RESPONSES TO CHANGE

What Can Be Done to Mitigate CO₂ Emissions? Use This Calculator to See What Works Best.

In this activity you can select personal and national actions you could take to reduce CO₂ emissions. You'll be able to see the effect of each choice you take on total emissions in the United States.

On this screen you can choose personal and national options for reducing CO₂ emissions

On the left is a list of personal lifestyle options you could take. Check the boxes next to each option to select your choices. For purposes of this activity, it is assumed that all Americans will adopt your choices.

On the right is a list of options that could be taken on the national level.

In the activity a bar graph reflects the effect of your choices. These percentages assume all Americans adopt your choices.

LIFESTYLE OPTIONS

Increase household vehicle efficiency by 10 miles per gallon reduces CO₂ emissions by 5.45%.

Drive 100 fewer miles per week reduces CO₂ emissions by 4.11%

Fly 3000 fewer miles per year reduces CO₂ emissions by 1.03%

Turn thermostat down by 2 degrees in the winter reduces CO₂ emissions by 0.62%

Replace 10 incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents reduces CO₂ emissions by 1.06%

Plant 10 trees a year reduces CO₂ emissions by 0.18%

NATIONAL OPTIONS

Improve airplane fuel efficiency by 20% reduces CO₂ emissions by 0.77%

Improve commercial transportation efficiency by 20% reduces CO₂ emissions by 1.80%

Increase the use of biomass, hydroelectric, geothermal, wind and solar energy sources to 25% of total U.S. production reduces CO₂ emissions by 19.00%

Increase industrial energy efficiency by 10% reduces CO₂ emissions by 2.85%

Improve commercial building efficiency by 25% reduces CO₂ emissions by 4.35%

Collect 60% of the gas emitted from landfills and use it to generate electricity reduces CO₂ emissions by 1.75%

THESE ARE ONLY A FEW OF MANY POSSIBILITIES

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