LEDs 1%

Replace incandescent, halogen and fluorescent lights now. Over its lifetime, a 60w equivalent LED bulb can save you $60 in electricity and replacement bulbs. 

Refrigerants 7%

In 1978 the US banned the old chlorofluorocarbon CFC freon in favor of less damaging HFCs. That is estimated to have delayed the consequences of climate change by ten years. HFCs are also greenhouse gases, so in 2022 Congress began a phase-out of HFCs. Properly maintain your air conditioners, including in vehicles, and refrigeration equipment, and properly dispose of them when you replace them. 

Food Waste 6%

EPA has programs to help businesses and individuals reduce food waste.

Plant-Rich Diets 7%

Clean Cooking 5%

This means building efficient wood-burning stoves or providing solar cookers in developing countries. It also means going electric instead of gas in developed countries.

Transportation 6%

Most of the ground level pollution in North Texas is from internal combustion engines, from big trucks to leaf blowers. Make sure yours are operating as efficiently as possible, as little as possible, and consider an electric replacement when needed.

Education and Family Planning 4%

Education delays when girls begin child bearing and makes them better able to help their families adapt to climate changes. UMCOR has projects that focus on education.

Electricity 25%(not including LEDs)

Wind turbine generated electricity can save 9%. Solar panels can save 12%. Other electricity production and storage improvements can save another 4%. Do you contract for 100% renewable electricity? 

Buildings 6%

Improvements in insulation, thermostat management, and replacing worn out appliances with efficient ones add up to savings on utility bills as well. 

Five R’s/Recycling 4%

Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot. Avoid accumulating stuff that you do not really need. Sell or donate stuff you no longer need rather than trashing it. Prefer reusable things over disposable ones, Recycle or compost everything else. 

Trees 23%

Ecosia is a search engine that sells ads just like all the others, but uses its profits to restore forests around the world. Bamboo grows faster than trees; using products made from bamboo protects trees. The city of Dallas offers free native trees for homeowners. Texas Trees Foundation and others foster tree plantings at schools and parks. 

Other 17%

Agricultural and industrial improvements