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Carbon Challenge

E.A.R.T.H. challenges you to make a pledge to reduce global warming. We believe that you and your family can make practical changes that add up to a significant reduction in your CO2 output. Pledge to lower your CO2 emissions by 1 ton (2,000 pounds) this year (2008)! You can also check items that you have already done in 2008 before taking this survey. Together we can make a huge difference!

To reduce the harm of my lifestyle, I (1ST & LAST NAME) pledge to making the following changes in my lifestyle to reduce my carbon output:

1) Car smarts:

Treat your car to a tune-up once a year (save 900 lbs of CO2)
Walk or bike 2 miles a day instead of driving (save 730 lbs of CO2)
Combine car errands into one trip (save 500 lbs of CO2)
Keep your tires inflated to specification (save 250 lbs of CO2)
Trade in your gas guzzler for a car that gets more miles per gallon (save 2000 lbs of CO2 per 5 mpg increase)

2) Electricity:

Replace 100-watt incandescent bulb(s) with a 27-watt compact flourescent bulb (save 160 lbs of CO2 per bulb)
Replace 75-watt incandescent bulb(s) with an 18-watt compact flourescent bulb (save 120 lbs of CO2)
Lights out when you leave the room (save 120 lbs of CO2)

3) Hot Water:

Give your electric water heater an insulation jacket (save 600 lbs of CO2)
Give your gas water heater an insulation jacket (save 260 lbs of CO2)

Cool the electric hot-water heater down by 10 degrees F but not below 120 degrees F (save 660 lbs of CO2)
Cool the gas hot-water heater down by 10 degrees F but not below 120 degrees F (save 290 lbs of CO2)

Make your hot water (electric water heater) go further with low-flow showerheads (save 920 lbs of CO2)
Make your hot water (gas water heater) go further with low-flow showerheads (save 400 lbs of CO2)

Do 4 out of 5 loads (electric water heater) of laundry in cold water (save 460 lbs of CO2)
Do 4 out of 5 loads (gas water heater) of laundry in cold water (save 200 lbs of CO2)

4) Home Heating and Air Conditioning:

Nudge your thermostat (with electric heat) down one degree this winter (save 410 lbs of CO2 per degree)
Nudge your thermostat (with gas heat) down degree this winter (save 180 lbs of CO2 per degree)

Turn your thermostat (with electric heat) down ten degrees this winter when you are asleep (save 2070 lbs of CO2)
Turn your thermostat (with gas heat) down ten degrees this winter when you are asleep (save 900 lbs of CO2)

Turn your air conditioner's thermostat up degree this summer (save 200 lbs of CO2 per degree)

Get an annual tune up on your air conditioner (save 220 lbs of CO2)

Get an annual tune up on your electric furnace (save 1030 lbs of CO2)
Get an annual tune up on your gas furnace (save 450 lbs of CO2)

Plug leaks around windows and doors with weather stripping and close the curtains and shades at night (save 1600 lbs of CO2 for electric heat)
Plug leaks around windows and doors with weather stripping and close the curtains and shades at night (save 700 lbs of CO2 for gas heat)

5) Plant a Tree:

Plant tree on the south or west side of your home or school to provide cooling shade (save 150 lbs of CO2 per tree)

6) Recycle:

Recycle aluminum can(s) a day (save 140 lbs of CO2 per can)
Recycle glass bottle a day (save 100 lbs of CO2 per bottle)
Recycle one newspaper a day (save 50 lbs of CO2)

Your Email (if you want to be contacted about EARTH activities and results of the Carbon Challenge)

If you are a Santiago High School Student, who is your science teacher?

What is the name of the person that referred you to this "Carbon Challenge" page (if it was not your science teacher)?

Carbon Challenge ideas and figures are from NEST (Network for Environmental Science Teaching) News: http://nest.csusb.edu