We've been looking into which changes will actually offer the biggest reduction in carbon.

Driving:

1. If we drive just 1,000 fewer miles in a year, that will cut our carbon emissions by about 500 pounds. That's about 1 1/2 percent of our current total. I'm not sure how practical that is - we already combine errands to minimize extra trips, but we'll see what we can do.

2. Driving in a more fuel efficient way cuts down on emissions. According to the EPA, each gallon of regular unleaded gas used releases about 20 pounds of carbon. So, if we can get more miles to the gallon by changing how we drive, we'll release less carbon. Things that contribute to better fuel efficiency when driving include:
   - driving the speed limit
   - avoid "jack rabbit" starts and sudden stops
   - keep the car tuned up
   - making sure the tires are properly inflated!

If we save one gallon of gas a week through driving less and driving smarter, that's about 1000 pounds of carbon a year.

Heating & Cooling:

1. Replacing our old boiler (we have a hot water radiator system for heat) with an Energy Star unit could reduce carbon emissions (by reducing the amount of natural gas we use to heat) by up to 3,000 pounds a year! That seems like something we should do - the old boiler is at least 20 years old, so it's probably time to replace it anyway.

2. Installing a programmable thermostat can save money and energy because it allows you to set up several temperatures during the day, and also lets you vary the settings by day of the week. What this means is that during the winter, you can program the thermostat to a lower temperature when you aren't home, or when you are asleep, and then program it to warm things up again before you come home or get up in the morning. Some people do this manually each day, but how many times do you forget to turn the thermostat down before you go to bed?

3. Keep air conditioning use to a minimum by using a ceiling fan, or opening windows to promote cross-ventilation through the house. In our part of the country - the Midwest, having well placed trees to provide shade can dramatically reduce the need for air conditioning use.

Windows

1. Replacing all of the windows in the house with Energy Star windows could cut our carbon output by about 9% (3300 pounds).

2, Plus, through the end of 2007, we are eligible for a one-time $500 tax credit if we install new Energy Star windows. The tax credit will directly reduce the amount of tax we owe -- so if our total income tax bill is $10,000, the credit will reduce it to $9,500. That won't pay for the windows, but every little bit helps at tax time!

Lighting

1. Replacing just one incandescent bulb with a compact flourescent (if the light is on 8 hours a day), will cut carbon emissions by 100 pounds.

So, right there, if we do the upstairs windows, replace the boiler, replace the water heater with an on-demand model, and drive smarter, we can cut our household emissions by about 6,000 pounds a year, which will get us to 15%.

So let's try for 20%!!