Know your footprint
Use a publicly available carbon-footprint calculator, such as the one operated by the Environmental Protection Agency, to understand which personal choices make the biggest difference in fighting global warming.

Drive change
Choosing an energy-efficient vehicle provides the single biggest opportunity for most people to reduce their carbon emissions. Each gallon of gas used produces 25 pounds of the emissions that are responsible for global warming.

Be an Energy Star
Look for the Energy Star labels on appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, furnaces, air conditioners, washing machines and water heaters. Energy Star refrigerators use about half as much energy as refrigerators made before 1993. Energy Star washing machines use nearly 50% less water and 50% less energy per load than non-Energy Star washing machines, saving you money on your water and energy bills.

US EPA – Energy Star Qualified Products
NJ Clean Energy Program – Clothes Washer Rebates

Choose clean power
Most consumers in New Jersey can purchase electricity generated from renewable resources that produce low or no carbon emissions. Installing renewable clean energy equipment at your home or business may qualify you for one of the country’s best clean energy incentive programs, Customer On-Site Renewable Energy (CORE) rebates.

NJ Clean Energy Program – Clean Power Choice Program

Unplug an underused freezer or refrigerator
An old refrigerator in the garage increases the size of your carbon-footprint and costs you more to operate during summer and winter months. Unplugging that old, underused refrigerator can lower the typical family’s carbon emissions nearly 10 percent.

Buy foods grown locally
The volume of greenhouse gas emissions involved in producing, transporting, processing and distributing food is staggering. Most food travels nearly 1,500 miles before it gets to your plate. Buying locally grown, seasonal foods not only reduces the carbon dioxide emissions involved with food production and distribution, it supports local farmers, families and businesses.

Audit your energy use
Make your home more energy efficient and comfortable while fighting global warming using a free home energy audit. Even simple measures, such as installing a programmable thermostat, can reduce a typical family’s carbon emissions approximately 5 percent. Stop losing energy and start saving money today.

NJ Clean Energy Program – Home Energy Analysis
NJ Clean Energy Program – Home Performance with Energy Star

Light it up
If every U.S. household replaced one incandescent light bulb with an energy-saving compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb, global warming pollution would be reduced by more than 90 billion pounds over the life of the bulbs. Replace the five most frequently used light bulbs in your home: kitchen ceiling dome light, living room table lamp, living room floor lamp, bathroom vanity light and the outdoor porch light. CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, so it is important that they be disposed of properly, such as at a local household hazardous waste collection event. Please check with your County for a schedule of household hazardous waste collection events near you.

NJ Clean Energy Products
US EPA – Energy Star Program

Reduce, reuse & recycle
Purchasing reusable products instead of disposables reduces our reliance on landfill space and helps combat global warming. Recycling half of your household waste will slash carbon dioxide emissions by 2,400 pounds per year.

Buy sustainably-harvested wood
When buying wood products, check for labels which indicate that the timber comes from a forest that is sustainably-managed. These forests slow global warming by effectively storing carbon.

Spread the word
A growing movement across the country seeks to reduce individual, family, business and community emissions while inspiring and assisting others to do the same.

NJ Clean Energy Program – Clean Power Community Partners

Be heard
Let policy makers know you’re concerned about global warming. Elected officials and candidates for public office at every level need to hear from citizens. Urge them to support policies that will accelerate the shift to a low-emissions future.