Global warming is a huge problem and it is going to take a concerted and unified effort by governments, businesses and individuals to solve it, but nevertheless there are many little things we can do as persons to make a difference. With a little effort in changing some of our daily activities and patterns, most of us can help reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that we put into the atmosphere.

The suggestions listed below are universally agreed upon by all of the major environmental organizations as good things to do. They are offered as  starting points.  Do some research yourself and I am sure you will find many other ways to help.

Environmental Defense's Website on Things You Can Do To Fight Global Warming

DEVELOP MORE EFFICIENT DRIVING HABITS: Not only is this a smart thing to do from the standpoint of spending less money on gas but it is a very direct way of reducing greenhouse gases at the very moment of action since as we drive, emissions from our cars and vehicles spew greenhouse gases directly into the air. It stands to reason therefore, that if we can make our driving more efficient , by using our cars less and as  needed,  we are immediately making a positive contribution. And it is so simple to do -just plan your outings. Take a few minutes before you venture out and plan the stops and the best route. You will be amazed how much time, and energy, you can save by planning and organizing your outings rather than just hopping in the car and running to the store to get just one item. With a little effort, you can literally take care of half a dozen errands in one trip. By doing so you not only save money on gas, you save time for your other activities and best of all, use less gas. It is a win-win situation for you, the rest of the human race and the planet!

WHEN YOU BUY A CAR, BUY A GAS EFFICIENT MODEL: This also makes  sense from a financial standpoint. Why settle for a gas guzzling SUV or sedan that gets a pathetic 15 miles per gallon when there are cars on the market that get 30, 40 and 60 miles per gallon, including SUVs. The hybrids (gas-electric)  offer the best fuel efficiency, as well as models that burn alternative bio fuels. If you are in the market for a new or used car, there are plenty of websites out there where you can get comparative information on fuel economy. Here is the United States website on this subject http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ and worth a visit if you are thinking about buying a new car.     

SAVE ENERGY AT HOME:
1. Turn off the lights that you do not use.
2. Install and use inexpensive lighting controls -photo sensors, automatic timers
3. Lower your thermostat a few degrees in winter. Set it way back when leaving home for an extended time.
4. Unplug spare refrigerators and non-use appliances
5. Shorten showers since they account for two-thirds of your water use. Use low flow shower heads.
6. Keep fireplace damper closed when fireplace is not in use.
7. Insulate your water and turn down hot water temperature setting to 120 degrees.
8. Use appliances efficiently. Full loads only for dish and clothes washer.
9. Use cold or warm water setting on clothes washer to reduce energy use by 50-75%.
10. Clean clothes dryer's lint trap regularly. Replace or clean air filters in heating/cooling units regularly.
11. Use energy -saving setting when drying dishes in dishwasher. Don't use heat when drying.
12. Use energy-efficient compact fluorescent or other bulbs for your most used lights.
13. Caulk and weather strip around doors and windows.
14. Ask your utility company for an energy audit to better insulate your house.              
 

  Check Out GREENPEACE'S  Webpage:

12 Clever Ways To Save Electricity and Money
 

TALK TO YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING: The personal touch is the best way to get a concept across, and if you bring up specific examples of how the save energy and as the same time reduce greenhouse gases, they will remember and hopefully follow in your example.

RECYCLE: Send less trash to the landfill and we all win.  Buy recyclable products rather than non-recyclable ones. It usually takes less energy to make recycled products than the make completely new ones.

SHOP SMART:  Buy products that don't use as much energy. When you do make a purchase, ask about the energy efficiency rating of the product, and if at all possible, purchase the one that will use less electricity or burn less fuel. Many things like computers, TVs, stereos and VCRs have special labels on them that indicate energy efficiency. The label says "Energy" and has a picture of a star. Products made that display this "Energy Star" label are made to save energy, and by buying products with this rating, you will be directly helping to reduce greenhouse gases. This logo is shown below:

BUILD SMART:  If you are in the process of building a home, or renovating an old one, there are hundreds of things you can do to make the house energy efficient, and thereby directly reduce greenhouse gases. Do your research before you build or renovate, and the result will not only be huge energy savings over the long run , good for your budget and good for the planet.