Personal Action | Global Warming | Mount Vernon Group of the Sierra Club

Global Warming: Personal Action

"Green" your household electric by opting for renewable energy suppliers. It's easy to do under Virginia's Energy Choice program.
Reduce your heating bill by taking some simple actions to improve the efficiency of your household heating in winter.
Take the Carbon Challenge quiz and find out what you know about energy use!
Visit the Energy Star web site to learn about energy-saving appliances, green building and remodeling, and tax credits and other benefits.
The web site Carbon Footprint helps you calculate your carbon generation, offers suggestions to help you reduce your carbon emissions, and offers ways to offset your emissions.
The PBS NOVA web site offers you a chance to play the "Your Carbon Diet" game. A typical U.S. family spends close to $1,300 on home utility bills, much of which is spent on wasted energy--learn how to cut that spending and generate less CO2.
Patronize local businesses that use alternative/renewable energy; these include My Organic Market, Whole Foods, South Austin Grill, and Performance Bicycle.

Visit the Sierra Club's national True Cost of Food web site to learn about the environmental impact of your grocery shopping and restaurant choices.
Join fellow Mount Vernon Group members in monthly True Cost of Food dinners and other events, like day trips to local organic farms and markets.
In the spring, consider taking the Mount Vernon Group's Local Food Challenge. Pledge to spend 25% of your food budget on locally-grown items, and be eligible for great prizes! Visit the MVG web site between April - November to sign up.
Sign up to participate in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) or another farm subscription this year.
Visit a local farmers market for fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs and more.

Work with the Mount Vernon Group to get rail on the Wilson Bridge.
Read Ten Ways to Save Money at the Pump to learn how you can increase your car's fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions.
In the market for a new car? Check out the Edmunds Green Car Guide for comparison shopping, basic information about alternative fuel vehicles, and more.
Instead of buying a new car, investigate car sharing programs like >Zipcar
When possible, take public transit. Visit the web sites for Metro, DASH, ART, VRE, or the Fairfax Connector.
Check out the Bicycling Links and Resources for another alternative to car travel.

Move your money into socially responsible investments like the Sierra Club Stock Fund.
Find local, environmentally-responsible financial planners, banks, credit card agencies, mortgage lenders and more by visiting the Co-op America Green Pages.