Protecting existing wetlands and green spaces and restoring others, we can have cleaner water and air, preserve homes for birds, protect against sea-level rise and storm surge, sequester carbon, absorb floodwaters, and provide relief in urban heat islands.

By reducing the heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, we give birds and ourselves more time to adapt to the climate impacts already coming down the pipeline and prevent more severe consequences. Audubon recently helped East Florida municipalities tackle Greenhouse Gas inventories.

Take advantage of the free home energy audits offered by many utilities. Then, put the recommendations into practice. Simple measures, such as installing a programmable thermostat to replace your old dial unit or sealing and insulating heating and cooling ducts, can reduce a typical family’s carbon dioxide emissions by about 5 percent. Replacing single-paned windows with dual-paned windows and installing insulated doors will also greatly reduce heat loss in your home.

We talked to Estero HVAC & AC Repair Company – Quality Service & Turning your thermostat down 3 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and up 3 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 1,050 pounds annually. Using a programmable thermostat, you can automatically lower your monthly energy bill by giving your heat and air conditioning a break. At the same time, you are asleep or out, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by another 1,050 pounds per year. Additionally major improvements in efficiency have been made. Upgrading to a new high-efficiency high-seer unit can greatly reduce electricity usage, lower-bills, and lower carbon emissions. 

Tankless water heaters fit on walls under sinks and warm only as much water as is needed, so there is little energy wasted. A tankless heater costs $800 more than a regular one but reduces electric bills by about $20 monthly.

You can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 550 pounds by not using hot water on two weekly loads of laundry.

Develop a plan to reduce daily electricity use around your home. Ask each household member to take responsibility for a different electricity-saving action.

In summary, the warning bells are ringing – we cannot wait to take small steps to make a start in helping our future way of life in Southwest Florida.

More than half the electricity in the United States comes from polluting coal-fired power plants. And power plants are the single largest source of heat-trapping gas. Fortunately, alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, and hydro energy, are gaining increased support worldwide. For example, the wind energy produced in Denmark provides about 10 percent of the country’s total energy needs. These methods of energy production emit no greenhouse gases once they are up and running.

In most states, alternatives are available for customers who want to purchase green power (50 to 100 percent renewable energy). For a complete list of green power options, visit the US Department of Energy’s Buying Clean Electricity web page.

From the outside, solar lights look like small skylights on the roof. They magnify the sun inside the house, delivering strong, natural light without power. While they are most useful in interior rooms with no windows, they could also illuminate darker corners of rooms with windows.

Reduce your use of energy-reliant products, especially heavy consumers such as televisions and computers. Turn off computers when not in use. Many people may remember being told that turning a computer on and off several times a day reduces the computer’s life span. With new computers, this is no longer true, particularly given that computers are rarely used for longer than a few years before being replaced.

If you are going to be away from a newer computer for more than ten minutes, go ahead and turn it off. Reduce the amount of time spent aimlessly surfing the web. Reduce the amount of time you watch television and read a book. Many electronics continue to use electricity even if they are turned off. You can greatly reduce energy consumption by connecting electronics to power strips or surge protectors and turning these off when not in use.

Hanging clothes out to dry requires no electricity or natural gas use.

With the federal and state governments offering residential renewable energy incentives, solar energy is more accessible than ever, not to mention an excellent long-term investment.

Suppose your energy company doesn’t offer green power. In that case, you can offset your carbon dioxide emissions by purchasing “green tags” or compensatory energy credits that add renewable power to the grid equal to the power you use. Numerous green tag programs exist and can readily be found online.

When it comes time to replace appliances, look for the Energy Star label on new appliances (refrigerators, freezers, furnaces, air conditioners, and water heaters use the most energy). These items may cost a bit more initially, but the energy savings will pay back the extra investment within a couple of years. Household energy savings can make a difference: If each household in the United States replaced its existing appliances with the most efficient models available, we would save $15 billion in energy costs and eliminate 175 million tons of heat-trapping gases. The United States would need 30 fewer power plants if all Americans used the most efficient refrigerators. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® website for a list of energy-efficient appliances.

Many common household cleaners and other household products are toxic, in addition to being petroleum-based. Toxic chemicals in the home can be eliminated simply by making thoughtful choices in the supermarket after educating oneself about where the hazards are in common consumer products. How can you determine what toxics you have in your home and what products may be safe substitutes? Check out the EPA’s Protect the Environment: At Home and in the Garden page.