You Can Help!
Although climate change has greatly affected the polar bear’s sea ice habitat, scientists emphasize that it’s not too late to take action—and each of us can do our part.
- Our How You Can Help document is packed with tips for reducing your carbon footprint and helping the bears: at home, work, school, and in your community.
- In addition, PBI scientists have put together a list of the most impactful actions that you can take.
- Individual or group fundraising efforts also help the bears. Here are some ideas to help you get started.
- One of our partner organizations, Climate Counts, keeps track of green companies to support. Check their list and vote with your wallet!
- Finally, we enourage you to help polar bears by taking our One Ton Challenge.
Extra, Extra!
We've also gathered some ideas from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and www.keepwintercool.org on how to curb greenhouse gases by reducing energy consumption:
Power Down and Clean Up. If you replace your current washing machine with a low-energy, low-water-use machine you could reduce your CO2 emissions by 440 pounds per year. Wash your laundry in warm or cold water, instead of hot to reduce CO2 emissions by about 500 pounds per year.
Keep Your Water Heater Cozy. If your water heater is more than five years old, wrap it in an insulating jacket. This can result in a 100-pound reduction of CO2 emissions. Keep your water-heater thermostat no higher than 120º F and you reduce CO2 emissions by 550 pounds a year.
Put the Freeze on Inefficient Appliances. Get rid of old, energy-inefficient appliances and replace with newer, energy-efficient models. A high energy-efficient refrigerator can reduce CO2 emissions by 450 pounds a year. Visit www.energystar.gov for more information and look for the Energy Star label when shopping.
Reduce and Recycle. If you reduce your garbage by 25% you will reduce CO2 emissions by 1,000 pounds a year. Recycle aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic, and cardboard to reduce your home's CO2 emissions by 850 pounds a year.
Don't Give Energy Away. If you caulk and weather-strip around doors and windows to plug leaks, you can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,000 pounds a year.
Take the Green Way. Leave your car at home two days a week. Instead, walk, bike, or take public transportation and you can reduce CO2 emissions by 1,590 pounds per year.
Slow the Flow. Consider buying a car that gets more miles to the gallon than your current vehicle, and match that vehicle to your needs. The potential CO2 reduction for a car that gets 32 miles per gallon is 5,600 pounds a year.
Make the Right Move. Save significant time and money by moving closer to work and reducing your commute. The CO2 emissions you save are icing on the cake.
Be a Turn Off. Turn off your TV, video player, stereo, and computer when you aren't using them. Turn off your lights when you don't need them, and start saving within a minute or two.
Trim Your Load. When you do drive, keep your car tuned and its tires properly inflated to help you save on fuel costs while reducing CO2 emissions. A tune-up can boost your miles per gallon anywhere from 4 to 40 percent; a new air filter can get you 10 percent more miles per gallon. Take your roof rack off your car when you aren't using it for more savings.
Other Important Tips
Use programmable thermostats so you don't waste energy when you're at work or out of the house.
Use lights that work off solar energy. They're quite common now and realistic in price.
Change your heating and cooling filters every month. This not only saves electricity, but lengthens the life of the appliance.
Dry your clothes on a clothesline instead of in a dryer. Not only will you save electricity or gas, your clothes will smell good, too!
Plant trees. Set a goal of being CO2 neutral, which means the amount of CO2 that a family produces needs to be offset by planting trees that can transform it back into oxygen.
Support the research and educational efforts of Polar Bears International by making a donation. Remember that every dollar donated goes directly to help the bears!
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