MarketWatch recently published 1o simple things anyone can do to reduce your carbon emissions! They are simple and practical and I’ll let you in on a little secret — you don’t have to do them all at once! Pick and choose the tips that work best for you. As you get comfortable, feel free to add new changes and make new changes to keep your carbon emissions low and yourself happy and healthy!

#10 — Buy Locally Grown Food
Did you know that nearly 10% of all the energy consumed in North America goes towards the processing, production and shipment of food? And that if you buy local and fresh foods, you’ll reduce energy! And support local farmers! How great is that?

#9 — Take a Different Vacation
If you pledge to only vacation within 100 miles of your home, not only will you save loads on energy and travel costs, you’ll discover neat local places you would have never considered exploring before!

#8– Get your office to go green
Does your office have a recycling program? If not, start it! A carpool? If not, start it! Do they buy recycled paper? Why not ask your boss and see if they can look into it? Also, remember to turn the computer off at the end of the day. It may be work, but every bit counts!

#7– Get a home Energy Audit
Yeah, it sounds like a pain, but you will learn exactly where your energy goes and exactly where you need to save, where you could save, and probably come away with a new outlook on the energy inputs and outputs of your home.

#6 — Go High-Tech
Sometimes those fancy gadgets can be good for you! I’m not saying throw away what you’ve got, but it comes time to replace that television, maybe look at a flat screen, and when that computer goes bust, try out a laptop. Often the higher-tech versions of products use less energy. Just be an educated consumer and you’ll save!

#5 — Unplug, unplug, unplug!
5% of energy is sucked into appliances and electronics when they are turned off. Keeping them plugged in keeps the electrons moving — and wastes energy. So if it is an appliance you don’t use a lot, unplug it after each use. And when you head on vacation, unplug the television and your lamps. It’s not like they are being used anyway!

#4 — Take a Different Ride
Some places (ahem– Canada!) give you a tax break if you take public transit. If you are hard-pressed for exercise time, look into biking to work. Live next to a guy whose office building is down the street from yours? Why not trade off who drives each morning? Or — if you need a new ride that’s old-school car style — look into a hybrid. They get cheaper with every model and are oh so sleek and stylish!

#3 — Buy Alternative Energy
I know solar panels are expensive. But they last forever and once they are installed, guess when your next energy bill comes? NEVER! If you can’t go all the way, check to see if your local power company has green options. While the energy to your house directly might not always be green, your support will help alternative energies break into the mainstream market.

#2 — Avoid Excess
Why use paper towel? Or plastic bags? Or leave the water running when you are brushing your teeth or doing your dishes? Or leave a light on when you leave a room — even if it is only for a minute? Doing the little things can help a lot.

#1 — Use less water
Water is well on its way to becoming the world’s most valuable commodity. Do your part to save. Collect rain water for your gardens. turn off the faucet, look into low-flo toilets and shower heads. There are a million ways to reduce how much water you use, I’m sure you can come up with a creative few of your own!

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