| Pennsylvania Climate Change |
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WHAT YOU CAN DO
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- Replace light bulbs with the new low-watt, energy-efficient light bulbs
…that also happen to be longer-lasting than normal incandescent light bulbs! These bulbs use fewer watts while maintaining the same “soft” light output, and fit into normal light-fixture bases. Some of the manufacturers of energy-efficient bulbs are Panasonic, Bulbrite, TCP, Sylvania, GE and others, and they can be found in most convenience and hardware stores. They cost a little more than incandescent bulbs, but last 7 to 10 times longer while also saving money on your electric bill, so they’re worth it.
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- Buy Energy Star qualified appliances
ENERGY STAR is a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency, and include appliances in every category and a variety of other products. Look for the Energy Star logo. For more information about the Energy Star standard, plus where to buy products and other suggestions on saving energy use in your home, visit http://www.energystar.gov/
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- Drive an alternative-fuel vehicle (and get money back for it)
In Pennsylvania, if you are going to purchase a hybrid or alternative-fuel vehicle, you can apply for a grant beforehand. Go to the Pennsylvania DEP’s alternative fuel and hybrid vehicle rebate information and application.
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- Take public transportation whenever you can
Enjoy letting someone else drive for a change! Information and schedules for subways and buses are usually posted online and often updated daily with any service interruptions, so call your local government to check or do a web search. Some examples are:
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- Follow tips to improve your gas mileage
The U.S. Dept of Energy and has several ways you can improve your gas mileage, which is good for your wallet. However, it is also true that each gallon of fuel you don’t use is a gallon’s worth of greenhouse gas emissions not released into the atmosphere.
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- Better insulate your home
Click here to visit a site hosted by North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) with information on how to save energy through proper insulation, with information on installation, rebates and incentives, and how to determine the proper level of insulation for your home.
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The small additional monthly cost covers the added expense of generating the wind power used in the program. The wind energy you support is delivered into the Pennsylvania electric grid, reducing the amount of energy from non-renewable sources. PECO at www.pecowind.com allows you to enroll online, and also provides a environmental benefits calculator so you can see what your impact would be.
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- Buy products with less packaging
Roughly 1 out of every 11 dollars you spend on a product goes toward packaging, so buy items in bulk when you can, and check out this website maintained by the University of Florida for more suggestions and information.
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- Take advantage of curbside recycling programs
and if there is not such a program in your community, call your local government office to find out if there are private collection centers in the area (and while you’re at it ask your local commissioners to start a curbside program!)
Also, recycle your old cell phones and your used printer cartridges and other household hazardous wastes at local collection sites. (If you are a resident of Delaware County this information can be found here.)
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- Let your legislators know what you want!
You elect your legislators so they can represent you in the legislative process. It's important to let your elected officials know how you feel about environmental issues and climate change. The following links will help you find who your legislators are and how to contact them:
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- More Suggestions for Conservation
The folks at the Oregon Zoo has compiled an excellent long list of suggestions you can print out for conservation at home, at work, on vacation, and in the car.
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