At Home, Work, School, and House of Worship

We casually waste electric energy all the time.  You can turn out lights when no one is in the room, adjust or shut off air conditioning when not at home (a programmable thermostat can help with this), completely power down appliances, particularly those operated by a remote, that stay constantly on standby using a small stream of electricity 24/7.  Your choices won’t prevent a coal plant or solve global warming, but they will make you part of the solution rather than the problem, saving you some money along the way.  And participation in SOLUTIONS is contagious.

Here are some other things you can do in your personal life.

• A good resource to get you started at improving the efficiency of your residence.  Energy Efficiency with ENERGY STAR.
• This website has an interactive map of a  home or office that shows you how much energy you can save with a few  simple steps.
• The book “Low Carbon Diet” is brimming with small steps you can take to decrease your carbon footprint, and most of them will save on your electric bill.
• The average family could eliminate the need for coal by reducing their energy use by 30-50% and buying “Greenpower” or renewable energy through your local utility.
• Religious and Community Power:  You can get others to help, too. Ask your church, synagogue, mosque, temple or community center to buy renewable power and to use efficiency to lighten their load.  For ideas on how to create a program go here.  In Texas 180 Methodist churches have chosen to get 10% of their energy from wind power. The Methodists' big group purchase will increase the share of Texas' wind power and decrease the share from air-polluting coal-fired plants.  News article.
•  There is a growing sentiment towards creation care in the religious community.  Talk with congregation members and clergy about what you can do collectively to take better care the earth
• In order to reduce energy use and air pollution some congregations have developed lesson plans, teaching aids and covenants for their members to sign.   More here..   
• Get your employer or business to become an energy star workplace or a greenpower partner.  The good news is that both of these programs save your employers money over the long run.