Be a Wildflower “Super Cooler”!

Each of us can make a difference in reducing global warming emissions by taking steps such as the following (details on reverse side). We want our Wildflower community to make a BIG difference! Join in this effort and complete 15 of the steps by the next Earth Day (April 2008), to be recognized as a Wildflower “Super Cooler” in late spring! Involve your whole family!

To participate: Fill out this form and give the bottom section to Karen Schrupp or Judy Morgan, or leave at the Social Action table. Post the top section on your refrigerator or

other convenient place and check off the steps as you do them!

Check		Step
	1	Set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher in summer; 68 or lower in winter
	2	Set water heat at 120 degrees, refrigerator 36-38, freezer 0-5
	3	Change or clean air filters monthly or when dirty
	4	Use low flow showerheads (or shower with a friend!!)
	5	Explore at least one of the ways suggested by Austin Energy to reduce heating/cooling needs
	6	Use compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs
	7	Keep dust off lampshades and light bulbs, and turn lights off when not needed
	8	Fully load clothes and dish washers. Let dishes air dry at end of cycle.
	9	Use warm and cool water to wash clothes, and hang dry clothes
	10	Run major appliances in morning or late evening to avoid peak energy use hours
	11	Buy Energy Star appliances and electronics
	12	Use power strips to turn off electronic devices rather than use ‘stand by’
	13	Properly maintain your vehicle including replacing air filters regularly
	14	Be sure tires are properly inflated
	15	Use alternative forms of transportation – bus, carpooling, bicycling, walking
	16	Drive less and plan your trips to reduce miles traveled
	17	Use reusable items where possible, minimize packaging, recycle
	18	Shop at secondhand stores and garage sales
	19	Buy locally grown food and locally produced goods
	20	Bring your own reusable bags when you shop
	21	Eat more vegetarian meals, especially avoiding factory-farm meats
	22	Plant a tree
	23	Talk! Raise awareness by talking with friends, family, etc., and urge legislators to act NOW!

Yes, I/we pledge that we intend to complete 15 of the steps, to become a Wildflower Super Cooler!

Name(s):______________________________________________________________________

Email Address: ________________________________________________________________

Check below if you’d like to be on a Wildflower listserv to share information on ways to reduce global warming emissions:

___Yes put me on the list.

Heating and Cooling

1) Set your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher during the summer, and to 85 degrees or higher when you’re away. Set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower during the winter.

2) Make sure the temperature settings are set correctly for your other high energy use appliances. The water heater should be 120 degrees, the refrigerator 36-38 degrees and the freezer 0-5 degrees.

3) Change or clean your air filter once per month, or when dirty.

4) Use low flow showerheads, as showers are frequently the largest consumer of hot water in your home.

5) Explore at least one way to reduce heating and cooling needs in your home - e.g. install more insulation, get a free energy audit. For information and ideas, go to Austin Energy’s website www.austinenergy.com (Click on Energy Analysis Tools and Energy Efficiency Tips or call (512) 494-9400.

Lighting

6) Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs are 79% more efficient and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

7) Keep the dust off lampshades and light bulbs. It can reduce lighting levels as much as 50%. And, of course, turn lights off when not needed!

Appliances and Electronics

8) Fully load your clothes washers and dishwashers. Let dishes air dry at the end of the rinse cycle.

9) Laundry can be washed in warm and cool water instead of hot. Hang dry your laundry and you will save $75-$100 a year and your clothes will last longer.

10) During the summer, run appliances such as washers and dryers in the morning or late evening to avoid bringing heat into your home during peak energy use hours.

11) Buy high-efficient Energy Star labeled appliances and electronics where possible.

12) 40% of all electricity used by home electronics is consumed while products are turned off (called ‘phantom load’). Unplug chargers and use power strips to turn on and off electronic devices – TVs, computers, etc.

Transportation

13) Maintain your vehicle. A vehicle in bad repair can produce 28 times more pollution that a vehicle in good repair. Replace the air filter; a clogged air filter can cause a 10% increase in fuel consumption.

14) Check your tires. Low tire pressure increases road friction and can waste up to 5% of a tank of gas.

15) Use alternative forms of transportation such as riding the bus, carpooling, vanpooling bicycling or walking

16) Drive less. Every gallon of gas you save not only helps your budget it also keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere

Shopping

17) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buy products with minimal packaging. Whenever you can recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminum cans. By recycling half of your household waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon Dioxide annually.

18) Shop at second hand stores and garage sales to reuse items.

19) Buy locally grown and produced items. Most food is shipped and trucked 1,500 miles or more to get to your store and your plate.

20) Say no to plastic bags. Bring your own recyclable bag when you shop. Carry large items without a bag (milk, pop). Plastic bags can take 1,000 years to disintegrate. Recycle bags at H.E.B. and Randall’s. Less than 3% of the 500 billion plastic bags used each year are recycled.

Other Equally Important

21) Eat more vegetarian meals, as meat requires much more resources to produce, including fossil fuels. Factory-farm meat production is especially destructive to the environment.

22) Plant a tree or other vegetation. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime.

23) Talk! Raise awareness and action by talking with your friends, family and co-workers. Tell state and federal leaders you want meaningful climate protection policies NOW!

FOR MORE INFO, check out the Time article at http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/environment/ or

http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/