Climate Change - Lower Your Carbon Footprint at Home, the Office and on the Road

Simple Ways to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Slow Climate Change

On the Road:

	Reduce the amount you drive Walk, bike, carpool and use public transit more often Don’t idle your vehicle Keep you vehicle properly tuned and tires properly inflated Consider fuel efficiency when buying a vehicle.

At Home:

• Buy energy efficient appliances
• Shut off lights and equipment when not in use
• Use fluorescent bulbs, lower your thermostat and water heater

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• Insulate and weatherproof your home
• Conserve water
• Hang laundry
• Plant trees
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.

At Work:

• Think twice about printing – do you really need to print or can you read and save on-screen?
• Re-use old envelopes by sticking a label over the previous address.
• Use both sides of the paper when printing or photocopying.
• If you cannot reuse paper, use the recycled kind.
• Buy energy-saving office appliances and equipment, such as EnergyStar-approved computers, LCD monitors, printers and photocopiers.
• Set up a recycling program for used paper, aluminum and other materials.
• Request energy-efficiency upgrades and retrofits to office buildings.
• Fix leaking taps right away.
• Monitor how much water your workplace uses and look at how you can reduce use.
• Install devices in taps and showers that reduce the water volume.
• Turn lights on only when needed.
• Remind colleagues to switch off monitors when they’re away from the desk and to switch off all unneeded appliances at the end of the work day.
• Encourage staff to commit to taking alternative modes of transportation for their daily commute. This can include options such as car-pooling, cycling, taking public transit or walking where possible.
• Reduce your staff's environmental impacts from air travel by using video-conferences for meetings.
• If you have a fleet of vehicles, try to use the most energy-efficient models possible.
• Set the thermostat at 19 degrees Celsius.
• Avoid heating the outdoors by leaving doors and windows open when it’s hot inside.
• Keep windows and skylights clean and clear to make the most of daylight.
• Keep radiators clear. Don’t block radiators with furniture; it reduces efficiency and output.
• If you can’t measure it you can’t manage it. Check your use of electricity, gas and oil, so you know how much energy your office uses and how much you can reduce.