10 Super Simple Tips to Help Stop Global Warming

Global Warming is a frightening fact of our lives. We've already been witness to much devastation caused by Global Warming; we've seen severe droughts and wildfires in the midwest United States, extremely strong hurricanes on the Gulf Coast fed by too warm tropical waters, over the top heat waves in Europe which caused over 20,000 deaths, receding glaciers and a melting Arctic Ice cap, which poses the threat of flooding coastal lands as the ice melts, and the seas rise.

In short, Global Warming poses a very serious threat, but we can each take steps to stop it. Global Warming is caused in part by carbon dioxide and other air pollution that is collecting in the atmosphere like a thick blanket, trapping the sun's heat in its insulation and causing our planet to warm up.

Here is a list of 10 super simple things that anyone can do to help in the fight against Global Warming. Some of them are at no cost, some others require spending a few more pennies up front, but can help you save a lot of money in the long term, as well as protecting our environment.

1. Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL)

   CFL's are those odd looking, swirly lightbulbs, and they use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. If every household in the United States replaced one regular light bulb with an energy-saving model, we could reduce global warming pollution by more than 90 billion pounds over the life of the bulbs; the same as taking 7.2 million cars off the road.

2. Buy local seasonal fruits and vegetables

   Fruits and, vegetables, grown closer to home rack up fewer "petroleum miles" than products trucked cross-country to your table. It's not difficult to enjoy the local seasonal varieties that are offered. How hard is it to enjoy fresh, plump juicy strawberries in March, or a fat juicy watermelon with your Memorial Day picnic?

3. Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner

   Replacing a dirty air filter can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Change your filter the first of every month; you'll also save wear and tear on your heating and air conditioning unit.

4. Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases

   Look for the ENERGY STAR label on appliances -- they meet federal energy-efficiency, safety and quality guidelines. ENERGY STAR qualified appliances will help you save energy, money and the environment.

5. Do not leave appliances on standby

   Unplug your small appliances; don't just leave them on standby. A television that's switched on for 3 hours a day and in standby mode during the remaining 21 hours uses about 40% of its energy in standby mode.

6. Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket

   You'll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple action. You can save another 550 pounds per year by setting the thermostat no higher than 122 °F.

7. Move your thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer

   Almost half of the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and cooling. You could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment.

8. Take a shower instead of a bath

   A shower takes up to four times less energy than a bath. To maximize the energy saving, avoid power showers and use low-flow showerheads, which are cheap and provide the same comfort.

9. Plant a tree

   You can also make a difference in your own backyard. In addition to storing carbon, trees planted in and around urban areas and residences can provide much-needed shade in the summer, reducing energy bills and fossil fuel use. A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by 10 to 15%

10. Cover your pots while cooking

    What a simple thing - just place the lid on the pot! Doing so can save a lot of the energy needed for preparing the dish. Even better are pressure cookers and steamers: they can save around 70%!

It's time for all of us to step up to the plate, be responsible human beings, and preserve our planet for generations to come. We live in a miraculous, beautiful world, so let 's all work together to save it.