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REDUCING YOUR CARBON EMISSIONS DOESN'T REQUIRE MONUMENTAL LIFESTYLE CHANGES
There are lots of ways to reduce your energy consumption (and thus carbon emissions) and most of the actions you can take will save you money!
SOME IDEAS:
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Action
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Dollars Saved Annually
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CO2 Saved Annually
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Replace 5 of your most used lights with compact fluorescent lights
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$80
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580 lbs
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Set your thermostat down three degrees in the winter
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$200
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1000 lbs
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Get an annual heating system tune-up.
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$390
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1825 lbs
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Put home electronics (TVs and computers) on a UL-approved power strip and turn the power strip off when not in use.
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$70
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500 lbs
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Replace an old refrigerator with a new ENERGY STAR
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$120
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820 lbs
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Unplug an underutilized extra freezer
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$170
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1200 lbs
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Unplug the dehumidifyer
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$310
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2200 lbs
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Wash clothes in cold water only
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$140
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700 lbs
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Line dry laundry instead of using the dryer
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$100
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700 lbs
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Drive just 10 fewer miles per week
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$110
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510 lbs
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Replace your vehicle with a more fuel efficient car (5 MPG higher)
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$510
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2450 lbs
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Replace your vehicle with a more fuel efficient car (10 MPG higher)
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$840
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4100 lbs
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Adhere to speed limits, avoid quick starts and stops; maintain adequate tire pressure.
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$150
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740 lbs
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Caulk and weather-strip around doors and windows
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$340
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1600 lbs
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Recycle aluminum cans
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320 lbs
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Recycle plastics
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720 lbs
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Compost food waste
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440 lbs
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Stop junk mail
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800 lbs
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Stop Junk Mail at Home
You can easily stop receiving catalogs, credit card offers, and other junk
mail with a variety of online services! Catalog Choice is a free service that lets you opt-out of unwanted catalogs. You can also opt out of pre-approved credit card and insurance offers by calling 888-567-8688 (888-5-OPT-OUT) from your home telephone; it will be checked against an address database. Or visit www.optoutprescreen.com. You can opt out of mailings from the Direct Marketing Association, the trade group used by 5,200 member companies to pitch their products directly to consumers. To stop receiving mailings from DMA members, go to the DMA's Mail Preference Service.
Please Note: These are mid range estimates from assumptions made in the New England Carbon Estimator; your savings may vary. Estimates of financial savings and carbon dioxide reductions depend on an array of underlying assumptions about usage, energy efficiency, fuel economy, and fuel mix (to name but a few). Differences in these assumptions can result in different estimates of the cost and carbon savings of specific household actions.
last update: 07/21/08
TAKE THE CHALLENGE. . . 
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