My article on ‘The Failure of the Green Media to Communicate Simply‘ generated a very rich discussion amongst readers. All agreed on the importance of not overwhelming people with extensive green to-do lists, and the need to direct the focus instead, on the top household contributors to greenhouse gases emissions. This is where numbers come in. I searched and found this chart from the Energy Information Facts Agency at the Department of Energy, the best in my opinion, in terms of its ability to showcase actionable data.
Another way to massage those numbers is to aggregate car and home contributions and rank the resulting contributions, in terms of percentage of direct household emissions:
- car 49%
- space heating 24%
- lighting and appliances 12%
What does this mean in terms on individual green actions and priorities? The Union of Concerned Scientists recommends the following:
- drive less and drive more fuel-efficient and less polluting cars; carpool, take mass transit, walk, or bike whenever possible
- use Energy Star appliances, replace your old light bulbs with CFLs (compact fluorescent lights), and ask each household member to be responsible for turning off different appliances, lights.
- contact your city for home energy audit; insulate your home, and install programmable thermostat, set temperatures to recommended levels.
Still a lot to chew on, for most people, myself included. But a useful framework for green communication strategies and behavioral interventions at the household level. Next, I will try to address my friend Anne’s request of ‘Tell me the one green thing I should do‘.
La Marguerite 
I think it’s best to present these things more simply still, and to present them in descending order of effectiveness.
For one thing, you’ve cheated with the “top three things” by making those three things into 15 things. 2 of the things are the same thing – a more fuel-efficient car is, in terms of greenhouse gases, a less polluting car.
I’d also say, don’t be afraid to throw something “radical” in. For example, “set temperatures to recommended levels”? That’s a bit vague. What does that mean? How about instead,
If you were to keep your current list, I’d boil it down and write it as,
In descending order of effect, the top ten things you can do to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions are,
1. Walk, don’t drive
2. If you can’t walk, bike
3. If you can’t bike, use mass transit.
4. Between 50 and 86F, you don’t need any heating or cooling at all unless you’re elderly or sick or an infant. Turn it off, put on a sweater and have a hot drink, or take off your sweater and have a cool one.
5. If you can’t use mass transit, at least drive less – such as by carpooling or only part of the journey by car (car to station, then train to work).
6. Insulate your home.
7. Use EnergyStar-rated appliances.
8. As they bust, replace your old bulbs with CFLs
9. Turn your appliances off when not in use; “standby” use can be about 10% of your home power bill.
My own preference is to put in only the options that cost nothing in dollar terms, since a common response is that to do this or that is too expensive. And once you give them an excuse to reject one item in the list, it becomes psychologically easier for them to reject the whole lot.
If the only excuse is, “but walking is hard” or something, then most people are aware that’s pretty pathetic and will shut up.
My list was better :p
Thanks Kyle. I enjoy your contribution very much. And I liked your list as well.
The above list is more of a list of the three main areas for people to consider. Next I am planning to address the one thing question.
I like Kyle’s list, but I think that 50°F is a bit on the low side. I’ve started turning my thermostat way down at night and when I’m out of the house, but when I’m at home, I find even 66°F to be on the chilly side, even wearing a sweater. My thermostat doesn’t even go all the way down to 50°F (the minimum is 55°F).
Mine stops at 45 🙂
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This has got to be the biggest load of bullshit that I have ever read. I think it’s time for you arrogant pricks to get a life and stop bitching about global warming. Will Carey here, peace out.
i need alot more way’s