Taking Action on the Pledge

erin — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 14:16:25 -0700

If you're like most of us, you've taken the pledge because you are interested in taking personal action to solve the climate crisis but are wondering how you should get started. If you haven't taken the pledge yet, take the Pledge. There are a variety of impactful measures you can start with. Some take one minute and cost nothing. Some take a little time and money up front in order to reap the climate benefits and saved costs. Here are a few tips for each section of the pledge to help you get started on the pathway to a lower climate impact.

I pledge, you pledge, we all win

emily — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:09:52 -0700

Talk is cheap, but inaction is expensive, especially when the climate is in crisis. Take this pledge and then post it on your fridge, make it your screensaver, tape it near the back door or put a tiny version inside your wallet. Then explain to others why this is important so that they too will take the pledge. Hang it up in the coffee room at work. Post it on the community bulletin boards downtown or at the local library. This is all about doing something for yourself and your loved ones.

Take the lead, inspire change

emily — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:43:07 -0700

How can you let your leaders know that you would like them to participate in solving the climate crisis? One way is to write them a letter asking them to join you in signing the pledge (another way is to write to your newspapers and magazines). We have written a sample letter below that you can use to contact your local, state, and federal leaders, as well as your business leaders, leaders of your faith community, and other leaders near and far. You can use this online tool to send the letter to your elected officials.

Mass movement

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:17:35 -0700

Miss the train? If your neighborhood is out of the transit loop, you can work to change that. Cars don't have a lock on the American Dream. In fact, 100 years ago the road to prosperity was a streetcar line. The average urban dweller rode public transportation 250 times a year and the US led the world in the construction and use of mass transit.

Spend your green where it's greenest

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 12:06:22 -0700

Going shopping or on vacation? Want to support green companies? Here's how to find them...

Did you know that Timberland (the footwear and apparel company) is addressing climate change by using renewable sources of energy and examining transportation requirements? The company aims to reduce its carbon footprint and help others to do the same.

Did you know that in 2003, the state of Maine became the first in the US to establish statutory greenhouse gas reduction goals?

Word of mouth, words of wisdom

emily — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 18:35:27 -0700

How many times has someone asked you, "You got a minute?" They want to know if this looks good with that; if this should go over here; or, what did you think about this, that, or the other?

Write it down!

emily — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:26:08 -0700

Have you ever wanted to express your opinions to a big audience? Writing a Letter to the Editor, whether it's in your local daily, a national paper, a church magazine, or an auto enthusiast digest, is an opportunity that is open to anyone. It's one of America's great ways to voice your opinion. And if you have an opinion about the urgency and solvability of the climate crisis and you like to write, a Letter to the Editor is a good way to express your concern, your passion, and your interest in protecting our climate.

Vote: exercise your right

emily — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:15:51 -0700

Short summary: It's our community, it's our country, it's our world, it's our future. We should have a say.

Together we have the power to demand that our leaders effectively address the climate crisis. How can we do this? By standing up on Election Day and showing our voting muscle. Voting makes a statement that we're here, we're not going away and that politicians of all persuasions, shapes and sizes and at all levels of government must pay attention to the issues we care about.

If you build it green...

emily — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:01:43 -0700

Now is an important time to encourage your local and state officials to adopt green building standards that reduce the energy consumption of all new construction. According to the US Green Building Council, buildings in the US are the source of 39% of our carbon dioxide emissions, almost all of which comes from heating, cooling, and electrical power use. Compared to standard construction, green buildings are designed and built with resource efficiency, energy reduction and human health in mind.

Standby your...office

emily — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:14:58 -0700

Save energy and money by using the most efficient office equipment and taking advantage of the off switch. Office equipment is rapidly evolving and proliferating. It's also the fastest-growing user of electricity in commercial buildings in America. The Department of Energy calculates office equipment in homes and businesses costs $1.8 billion each year to power up and it's responsible for consuming 7% of all commercial-sector power.