown used to an environment of plenty, with an enormous variety of consumer products always available and constant enticement to buy “more,”“new” and “improved.”

This consumer culture has become so intrinsic to our worldview that we’ve lost sight of the huge toll we are taking on the world around us. By cultivating a new awareness of how our shopping and lifestyle choices affect the environment and directly cause carbon emissions, we can begin to make positive changes to reduce our negative effects.

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