This is likely where we are headed. The map on the left shows the eastern US as the average July temperature is predicted to be in 2085. The map on the right is what it is today. Notice anything? Lavendar is cooler, red is hot, purple is darn hot. My brother and his family live in Atlanta - considered moderate today, but projected to be darn hot in 80 years. Now that may not matter to me - I'll be long gone - but my nieces and nephews kids will be around, and I actually feel some responsibility for those future folks.

I wanted to do some math based on our earlier changes, and updated with the Low Carbon Diet info.

- Replacement windows upstairs: 800 pounds less CO2
- Keeping our furnace tuned up: 300 pounds less CO2
- Replacing 7 high-use light bulbs with cfls: 700 pounds less CO2
- Turning the temp down on the hot water heater to 120 degrees: 150 pounds less CO2
- Driving smarter (speed limit, etc): 1100 pounds less CO2
- Installing a programmable thermostat and using it: 1400 pounds less CO2
- Doing the laundry smarter (cool rinse cycle, warm instead of hot, less dryer use): 360 pounds less CO2
- Tuning up the car and keeping tires properly inflated: 3000 pounds less CO2 (1500 each for 2 cars)
- Replacing as much of our food with local choices as practical (estimate one-third): 660 pounds less CO2
- Turning off the computer at night and during the day when we are away from the house and not leaving chargers plugged in after devices are charged: up to 500 pounds less CO2

TOTAL: 8,970 pounds less CO2 this year.

If you recall, we started at a household level of 41,500 pounds, so with the reductions, we are down to 32,530 pounds. We also purchased 14,000 pounds of carbon credits to offset our cars' CO2 contributions, so that means we are still responsible for adding 18,530 pounds of CO2 to the atmosphere each year. We buy credits from TerraPass to offset air travel, so that's not an issue.

The costs have been minimal (the windows were the only big ticket item so far), but look at the benefits! We have cut our net CO2 contributions by 50%. And we should start noticing the savings on our energy bills!