What You Can Do

While we're waiting for a national policy on global warming, there are plenty of steps households can take to fight the coming heat. Americans put out an average of 20,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year. Taking action would make us healthier (by making the atmosphere cleaner) and wealthier (by lowering bills for electricity, heating fuels and gas). Here are some suggestions from Environmental Defense and the World Wildlife Fund.

1. Fill 'Er Up Run your dishwasher only when it's full. Use the energy-saving setting rather than the hotter mode to dry the dishes.

Average annual CO2 reduction: 200 lbs.

2. Freshen the Filters Clean or replace air-conditioner filters as recommended. A tidy filter can cut the appliance's energy consumption 5%.

Average annual CO2 reduction: about 175 lbs.

3. Get It Just Right Don't overheat or overcool rooms. Set the thermostat lower in winter and higher in summer.

Average annual CO2 reduction: about 500 lbs. for each 2[degrees]F adjustment

4. Don't Be Fuelish Whenever possible, walk, bike, carpool or use mass transit.

Average CO2 reduction: 20 lbs. for each gallon of gasoline saved

5. Jacket Required If your water heater is more than five years old, wrap it in an insulating jacket.

Average annual CO2 reduction: up to 1,000 lbs.

6. Some Like It Lukewarm Set your water-heater thermostat no higher than 120[degrees]F.

Average annual CO2 reduction: 500 lbs. for each 10[degrees]F adjustment

7. Slow Flow Install low-flow shower heads in order to use less hot water.

Average annual CO2 reduction: up to 300 lbs.

8. Take Stock Ask your utility company to conduct an energy audit of your home to find out where it is poorly insulated or energy- inefficient.

Potential CO2 reduction: thousands of pounds a year

9. Pitch In Reduce waste and promote energy-efficient measures at your school or workplace. Help set up community recycling programs.

Average CO2 reduction: 4 lbs. per lb. of office paper recycled

10. Home Improvement Plant trees next to your house, and paint it a light color if you live in a warm climate or a dark color in a cold climate.

Average annual CO2 reduction: about 5,000 lbs.

11. Get Smart on Wash Day Wash laundry in warm or cold water, not hot.

Average annual CO2 reduction: up to 500 lbs. for two loads a week

12. Dump Faulty Fridges Replace worn-out home appliances with the most energy-efficient models.

Average annual CO2 reduction (for replacing a refrigerator): 3,000 lbs.

13. Don't Bag It Buy minimally packaged goods and reusable products. Recycle.

Average annual CO2 reduction: 1,000 lbs. for 25% less garbage

14. Bright Idea Replace standard light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent ones.

Average annual CO2 reduction: about 500 lbs. per bulb

15. Goodbye, Guzzlers When buying a car, choose a fuel-efficient model that gets at least 30 miles per gal. of gasoline.

Average annual CO2 reduction: about 2,500 lbs. if your new car gets 10 miles per gal. more than your old one

16. Be Carefully Cool If your car is equipped with an air conditioner, make sure its coolant is recycled whenever you have it serviced.

Equivalent CO2 reduction: thousands of pounds

17. Windows of Opportunity If you need to buy new windows, install the best energy-saving models.

Average annual CO2 reduction: up to 10,000 lbs.

18. Close Those Cracks Caulk and weatherstrip around doors and windows to plug up air leaks.

Average annual CO2 reduction: up to 1,000 lbs.

19. Put in Some Padding Insulate all your walls and ceilings.

Average annual CO2 reduction: up to 2,000 lbs.

20. People Power If possible, choose a utility company that does not produce electricity from polluting sources such as fossil fuels.

Potential CO2 reduction: huge