Make smart climate choices in your purchases

The most important thing you can do to help fight climate change is to urge your elected officials to make climate change a priority. However, there are also steps you can take in your own life to help make a difference. For example, every purchase we make has an underlying impact on global warming since energy is used to create and operate products and appliances. You can therefore reduce your personal contribution to global warming by making better purchase choices each day. Here are a few simple tips:

Choose energy efficient products
Because they use less energy, EnergyStar appliances like refrigerators, and products like compact florescent light bulbs can reduce carbon pollution, and have a big impact on your energy bill. Plus, choosing energy efficient products is easy—just look for the EnergyStar logo. EnergyStar products typically exceed the federal energy standards by at least 15%. When buying appliances that use the most energy in your home, like heaters, air conditioners, water heaters and refrigerators, also use the Energy Guide card posted on the appliance to help you choose the one with the lowest annual energy consumption. To learn more about your home's contribution to global warming, view our famous Black Balloons video.

Purchase green power
You may not realize it, but it is likely that most of the electricity you use on a daily basis comes from non-renewable sources like coal. There are some utilities, though, that will sell you climate-friendly electricity like wind, biomass or solar, if you ask for it. More than 600 utilities in 37 states offer green power products and signing up can be very easy. To find out what your options are, check out the US Department of Energy map or contact your local energy company directly. And, when you sign up for green power, ask your utility when everyone will be getting clean energy, even if they don't know to ask!

Buy products from climate-friendly companies
More climate-friendly products are available today than ever before because many companies are improving their operations and supporting smart government policies. When shopping for everything from bank accounts to toilet paper, consider buying from companies who are leading the way. Organizations like Climate Counts, The Climate Group, US Climate Action Partnership, and Ceres can help you identify more climate-friendly companies.

Click here for more ways to reduce your contribution to global warming.