Take Action

You Can Make a Difference

Global warming is a huge challenge. It may seem insurmountable. After all, it’s the product of the entire world’s cumulative actions over the past 200 years. It will require large changes and small over the next several decades by all of us – government, businesses, communities and individuals – to reverse and stabilize our climate.

Many of the large changes are underway globally, nationally, and in state and local government policies and programs. They involve significant shifts in energy investments, from conventional combustion of fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – to energy efficiency, new renewable technologies, and possibly new ways of using those same fossil fuels while capturing and containing greenhouse gas emissions. The Oregon Global Warming Commission urges, in the strongest possible terms, that Oregonians participate as these policy choices are made. We will try to identify opportunities for you to understand those choices, and opportunities to speak out.

Changes made by individuals and households, added together, do make a difference. Some of these changes involve significant choices – making our houses more energy efficient, or choosing a new car that uses less fossil fuel, or choosing to rely on public transportation. Other changes are smaller but can add up (just as our failure to make them adds a little more carbon to the atmosphere each time). All these changes accumulate, and together with effective new national and state policies, our efforts add up to meaningful greenhouse gas reductions and meaningful moderation of climate change. Many of these choices will also end up saving us money as well.

Want to help keep Oregon – and the planet – cool?

Here are some ideas of ways individuals can help reduce Oregon's greenhouse gas emissions.

Change the way you commute and shop.

Transportation accounts for about 34% of Oregon’s greenhouse gas emissions. Pick one day a week or more to walk, bike, take public transportation or carpool. If possible, live close to your workplace, and to services like your grocery store or library. When driving, combine several errands and car trips into one. Follow the speed limit; you’ll get better mileage (exceeding the speed limit by just 5 mph during highway travel cuts your fuel economy by 6%).

Make your next car the least-polluting, most efficient vehicle that you can afford to meet your needs. Maybe it’s an innovative hybrid that combines a gasoline engine with electric motors, or a wagon instead of an SUV. If you do need a truck, check out the new hybrid SUVs. But it doesn’t have to be a hybrid; a car that gets 30 miles per gallon is a winner (you will save more money and emissions if you jump from 20 mpg to 40 mpg than from 25 mpg to 50 mpg).

Over the average lifetime of an American car, a 40-mpg car will save roughly $3,000 in fuel costs compared with a 20-mpg car, so compare fuel economy performance before you buy. Learn more about choosing a more efficient vehicle and about available federal and state tax credits and incentives. There are also many ways to maximize the fuel efficiency of your current vehicle.

Support renewable energy.

Buy renewable energy and carbon offsets. Many utilities in Oregon offer "green power" options that give consumers and business the chance to buy some or all of their energy from renewable energy sources such as wind power.  When you choose these options, your dollars add to market demand for renewables and lead to the real reductions in carbon dioxide and other pollutants that occur when energy is produced by burning fossil fuels. 

Or buy “offsets” produced from verifiable changes in business-as-usual practices that reduce emissions or increase the capture of greenhouse gases from the air. Your dollars may go to: capping old coal mines to keep methane from escaping; “no-till” farming that holds carbon fixed in the soil; or planting trees to soak up carbon and lock it into permanent forest growth. It’s important to assure yourself that you’re getting a real, verifiable, additional carbon benefit for your money. You can check that your supplier is certified by Green-E, an independent non-profit organization that examines claims and validates them.

Save energy (and money) in your home.

Weatherize your home. Sealing air leaks and improving insulation will make your home more comfortable, save energy and reduce your heating and cooling costs. If you live in an older home, you can get help prioritizing energy-saving improvements with a free home energy review from the Energy Trust of Oregon. You can even receive cash for completing energy saving improvements.

Consider adding a solar electricity or a solar hot water heater to your home. There are a variety of technologies available and many resources to help you get started. Oregon utilities will even exchange any surplus power your system generates for utility power you use at night and other times when your system doesn't meet your needs. Check out the many tax credits and incentives available to help reduce your costs: Oregon offers residential and business energy tax credits for solar, and there are federal tax incentives as well as additional rebates available from the Energy Trust of Oregon.

Buy energy efficient appliances. Picking efficient appliances, air conditioners and computers can make a big difference in energy use and carbon emissions from power plants. And you may be able to reduce your appliance cost, by qualifying for a tax credit or incentive from the State of Oregon, the Energy Trust of Oregon or the federal government. Most appliances that are five years old or older could be replaced with a more efficient model that will save carbon emissions and money. You might have to spend a bit more up front, but you’ll save a lot on electricity bills. Look for the Energy Star label, which identifies the most efficient appliances. (And don’t put the old refrigerator in the garage filled with beverages.)

Unplug it. Appliances, chargers, home theater equipment, stereos and televisions use electricity even when their power is “off” (these are called “vampire” loads). Eliminating this “leaking” electricity could save you 6–26% on your average monthly electricity bill. Take a look around your home and unplug seldom-used appliances. Install power strips so that the power to frequently used items can be easily turned off.

Change the lights. Replace incandescent light bulbs that are frequently used with compact fluorescent lights. Replacing one incandescent light bulb can save $15 a year in electricity costs or $30-$60 over the bulb’s lifespan.

Set your thermostat. Set your thermostat in winter to 68° or less during the daytime, and 55° before going to sleep or when you’re away for the day, to save 5-20% on your space heating costs. During the summer, set thermostats to 78° degrees or more to save 5-20% of your cooling costs. So you don’t have to remember to adjust the thermostat, purchase an inexpensive programmable one.

Regularly clean or replace furnace air filters. You can save up to 350 pounds of carbon dioxide and $150 per year by simply tending to your air filter every six months.

Eliminate junk mail. Junk mail production in the US consumes as much energy as 2.8 million cars. Stop your junk mail and unwanted catalogs.

Save water.

Water-related energy use, including pumping, treating and heating, comprises roughly 20% of Oregon’s energy. To reduce your water consumption:

• Turn off your water when it’s not use.
• Take shorter showers.
• Don’t leave the water running when you brush your teeth.
• Discover unseen leaks by reading your meter.
• Install low-flow shower heads and aerators on your faucet.
• Install and use water-efficient landscaping and irrigation methods (for example, plant drought tolerant plants; install drip irrigation systems).
• Use Energy Star rated appliances to reduce energy use and save money.

Shop locally.

Buying locally supports Oregon farmers, preserves Oregon's open spaces from sprawl and generally reduces greenhouse gas emissions due to shorter transportation distances. Look for farms that adopt low-impact practices (examples include no-till planting; as-needed fertilizer applications, etc.) that minimize releases of greenhouse gases. Shop at your local farmers’ market, or take the kids to a U-pick farm. When purchasing processed foods, look for products from local companies that are committed to aggressively reducing their energy use and carbon footprint. Your local farmer’s market is a great place to start!

Reuse everyday items.

Each of us, on average, generates about 4.4 pounds of trash each day. To reduce your trash footprint, use re-usable coffee mugs, water bottles, shopping bags, and food containers. If you cannot reuse an item, think recycling.

Plant it.

Beautify your space and help turn carbon dioxide into oxygen; plant a tree, a flower bed, a vegetable garden. Each tree converts roughly 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide to oxygen annually.

Spread the word.

Share these tips with your family and friends to leave a better planet for our children. Write or e-mail your legislators and other public officials to let them know your views. The University of Oregon also sponsors a program to train volunteers in ways to reduce emissions from everyday home activities and business operations. We encourage you to contribute your Take Action ideas as well.