Start saving carbon now

There are many ways you can reduce global warming emissions at home and on the road. Below is a list of steps you can take to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions--a primary contributor to global warming--by potentially thousands of pounds. For each action below, we’ve indicated the amount of CO2 and money that you can save over the course of a year. Actions are prioritized by those with the largest CO2-savings at the top of the list to the smallest at the end. That way, you’ll have a framework for choosing the most effective ways to reduce your “carbon footprint.”

What size is your carbon footprint? According to recent government estimates, the average carbon footprint — the CO2 emissions associated with a particular lifestyle — for a two-person household is about 42,000 pounds (22 tons) each year. Since that amount will vary depending on where you live and your particular lifestyle, you can get a personalized estimate by using an online carbon footprint calculator.

WHAT YOU CAN DO & APPROXIMATE ANNUAL SAVINGS

1. Switch to green power
CO2-savings: Up to 10,656 pounds*
Cost-savings: (Typically costs more)

Conventional energy production is the leading cause of air pollution and the largest source of CO2 emissions linked to global warming. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that for every kilowatt-hour of green power produced, one less pound of CO2 is emitted. When compared with conventional power generated from fossil fuels, green power generated from renewable resources like water, wind and solar energy is better for the environment. Read How to buy green electricity.

2. Seal and insulate duct system
CO2-savings: Up to 10,140 pounds*
Cost-savings: Up to $362 (natural gas)
Up to $718 (oil)
Up to $811 (electricity)

Sealing the ducts in your home and insulating any portions that pass through unconditioned spaces, such as the attic, basement, or garage, could reduce CO2 emissions and your heating and cooling costs by up to 40 percent.

3. Drive a fuel-efficient car
CO2-savings: About 8,000 pounds
Cost-savings: About $1,536

A car that gets 30 mpg will emit about half the CO2 of a 15 mpg vehicle. That’s a savings of 8,000 pounds if you drive 12,000 miles a year. To find the most fuel-efficient car that meets your needs, check our Green Ratings.

4. Replace an old hot water heater
CO2-savings: Up to 3,285 pounds
Cost-savings: Up to $117 (natural gas)
Up to $233 (oil)
Up to $263 (electricity)

About 13% of a typical household’s energy is used for heating water. By choosing a newer hot water heater model—which are 10 percent more efficient than conventional models—you can reduce CO2 emissions by about 3,285 pounds annually.

5. Control heating temperatures
CO2-savings: About 3,150 pounds*
Cost-savings: About $113 (natural gas)
About $223 (oil)
About $252 (electricity)

For every degree you lower your thermostat, you can cut energy use by about 3 percent. By lowering the heat by 5 degrees for 8 hours at night and 10 degrees for 8 hours during the day, for example, you can save about 3,150 pounds of CO2 annually.

6. Choose an energy-efficient central air conditioner
CO2-savings: About 1,540 pounds
Cost-savings: About $123

Most homes have a central air conditioning unit with a 10 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating). By choosing a new Energy Star qualified unit with a SEER of 14, you can reduce CO2 emissions by about 1,540 pounds annually, assuming it’s on for 1,320 cooling hours, or 8 hours a day for 5-6 months. And make sure that your contractor does the sizing calculations so you don't install a unit that's too big; it will cost more and require larger ducts to handle its higher airflow. The unit also may fail to provide the expected comfort.

7. Reduce driving speed and drive evenly
CO2-savings: About 1,500 pounds
Cost-savings: About $288

Fuel consumption is directly related to the amount of CO2 emitted while driving no matter what vehicle you drive. In Consumer Reports tests of a compact family sedan and a large sport-utility vehicle, fuel economy was improved by almost 15 percent when driving 65 mph vs. 75 mph on the highway. That translates to an average annual CO2 savings of about 1,500 pounds. Note that the CO2 savings for the SUV were even greater than for the sedan (1,900 lbs/yr). Hard acceleration and braking can also waste fuel and lower your mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent around town. For more fuel-saving tips, click here.

8. Control your hot water heater temperature
CO2-savings: Up to 733 pounds*
Cost-savings: Up to $26 (natural gas)
Up to $52 (oil)
Up to $59 (electricity)

For every 10 degrees you reduce your hot water heater’s temperature, CO2 emissions are reduced by about 3-5 percent, or 733 pounds annually. Setting the thermostat at about 120 degrees, or between low and medium, is a reasonable temperature. And if your hot-water heater is less than 10 years old, you don't need to buy an insulated blanket for it—the newer units have enough insulation to make the extra layer unnecessary.

9. Tune up and maintain your car
CO2-savings: Up to 580 pounds
Cost-savings: Up to $111

If you get your engine properly tuned and use the recommended grade of motor oil, you can cut CO2 emissions and improve mileage by up to 6 percent, particularly if your car is noticeably in need of a tune-up. Savings are based on driving 12,000 miles per year at 20 mpg.

10. Put your computer to sleep
CO2-savings: About 576 pounds
Cost-savings: About $46

In the computer and monitor models recently tested by Consumer Reports, letting the system sleep for 12 hours out of every 24 would save about 576 pounds of CO2 annually. Obviously turning off the computer will save the most energy, but newer computers – those made within the last three years – use so little energy in sleep/standby mode that you don’t need to actually shut it down during daily use. And note that screen savers do not actually save energy.

11. Replace 5 regular bulbs with compact fluorescents
CO2-savings: About 500 pounds
Cost-savings: About $40

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. By strategically replacing at least 5 heavily used 75-watt incandescent bulbs with 5 25-watt CFLs, you can reduce CO2 emissions. By using CFLs especially in places that are less accessible, like stairway fixtures, you can also get the benefits of less frequent changes because CFLs last from 5 to 13 times longer than standard bulbs, according to manufacturer's claims. While CFLs initially cost more, a single bulb can save from $25 to $45 over its life. Be aware that they do contain mercury, however, and should be carefully disposed. Check Earth911 for a Zip-code searchable listing of local disposal and recycling options.

12. Carpool or telecommute to work
CO2-savings: About 400 pounds
Cost-savings: About $77

The average person drives about 3,000 miles to and from work every year. Not driving just one day a week can reduce CO2 emissions by about 8 pounds per week. That adds up to about 400 pounds of CO2 per year. The less you drive, the more you’ll save.

13. Control air conditioning temperatures
CO2-savings: About 378 pounds*
Cost-savings: $30

For every degree you raise your thermostat, you can cut energy use by about 3 percent. By increasing the temperature by 3 degrees, you can save about 378 pounds of CO2 per year. Note that using a ceiling fan with your air conditioning can make a higher thermostat setting less noticeable by making your room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler.

14. Choose an energy-efficient washing machine
CO2-savings: About 356 pounds
Cost-savings: About $28

By choosing an Energy Star qualified washing machine over a conventional model, you can reduce emissions by about 356 pounds annually, assuming 392 loads per year. Consumer Reports recommends front-loading machines for the best all-around performance and our tests show that the most efficient machines can cut water consumption by about 25 percent compared with the least efficient models tested. Initially a front-loader may cost more than a top loading washing machine, but the extra cost will be paid back in a few years in energy savings. If a top-loader works better for you, there are some high-efficiency models available in this type too. To find the most efficient model that meets your needs, check our Green Ratings.

15. Combine errands or ride your bike instead of driving
CO2-savings: About 340 pounds
Cost-savings: About $65

The average person drives almost 2,000 miles a year to go shopping. If you cut down on driving by just 10 miles per week by combining errands—or when it’s feasible, by skipping the car altogether, and walking or riding your bike instead—you could cut your CO2 emissions by nearly 340 pounds per year. That’s based on driving a car that gets 30 mpg, but if your car is less efficient, you’ll save even more.

16. Pump up your tires
CO2-savings: About 264 pounds
Cost-savings: About $51

According to the Department of Energy, you can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires properly inflated. Our own testing revealed that a tire that is under-inflated by only 2 pounds per square inch could increase fuel consumption by about 1 percent. Check your owner’s manual for inflation recommendations.

17. Choose an energy-efficient room air conditioner
CO2-savings: About 105 pounds
Cost-savings: About $8

Replacing a single window unit with a new Energy Star certified model over a conventional model can reduce CO2 emissions by about 105 pounds annually, assuming it’s on for 750 hours, or about 8 hours a day over three months. To find the most efficient model that meets your needs, check our Green Ratings.

18. Choose an energy-efficient refrigerator
CO2-savings: About 98 pounds
Cost-savings: About $8

If your refrigerator is more than 10 years old, replacing it with an Energy Star qualified model can reduce CO2 emissions. Also, note that top or bottom freezer models are generally the most efficient models. To find the most efficient model that meets your needs, check our Green Ratings.

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CO2-savings calculation assumptions: A gallon of gasoline produces 20 pounds of CO2; a gallon of fuel oil, 22 pounds; a therm of natural gas, 12 pounds; a kilowatt-hour of electricity, 1.4 pounds.

Cost-savings calculation assumptions: A gallon of gasoline costs $3.84; a gallon of fuel oil, $4.04; A thousand cubic feet of natural gas (mcf), $15.11; a kilowatt-hour of electricity, 11.2 cents.

*Based on national averages from the latest figures available from the Department of Energy’s 2001 Residential Energy Consumption Survey of home energy uses and costs for a single family home of about 2,500 square feet.