January 12th, 2010 Published by: teducation

Checklist Toward Zero

Carbon
Ways of living more sustainably can take many forms:

1. Reorganizing living conditions

• ecovillages
• transition towns

2. Reappraising economic sectors

• art
• advertising
• architecture
• business
• consumerism
• fashion
Achieving sustainability will enable the Earth to
continue supporting human life as we know it. • industries
The concept was first proposed as an international • landscape architecture
endeavor in 1987 when sustainability (as sustainable • packaging
development) was formally defined by the United
Nations as development that "meets the needs of • procurement
the present without compromising the ability of • tourism
future generations to meet their own needs." http://
• transport
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability
There is now abundant scientific evidence that humanity 3. Reappraising work practices
is living unsustainably.
• sustainable architecture
Returning human use of natural resources to within
sustainable limits will require nothing less than a major 4. Using science to develop new technologies
collective (global) effort. The transition required to
reduce global human consumption to within sustainable • green technologies
limits involves much larger changes, at all levels and • renewable energy
contexts of society.
CAREERS IN SUSTAINABILITY - nuclear energy
The single most impactful jobs in the future will - bio fuel
contribute towards global awareness, development and - biomass
implementation of ongoing sustainability measures.
A career in any of the following fields would be a - geothermal power
lifelong commitment to Planet Earth and the survival of - hydroelectricity
humanity.
- solar energy
There are indeed many more items that should be in
- tidal power
the rather basic list below. Note the distinction between
'old-school' traditional disciplines and the new 'green' - wave power
career fields; each and every field (which meets the - wind power
criteria of sustainability) can and should be made
'green'.

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January 12th, 2010 Published by: teducation
5. Adjustments in individual lifestyles

• Population control

- Birth control
•
CHECKLIST CONTENTS
- Family planning o 00.0 DOWNLOAD CHECKLIST
- Overpopulation o 00.1 Foreword
- Zero population growth o 00.2 About the Checklist

• Energy conservation
o 01.0 Your Food

• Recycling
o 02.0 Family Planning & Health

• Housing
o 03.0 Money and Stuff

• Mobility
o 04.0 Waste

• Employment
o 05.0 Driving & Flying

• Consumerism
o 06.0 Playing & Pets

• Food
o 07.0 Your Home

• Leisure
o 08.0 Work

• Health
o 09.0 School

• Education
o 10.0 Renovation/Construction
o 11.0 Calculate Your Footprint
6. Managing Environmental Resources
o 12.0 Consider Carbon Offsets
• Atmosphere o 13.0 Conclusion
• Land o 13.1 Epilogue (get political)
• Fresh Water o 13.2 Science & Skepticism
• Oceans o 13.3 Checklist Sources
• Cultivated Land o 14.0 Climate Change 101 – a short reading list
• Extinction for everyone
• Energy
• Food
00.1 Foreword
• Minerals Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/about-the-
checklist/
• Materials
January 12th, 2010
• Pollution
In 2005 the eminent climate scientist Dr. James Hansen said,
• etc. “We are on the precipice of climate system tipping points
beyond which there is no redemption.” Just a few years later,
The scope of the problem involves many aspects of we are now crossing some of those tipping points. It’s time
social, cultural, economic, and environmental issues. to stop talking. We must reduce now. Read the checklist.
One hardly knows where to begin! We can all start by Download it, edit it, make it your own and distribute it.
taking a step in the right direction, as the compiling
editor of this exciting and comprehensive checklist, Ken Melting polar ice will soon disintegrate, raising oceans to
Levenson, has done. Ken helps us to sort out action from threaten the existence of Miami, New York, Shanghai, Jakarta,
the overwhelming evidence that otherwise would occupy Calcutta, Lagos, London and other cities. The polar bears are
the mind in tragic idleness. going to die. And 20 to 40% of animal species will be extinct
by mid-century. The tropics are turning to desert. Monsoon
The time to act was yesterday. We have some serious rains will cease. There will be drought, famine, and millions of
catching up to do. refugees. We could be among them. Hundreds of millions of
lives will be at risk, quite possibly billions. Yes, billions.
Ted Ollikkala (TEDUCATION.com)
We face these consequences not in 1,000 or 100 years, but
Singapore in our lifetime. We face an emergency, the likes of which
12 January 2010 civilization has never seen. What is to be our legacy?
Cover Collage: Ted Ollikkala, Photo by Ken Levenson

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January 12th, 2010
The tipping point for atmospheric CO2 concentration is
approximately 350 parts per million (ppm). Past it we are on
the road to catastrophe. It’s now 383ppm and rising 2ppm per
year.
We need to take immediate action. We must halt the building
of new coal and gas power plants that don’t capture the CO2
they produce, and require the conversion of all existing coal
power plants to capture CO2. If the power plants cannot be
converted, let’s shut them down.
There’s no “silver bullet” to fix the problem – we must also
massively invest in clean energy sources, forest restoration,
public transportation, and in building a carbon neutral society.
We need to elect leaders who are serious about this emergency
to every level of government and educate the ones who are not.
Let’s examine our own lives and make them as carbon free as
possible. This checklist is a simple way to get started.
As the dynamic of climate change feeds on itself, shocks lie
ahead. The previously benign Siberian soil, locked for ages in
permafrost, is now melting, releasing greenhouse gases (GHG)
that exceed the total output of U.S. manmade emissions.
The oceans – now absorbing 2 billion tons of CO2 annually
– are becoming acidic dead zones. Eventually if they tip
they’ll switch to being massive CO2 emitters, radically raising
atmospheric temperature and sea levels.
While the challenges are enormous, let’s start with what we
eat and how we live and work. Let’s begin by eliminating our
personal carbon footprint.
Please read the lists. Think about it. Let’s all do what we can.
Ken Levenson
Feb 29, 2008 (edited 2009)
00.2 About the Checklist
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/133-about-the-
checklist/
January 12th, 2010
The checklist is a step-by-step guide to comprehensively
reducing your carbon footprint now. It’s a cut-and-paste job,
compiled by Ken Levenson.
It is hoped that people will download the checklist, copy it, edit
it for their local conditions, and make it their own.
Sensing many want to start fighting climate change, yet aren’t
sure what the options are – a Park Slope Civic Council forum
on sustainability provided the deadline to make the initial
checklist.
Launched in February 2008, the checklist was fine-tuned
with the help of many. To acknowledge a few: Eric McClure’s
proofreading/editing, Ellen Honigstock’s springboard of
initial sustainability lists, and my wife Katherine’s essential
support.
Published by: teducation
Ken Levenson is a principal in Levenson McDavid Architects
P.C., and a concerned father, living in Brooklyn.
The header picture is of our eldest daughter – and I’m hoping
we can ensure she’s walking toward a better future. Let’s get
to zero now.
01.0 Your Food
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/your-food/
January 12th, 2010
1. Don’t eat beef - or at least much less beef. Going
vegetarian is best, but less is a start. (If you do just one
thing, do this.)[1](high impact)
2. Chicken in lieu of beef is better too.[2]
3. Stop eating all that processed food – or at least eat much
less. (high impact)
4. Read by Michael Pollan. (Quick read. Very informative.)
5. Don’t eat fish or eat significantly less. Buy sustainably
harvested wild fish when possible.[3]
6. Find out which fish are sustainable and which aren’t at
Fishonline.
7. Monitor what you eat and don’t eat.[4](high impact)
8. Buy organic when possible. [5] See Organic Food Info.
9. Become a locavore and buy regionally grown food.[6]
(high impact)
10. Find local farmers and consider a community supported
agriculture subscription (CSA) at Local Harvest.
11. Shop at the local Farmer’s Market.
12. Consider joining the Park Slope Food Coop.
13. If you can’t get it locally buy fair-trade food.[7] Find out
more at Fair Trade Resource.
14. Grow your own food if you have the space. Some if not
all. The more the better. Read Food Not Lawns by
Heather C. Flores. (high impact)
15. No decent soil? Use pots.
16. Drink tap water, not bottled water. Tap water is safe,
clean and just as good for you. If you have concerns, filter
the tap water.
[5] Note that while studies show GHG is lowered for some
organic products such as wheat and potatoes, for others such
as eggs, milk and chicken the GHGs can actually be greater
unless additional mitigation is utilized in their production.
[7] Commonly found fair-trade foods include: coffee, tea,
chocolate, cashews, olive oil, rice sugar, hearts of palm,
salmon, honey, salsa, jam and syrup.
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January 12th, 2010
02.0 Family Planning & Health
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/20-family-
planning-health/
January 12th, 2010
2a. Family Planning:
Global overpopulation is the single biggest contributor to the
climate crisis we face. While perhaps an uncomfortable subject
to speak of, it must be if we are serious about saving the planet
as we know it.
1. Prevent unplanned pregnancies. (high impact)
2. Plan in a way that makes sense for you – but plan.
Two, of many, possible sources for guidance: Planned
Parenthood , The Catholic Church
3. If you’re thinking about having a second child, consider
adoption.
4. If you’re thinking about a third or fourth child, really,
really consider adoption.
2b. Your Health:
The U.S. spends 16% of its gross domestic product on health
care, the highest percentage in the world. Needless to say,
health care in America has a massive carbon footprint.
1. Don’t smoke.
2. Reduce sugars[1], high fructose corn syrup and sodas.
3. Reduce white flour and white rice.
4. Reduce fried and processed foods.
5. Eat and drink in moderation.
6. Get a regular medical check-up.
7. Get enough sleep.
8. Exercise and control your weight. (walk, ride your bike
and take the stairs instead of the elevator!)
9. Practice good dental hygiene.
10. Keep yourself healthy with preventative care with all the
above. (high impact)
[1] Sugar can cause or make worse: diabetes, obesity, immune
system suppression, hyperactivity in children, alcoholism,
arthritis, asthma, heart disease, gallstones, osteoporosis, some
types of cancer and cataracts.
Published by: teducation
03.0 Money and Stuff
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/money-
shopping-stuff/
January 12th, 2010
1. Every consumer dollar spent on new stuff puts
approximately .5 lbs of carbon into the atmosphere. The
average American spends $10,000 per household, per
year on consumer goods. (Things like gifts, toys, music,
books, tools, household goods, cosmetics, toiletries,
paper goods, etc… But not including things like
mortgage, health care, debt service, car payments, etc…)
A 90% cut would be $1,000 per household, per year.[5]
2. Watch the online video “The Story of Stuff with Annie
Leonard”. And monitor what you buy. (high impact)
3. Give special attention to major purchases.
4. Purchase recycled products.[6]
5. Purchase green products and avoid “green-washed”
products. They say they’re green but the labels may tell
a different story.
6. Shop locally at locally owned businesses. Invest in a
vibrant local economy – so you never have to drive.
7. Purchase natural and concentrated cleaning
products.[7]
8. Buy Green beauty products.[8]
9. Use organic dry cleaning.
10. Or avoid buying clothing that requires dry cleaning.
11. Consider natural, organic-fiber clothing.[9]
12. Use Freecycle – people who are giving (and getting) stuff
for free in their own towns.
13. For fashionistas: Clothing Swap and Swap Style.
14. More green wardrobe choices.
15. Reuse construction material and equipment. Planet
Reuse.
16. Online vendors in green goods: Make Me Sustainable.
17. Rediscover your local library.
18. Buy staple items in bulk or in the largest size possible.
19. Don’t buy over-packaged items. Avoid individually
wrapped single servings.
20. Buy fresh foods instead of canned.
21. Buy music downloads and avoid the packaging
altogether.
22. Say no to Styrofoam.
23. When shopping, bring your own bags to use.
24. Employ a mix of the above strategies that work for you.
(high impact)
[2] McKinsey Global Institute reports that with targeted
annual investment of $170 billion, investors could cut by half
the rate of projected global energy growth over the next 13
years – while earning an average annual return of 17 percent.
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January 12th, 2010
[3] While all oil companies are problematic, ExxonMobil is
alone in denying the urgency of the problem and is actively
undermining the public’s understanding of climate change by
funding bogus front groups and think tanks. Exxpose Exxon.
04.0 Waste
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/30-waste/
January 12th, 2010
1. Audit and reduce your garbage.[1] (high impact)
2. Work to reduce your waste a little bit more ever day: Eco-
Cycle can help.
3. Recycle paper, metal and plastics per NYC law.[3]
4. Consider recycling the plastics NYC won’t accept at the
Park Slope Food Coop.[4]
5. Opt out of mail order catalogs you don’t want through
Catalog Choice.
6. Stop junk mail. Go to Eco-Cycle.
7. Donate or sell your castoffs: Freecycle, NYC Stuff
Exchange, Clothing Swap, Swap Style.
8. Sell it on EBay, Craig’s List or on the stoop.
9. Recycle what you can’t sell or give away.
10. Cell phones[5] and rechargeable batteries – Call 2
Recycle.
11. Shoes – Reuse a Shoe.
12. Carpet – Carpet America Recovery Effort.
13. Computers – Electronics Take Back Coalition.
14. Building supplies – Habitat for Humanity.
15. CDs & DVDs – Green Disk.
16. Say “No” to disposables.
17. Use reusable shopping bags. [6]
18. Use cloth napkins.
19. Use dish towels instead of paper towels.
20. Don’t use disposable plates, cups, or silverware.
21. Use rechargeable batteries.
22. Compost! If you live in an apartment, compost at your
nearest community garden. A great source of nutrients
for plants and gardens.
23. Place a water bottle in your toilet tank and reduce the
volume of water you use.
24. Your laptop is about five times more energy-expensive
to make than a car or fridge. So upgrade first
before you replace. Install more memory or faster
processor. Reuse. Give your PC away. Recycle. Many
manufacturers will take your machine when you buy a
new one.
25. Feeling like no matter what you do it’s just not enough?
Install an Envirolet composting toilet!
Published by: teducation
[4] The Coop has three collection days each month, and best
of all, they accept plastics from any neighborhood resident
(excluding businesses), not just Coop members.
[6] If you forgot your bag and need to choose between paper
and plastic, while debatable, the carbon reduction advantage
goes to paper as it is more easily reused and recycled.
05.0 Driving & Flying
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/driving-flying-
and-playing/
January 12th, 2010
1. Set concrete goals for reducing your travel. (high impact)
4a. Driving:
1. Walk, ride your bike, or take public transportation
instead. (high impact)
2. Get a hybrid.
3. Trade in the SUV or truck for a higher mileage car.
4. Get a diesel engine and run it on local used cooking oil.
Check out Tri-State Biodiesel, Fill Up for Free and Grease
Car for more info.
5. Use bio-fuel with caution.[1]
6. Consolidate trips: don’t drive until you’ve got a few
errands.
7. If you drive to work, share your commute.
8. Maintain your car’s fuel efficiency. Tune it up. Change
the oil. Fix a cracked or missing gas cap. Strip the
rack when not in use. Unload the trunk. Maintain
recommended tire pressure.
9. Drive the speed limit.[2]
10. And stop driving like a maniac – those abrupt starts and
stops can cost you up to 37%in fuel efficiency.
11. Use cruise control on the highway.
12. Avoid excessive idling.
13. Don’t top off the fuel tank.
14. Need a car service? Try NYC Green Car.
4b. Flying:
1. Don’t fly.[3](high impact)
2. Take a train instead of flying.
3. If you must fly: Book direct flights. One stop-over on
a 3,500 mile trip will produce 25% more carbon dioxide
than flying direct. Fly in a newer, more fuel-efficient
plane.[4] And consider buying carbon offsets to balance
specific trips.
4. The best frequent flier miles are those unspent. Donate
your miles to the Red Cross, Make a Wish Foundation,
the National Marrow Donor Program or a charity of your
choice.
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January 12th, 2010
[1] Biofuels, — made from surgarcane, corn, palm and
soybeans — were once thought to be a miracle, reducing
greenhouse gases and employing farmers. Recent studies
in Science and Nature conclude that whenproduced on
converted lands, biofuels will effectively emit more GHGs than
the fossil fuels they displace. Where farmers have changed
from growing feed corn to fuel, no such problem exists. So the
trick is to get your biofuel from properly managed land. New
land use regulations will be required to insure that the use of
biofuels fulfill their promise of net reductions.
[2] The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that for every
5 mph above 60, the decreased fuel efficiency costs $0.20 a
gallon.
[3] Air travel currently contributes about 3 percent of global
carbon emissions as well as nitrous oxide which has double the
impact of CO2. Air travel is set to triple by 2030.
[4] Such as the Airbus A340 or A380 or Boeing 787
Dreamliner.
Two people in a Prius is actually 33% less CO2e/passenger-
mi than taking Amtrak (120g/p-m vs. 180g/p-m). Not all
public transportation is efficient. If it electric (trolley, light rail,
BART), it is probably efficient. If it is diesel, it may not be (it
depends on whether it is full or not).
06.0 Playing & Pets
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/50-playing-pets/
January 12th, 2010
1. Remind yourself what it is you’re trying to save: the
environment we’ve got. Get out and enjoy: City parks.
State parks. National parks.
2. Carry it in, carry it out.
3. Observe wildlife, don’t disturb.
4. Hike, row, sail, ski, or paddle – don’t motor. (high
impact)
5. Don’t Cruise.[1] Or consider a sailing cruise.
6. Take vacations close to home. (high impact)
7. For green vacation tips check out Green Globetrotter,
The International Ecotourism Society, Traveling the
Green Way and Whole Travel.
8. Share books, CDs, tapes, magazines with friends,
hospitals, and prisons.
9. Throw a party and raise consciousness. Or join the
festivities planned for Earth Day , Clean up the World
Day or World Car Free Day.
10. Throwing a party and cannot avoid disposable plates
and utensils? Use BagasseWare plates and SpudWare
cutlery.
11. Plan a green wedding celebration at Ethical Weddings.
07.0 Home
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/7-0-your-home/
Published by: teducation
January 12th, 2010
1. Average US electrical usage is 11,000 kwh per household,
per year, or about 900 kwh per household per month. A
90% reduction would mean using 1,100 per household,
per year or 90 kwh per household, per month.[1]
2. Switch your home’s electrical power source to wind and/
or solar or hydro power. ConEd and other utilities obtain
power from traditional and green sources and you can
choose green, which adds approximately $10/month to
your electric bill. Help push the utilities to produce more
renewable energy. Go to Power Your Way. (high impact)
3. Sub-size it. Houses between 1,500 and 2,000 s.f.
consume 40% less energy than a 4,000+ s.f. McMansion.
(high impact)
4. If you’re moving, choose a home near public
transportation, and use it. (high impact)
5. If you’re moving, consider a row house or an apartment
building instead of a detached home. Promote the
construction of energy-efficient apartment buildings
over single-family homes. (high impact)
6. Consider living in a cohousing community - an
intentional community that not only increases social
interaction but through it, typically encourages a wide
range of sustainable living practices. Find one in your
area or start a new one.
7. Consider renovating an old home rather than building
new.
8. Rehabilitate, renovate, reuse and preserve.[2] Get
resources at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
9. Whether renovating or building new, single family
or multi-family, consider Passive House construction
standards to truly achieve 90% energy reduction and
optimal light and air quality too. Visit the Passive
House Institute US or where it originated, the Passivhaus
Institut. (high impact)
10. Conduct a Home Energy Audit - do-it-yourself via the
U.S. Department of Energy Lawrence Berkley National
Laboratory’s Home Energy Saver. Or hire a certified
home energy audit professional through the Residential
Energy Resources Network. (high impact)
11. Monitor your home electrical use. Real time access
to your household’s energy information will allow you
to smartly reduce your electric bill. Use The Energy
Detective (TED) to give you a fascinatingly detailed
picture of how you use electricity in real time. Available
through Energy Circle and TerraPass among others.
(In the future Google will also be offering Power Meter
across the U.S.) (high impact)
7a. Re-Insulate:
1. If your home is more than 10 years old, it is probably
under-insulated.[3]
2. Install as much insulation as possible – install as many
of the itmes listed below as possible. (high impact)
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January 12th, 2010
3. Weather stripping and caulking - Probably the least
expensive, simplest, most effective way to insulate and
cut down on energy waste in the winter. Improperly
sealed homes can waste 10 to 15% of the homeowner’s
heating dollars. Check around doors and windows for
leaks and drafts. Add weather stripping and caulk any
holes you see that allow heat to escape. Make sure doors
seal properly.
4. If your windows leak really badly, consider replacing
them with newer, more efficient ones. Keep in mind,
however, that replacing windows can be expensive.
5. Every duct, wire or pipe that penetrates the wall or
ceiling or floor has the potential to waste energy.
Plumbing vents can be especially bad, since they begin
below the floor and go all the way through the roof. Seal
them all with caulking or weather-stripping.
6. Electric wall plugs and switches can allow cold air in.
Purchase simple-to-install, pre-cut foam gaskets that fit
behind the switch plate and effectively prevent leaks.
7. Roofs - Install a green roof – plantings provide building
insulation in summer, and site water management. See
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities.
8. Windows & Doors – Close the blinds on hot summer
days, open them on cool winter days.
9. Install window quilts.
10. Use storm doors and windows in cool environments.
11. Install high-performance windows when it’s time to
replace them.
12. Heating and Cooling Systems – Examine your house’s
heating ducts for leaks. Mostly out of sight, ducts can leak
for years without you knowing it. You can save roughly
10% of your heating bill by sealing them.
13. Insulate hot water pipes.
14. Fireplace -Avoid using the fireplace when the heating
system is on.
15. Install fireplace inserts (doors and circulation blowers)
so less warm air goes up the chimney when the fireplace
is going.
16. Don’t forget to close the damper on your fireplace when
not in use.
7b. Heating:
1. US average natural gas usage is 1000 therms per
household, per year. A 90% reduction would mean a
reduction to 100 therms per household, per year.[4]
2. Heating Oil (this is used by only about 8% of all US
households, mostly in the Northeast). Average US usage
is 750 Gallons per household, per year. A 90% cut would
mean using 75 gallons per household, per year.[5]
3. Wood. This is a tough one. The conventional line is that
wood is carbon neutral, but, of course, wood that is
harvested would have otherwise been absorbing carbon
and providing forest. There are good reasons to be
skeptical about this. Therefore wood is divided into two
Published by: teducation
categories.[6] Locally and sustainably harvested, and
either using deadwood, trees that had to come down
anyway, coppiced or harvested by someone who replaces
every lost tree. This is deemed carbon neutral, and you
can use an unlimited supply. This would include street
trees your town is taking down anyway, wood you cut
on your property and replant, coppiced wood (that is,
you cut down some part of the tree but leave it to grow),
and standing and fallen deadwood. You can use as much
of this as you like. Wood not sustainably harvested, or
transported long distances, or you don’t know. 1 cord of
this is equal to 15 gallons of oil or 20 therms of natural
gas.
4. Have your heating system cleaned and inspected
regularly by a qualified contractor.
5. Set your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day and 60
degrees at night and when no one is home. Each degree
over 68 can increase by 3 percent the amount of energy
you use for heating.
6. Put on a sweater. There are numerous ways to improve
home heating efficiency, but none so simple as dressing
warmly and dialing back the thermostat.
7. Install a programmable thermostat and set it to turn
down the heat at night and when no one is home.
Lowering the thermostat 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours
a day can save you about 10 percent a year on heating
costs. (high impact)
8. Keep drapes or furniture away from radiators and
baseboard heaters so heat can flow freely.
9. Remove window air conditioners when the weather gets
cool. If you can’t, enclose them with a cover.
10. Open blinds and shades, particularly on the south and
west sides of your home before you leave in the morning
to make use of the sun’s heating potential.
11. Use an efficient humidifier to maintain comfortable
humidity levels and help you conserve heat. Proper
humidity helps you feel comfortable without turning up
the heat.
12. Use ceiling fans to circulate warm air in winter, especially
in rooms with high ceilings.
13. Close doors and warm-air vents in unused rooms, but in
extreme cold, be aware of water pipes that could freeze
and burst.
14. If you have a hot-water heating system, release any
trapped air from radiators.
15. Radiators can lose heat into exterior walls. Reduce this
loss by placing reflectors between the wall and the
radiator.
16. Clean or replace filters for your hot-air furnace and heat
pump every month during the heating season or use
filters made to run six to 12 months before needing
replacement.
17. Insulate any hot-water pipes that pass through unheated
spaces. For steam pipes, use nonfoam insulation, as foam
can melt.
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January 12th, 2010
18. When buying a new furnace or boiler, look for the
ENERGY STAR label.
19. When you’re away turn the thermostat down to 50
degrees.
7c. Air Conditioning:
1. Dress cool: don’t turn on the air conditioning. (Sweating
it out could be good training for a hotter planet.)
2. Switching to high-efficiency air conditioners and
reducing your air-conditioning use can cut your cooling
costs by 20 to 50 percent.
3. Install properly sized high efficiency AC units. A larger-
than-needed air conditioner cycles on and off more
frequently, reducing its efficiency.
4. Inspect and clean your air conditioner or cooling system
regularly. A well-maintained unit uses less electricity.
5. If you have central air conditioning, keep the condenser
unit’s coils and fins clean. Remove grass, leaves, and
other debris that may collect.
6. Set your air conditioner to no cooler than 78 degrees.
Lower than 78 degrees can increase your costs by up to
40 percent.
7. Install ceiling fans or whole house fans to help reduce
your need to use the air conditioner. A fan will make a
room feel 4 to 6 degrees cooler, making it possible to
raise the thermostat from 78 degrees to 82 degrees or
higher. For every degree you raise the air conditioning
thermostat, you can save 7 to 10 percent on cooling costs.
8. Alternate the use of air conditioning and fans. When
you’re comfortable, shut down your air conditioner and
turn on the fan. This approach can cut air conditioner
use by up to 40 percent.
9. Don’t air-condition an empty room.
10. Whenever the outdoor temperature is below 72 degrees
open windows for cooling in lieu of A/C.
11. Turn your air conditioner off when you leave home.
12. Install a programmable thermostat or use a timer to turn
on your air conditioner a half hour before you return
home rather than having it run all day.
13. If you have central air-conditioning, consider Con
Edison’s offer of a free programmable thermostat. Visit
ConEdison and find out more.
14. Clean or replace air-conditioner filters at least once a
month during the cooling season.
15. Shade windows that face south, east, and west. Keep
windows, drapes, and shades closed during the day.
About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes in through
windows.
16. Install your air conditioner in a shady area, if possible.
17. When it’s time to cook in the summer months, grill
outside and keep your oven off.
Published by: teducation
18. In the summer months, run your washing machine,
dryer, and dishwasher early in the day or at night when
it’s generally cooler.
7d. Water Consumption & Heating:
1. The Average American uses 100 Gallons of water per
person, per day. A 90% reduction would mean 10 gallons
per person, per day.[7]
2. Visit the Alliance for Water Efficiency.
3. Next to heating or cooling, water heating is typically the
largest energy user in the home. To conserve energy,
conserve hot water.
4. Plan on buying an energy efficient water heater before
your old one fails. If your gas water heater is more than
10 years old, it may be operating at less than 50 percent
efficiency.
5. Set your water heater no higher than 120 degrees.
6. If appropriate, consider a demand water heater that has
no storage tank. It can reduce your energy use by 10 to
15 percent.
7. Wrap your hot-water storage tank with an insulation
blanket. If it’s a newer model check to confirm it doesn’t
void the warrantee and is fully compatible.
8. Fix leaky faucets.
9. Don’t leave the water running while washing dishes.
10. Take showers rather than baths. Showers generally use
half as much hot water as baths. And install a low-flow
showerhead. And take shorter showers. And shut off the
shower while soaping, scrubbing, or shaving.
11. Shut off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
12. Install a low-flow toilet.
13. Install a rain barrel to reduce storm runoff and to water
your garden. www.rainbarrelguide.com
7e. Lighting
1. Use ENERGY STAR-qualified compact fluorescent light
bulbs (CFLs). They use less than 25 percent of the
electricity standard bulbs use and last 10 times longer.
Look for color temp 2700K to provide similar light
quality to incandescent. Recycle used CFL bulbs.
2. Consider light emitting diode (LED) lights for most
possible savings. Available for under-cabinet kitchen
lighting and a growing number of applications.
3. For CFLs the best light bulb selector I’ve found is at the
Environmental Defense Fund’s Find an Energy-Saving
Light Bulb. It is an easy to use, common sense and
comprehensive guide to the myriad of options, including
dimmable, 3-way and outdoor light bulbs. We hope they
will be adding LEDs soon.
4. Turn off lights when not in a room. If family members
won’t turn off the lights, install motion sensors.
5. During the day, let daylight do the work and turn off
lights near windows.
8
January 12th, 2010
6. Install light tubes to increase natural lighting.
7. Instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light
where you need it.
8. Keep bulbs and fixtures clean.
9. Replace light switches with dimmers or motion sensors.
10. Use bright lights only where you read or work.
11. When you go away, use timers to turn your lights on and
off.
12. Turn off outdoor lights. Choose lights with dawn/dusk
sensors. If you can, get lights powered by solar panels
and batteries so that you don’t have to install any
electrical wires.
7f. Electronics:
1. Don’t watch television, or watch as little as possible. Our
flat screens are beautiful power-sucking monsters.
2. If buying a new TV, get an LCD.[8]
3. Turn off stereos and TVs with a power strip to avoid
continuous power drain. In the average home, nearly
75% of all electricity used to power electronics is
consumed by products that are switched off but still
plugged in.
4. Unplug chargers (think cell phones and iPods) when not
in use.[9]
5. Use a laptop instead of a desktop computer.[10]
6. Ensure your computer’s power settings are enabled: set
your computer to automatically hibernate and set your
monitor to automatically sleep.
7. Turn off your monitor when you leave your computer for
more than 20 minutes. Screen savers use electricity.
8. Recycle your rechargeable batteries and old cell phones.
Go to Call 2 Recycle.
7g. Appliances
1. Appliance over 15 years old should typically be
retired.[11]
2. Choose ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances.[12]
3. Use the energy-saving setting for all appliances,
particularly your refrigerator, air conditioner, washing
machine, dryer, and dishwasher.
4. Clean and maintain appliances so they work efficiently.
7h. Refrigerator:
1. If your refrigerator is old, think about replacing it. Some
older models may account for up to 50 percent of your
monthly electricity bill.
2. Make sure your refrigerator is the right size for your
needs.[13]
3. Don’t keep that old, inefficient refrigerator running in
the basement for occasional use.
Published by: teducation
4. Resist the temptation to overfill the refrigerator. Loosely
stored food in the refrigerator allows air to circulate
around it.
5. In the freezer, pack items tightly. If there’s extra space,
add bags of ice.
6. Set your refrigerator to 40 degrees, and freezer to 0
degrees.
7. Open the refrigerator and freezer doors only when
necessary.
8. Check your refrigerator door’s seal.
9. Install your refrigerator away from the stove, radiator,
heating duct, or direct sunlight, if possible.
10. Allow hot foods to cool before putting them in the
refrigerator.
11. Cover liquids in the refrigerator. Uncovered liquids make
the refrigerator work harder.
7i. Cooking:
1. Use a microwave rather than an electric or gas oven as
much as possible.[14]
2. For certain recipes that require long cooking times, use
a Crock-Pot.
3. Use copper-bottom pots and pans. They heat up faster
than regular pans.
4. When baking, preheat your oven no more than five to
eight minutes.
5. When broiling or roasting, don’t preheat your oven.
6. Don’t open the oven door more than necessary. Every
time you open the door, the oven loses 25 to 50 degrees.
7. Cook as much of your meal as possible at one time in the
oven.
8. You can turn the oven temperature down 25 degrees
when using glass or ceramic pans. The cooking time will
remain the same.
9. Use the self-cleaning oven feature right after you’ve used
the oven to cook a meal – while it’s still hot. (But try not
to use this feature too often.)
10. An electric kettle generates about half as much
greenhouse gas as using a microwave oven or a cook top.
Be careful not to boil more water than you need.
7j. Dishwasher:
1. Run your dishwasher only when it’s full.
2. Don’t run the dishwasher’s dry cycle. Let your dishes air
dry, or put a towel to them.
3. Turn down the water temperature on the dishwasher to
120° F
4. Use the energy-efficient setting if available.
5. Pack your dishwasher efficiently.
6. Scrape dishes before placing them in the dishwasher.
Don’t rinse.[15]
9
January 12th, 2010
7. Use the “soak” or “prewash” dishwasher setting only for
burned-on or dried-on food.
7k. Laundry:
1. Use your clothes washer only when it is full.
2. Wash and rinse your clothes in cold water.
3. Straighten and clean the air ducts on your dryer.
4. Clean the lint filter in the clothes dryer before each load.
5. Don’t overdry your clothes. [16]
6. Better still, use a clothes line to dry.
7. More esoteric is a drying closet. Washed, wet clothing
is hung in a closet acting also as the return air plenum
to your home’s ventilation system, and passively dried in
the process.
7l. Yard:
1. Plant deciduous trees that shade your home during the
summer. Or just plant a tree. And plant a sidewalk tree
too. Check out Trees New York and Million Trees NYC.
2. Utilize Xeriscaping.[17]
3. Use natural pesticides.
4. Use a rake, not a leaf blower.
5. Create a more porous exterior walkway, driveway or yard
to reduce storm-water runoff.
6. Consider drip irrigation.
7. Take your yard global. Adopt some rain forest. Visit The
Nature Conservancy’s Adopt an Acre.
7m. Home Renovation:
1. If a renovation is in the cards, consider:
2. Integrating natural cooling techniques such as operable
skylights to vent hot air.
3. On-site renewable energy sources:
4. Geothermal Heating and Cooling – see NY State
programs.
5. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels – see more NY State
incentives.
6. Solar Thermal Water Heating – see U.S. DOE info on the
subject.
7. Wind Turbine Electric – see NY State programs.
8. Reuse construction material and equipment. See Planet
Reuse.
9. For new millwork and cabinetry use wood substrate that
is urea- and formaldehyde-free.
10. Flooring – consider certified woods, natural linoleum,
cork or bamboo.
11. Maintain and re-use existing walls and building
components where possible
Published by: teducation
12. Use low – VOC (volatile organic compounds) sealants,
adhesives, paints, coatings and carpets.
13. Use green insulation materials: blown-in cellulose and
recycled denim.
14. During construction, work with the contractor to divert
as much waste as possible from the landfill – many
materials can be recycled or sold.
[1] Riot 4 Austerity
[2] Renovating, rather than building a new home captures
the “embodied energy” of the existing structure. Restoration
produces less waste and uses less energy.
[3] Heat loss due to inadequate insulation can account for 30%
of home heating and cooling costs. Most heat escapes through
the roof as heat in the home rises, so a properly insulated attic
is a priority for an energy efficient home.
[8] LCDs consume 30 to 40 percent less power than a plasma
of similar size. (And do you really need a 40″ screen?)
[9] Only 5% of the power drawn by a cell phone charger is used
to charge the phone. The other 95% is wasted when it is left
plugged into the wall.
[10] A typical laptop, while plugged in, uses 50 watts of energy
compared to the typical desktop system that uses about 270
watts (including the CPU and monitor), making a laptop 80%
more efficient.
[11] The good news is that about 80 percent of a refrigerator
or a clothes washer is recyclable.
[12] Energy Star appliances use 10 to 50 percent less electricity
than standard models. Look for the yellow EnergyGuide
label to help you compare the efficiency of different major
appliances. Visit Energy Star.
[13] Bigger isn’t better. Refrigerators with the freezer on
either the bottom or top are much more efficient than those
with side-by-side doors-even more so when through-the-
door icemakers and water dispensers are included. These
features will increase your refrigerator’s energy use by 14%
to 20%. Bottom freezer models are the most efficient, using
approximately 16% less energy than side-by-side models and
3% less than top freezer models.
[14] Microwaves use less than half the power of traditional
ovens. And up to 90% of the energy used by traditional ovens
is wasted.
[15] Rinsing dishes under running hot water before putting in
dishwasher can use more hot water than the dishwasher itself.
[16] Except for towels, no more than 10-15 minutes drying is
typically required.
[17] Xeriscaping is a comprehensive approach to landscaping
for water conservation. Principles include: planning and
selecting plants for your regional and microclimate. Limiting
turf. Efficient irrigation and use of mulches.
This post is full of information and the links to the government
site or energy sites are just wonderful. Thanks for putting up
this post. My buddy decided that he will do his own energy
audit. It is amazing that how much information is really out
10
January 12th, 2010
there and even someone like my buddy Mike who is not
involved with home renovation or construction was able to do
his own audit.
08.0 Work
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/5-work/
January 12th, 2010
1. Work at home.
2. Telecommute.
3. Ask your company to calculate its footprint.
4. Ask your company to install bicycle racks and use them.
5. Find alternatives to traveling to a meeting: use the
old-fashioned phone, use video and web conferencing
software. Meet virtually in Second Life.
6. Switch your company’s electrical utility provider to green
energy via Power Your Way.
7. Turn off the screen saver and let your computer sleep
during the work day.
8. And turn off the computers at the end of the day.
9. Send e-mails and electronic copies whenever possible.
10. Scan or print-to-pdf everything and store and send as
electronic files. Make the paperless office a reality.
11. Invoice via email only and pay bills with a credit card or
electronically directly from bank account.
12. Does it really need to get there absolutely, positively
overnight? Use the U.S. Postal Service.
13. Need to ship something – consider carbon-balanced
shipping.
14. Reduce paper usage.[1] Use the Environmental Defense
Fund’s Paper Calculator.
15. Use 100% recycled paper.
16. Preview your documents and proofread them carefully
before you print
17. Print only the necessary information.
18. Copy reports and memos double-sided.
19. Circulate, don’t copy, paperwork.
20. Reuse tubes and envelopes for mailing.
21. Recycle scrap paper.
22. Use a laptop in lieu of a desktop.
23. Add greenery – houseplants can remove toxins from
indoor air.[2]
24. Use a mug at work – not paper or Styrofoam cups. And
no disposable stirrers.
25. Use silverware and plates.
26. Drink less coffee.
27. No bottled water – drink tap water.
28. Talk and share. Start an electronic bulletin board where
carbon-reducing ideas can be posted.
Published by: teducation
29. Have your company consider purchasing carbon offsets
to balance its footprint.
30. Check out ClimateBiz, a green resource for businesses.
[2] Spider plants and peace lilies can remove carbon
monoxide, and Ficus and Aloe Vera the formaldehyde or
adhesives found in furnishings.
09.0 School
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/7-school/
January 12th, 2010
1. Join the Green School Initiative.
2. Encourage your school to switch to green power via
Power Your Way.
3. Install solar PV panels at your school with state
incentives via School Power Naturally.
4. Establish an eco-committee and adopt an environmental
vision statement
5. Do an energy audit.
6. Make an action plan and monitor progress.
7. Integrate greening into the curriculum.
8. Rally kids to the cause! (If they haven’t already been
rallying you…)
9. Organize events to encourage energy auditing and
energy savings – make a friendly competition.
10. Organize fundraisers to raise awareness and consider
buying carbon offsets for the school.
11. Copy bulletins and exams on both sides.
12. Make notes and drafts on scrap paper.
13. Reuse textbooks and school supplies.
14. In college buy used textbooks and sell them back when
you’re done.
15. Buy school supplies with high recycled content.
16. In cafeterias, use non-disposable trays, dishes, and
silverware.
17. Make sure your school recycles.
18. Seek out a food donation program for your school instead
of discarding unused cafeteria food.
19. Compost cafeteria vegetable waste.
20. Get kids a water bottle.
21. Prepare waste-free lunches with a reusable lunch bag.
Avoid faddish or super cute designs that will age badly.
22. Carpool. Stuff the neighborhood’s kids in the minivan/
crossover, and resume your own low-carbon walking or
public transport routine at least a few days a week.
23. Are they old enough to walk or bike to school?
24. In college live on campus and walk.
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January 12th, 2010
10.0 Renovation/Construction
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/10-0-building-
renovation-and-new-construction/
January 12th, 2010
Residential and Commercial buildings consume 40% of
energy contributing to climate change. And of that, over
90% is consumed in the operations of the building: lighting,
heating, cooling, equipment etc… So unless one tackles
operational efficiency seriously, it won’t matter how much
“green materials” are installed in the building – it will be an
energy disaster.
To help ensure more sustainable building practices many
standards have been developed including Energy Star, LEED,
Zero Energy Building and Passive House.
Energy Star – developed by the U.S. Dept of Energy
(DOE), addresses a wide range of issues including products,
home improvement, new home construction and commercial
building design. Generally Energy Star seeks a 30%
improvement in efficiencies.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) –
developed by the industry group U.S. Green Building Council,
LEED seeks a holistic approach that addresses a wide range
of environmental issues including: sustainable sites, water
efficiency, energy & atmosphere, material and resources, and
indoor environmental quality.
Zero Energy Building – Largely funded by DOE toward
commercial and residential applications, it is a building
standard that seeks to have the building achieve net zero
energy use through efficiency measures in construction with
the addition of on-site renewables such as photovoltaics as
necessary to achieve zero balance.
Passive House – developed in 1990s and formalized by the
Passivhaus Institut in Darmstadt Germany and now at the
Passive House Institute U.S., it is the most rigorous energy
standard today achieving up to 90% heating and cooling
energy reductions and up to 70% overall energy use for
residential and commercial applications.
It should be clearly noted that these four programs are not
exclusive but complementary.
10.1 Renovation
1. Items coming soon…
10.2 New Construction
1. Items coming soon…
11.0 Calculate Your Footprint
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/7-calculate-your-
footprint/
January 12th, 2010
Now that you’ve made a serious effort to reduce, measure your
carbon footprint and find out where you stand. There are
many carbon footprint calculators available on the internet. A
selection:
Published by: teducation
12.0 Consider Carbon Offsets
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/8-buy-carbon-
offsets/
January 12th, 2010
Carbon offsets have been called a sin tax, compared to Catholic
indulgences or paying for a war substitute. But carbon offsets
are meant to be used only as a supplement, not a substitute.
Choose carefully, and carbon offsets will genuinely reduce
emissions.
As a gesture toward neutralizing your remaining footprint
consider buying offsets. Well regarded U.S.-based companies
and organizations that provide carbon offsets:
As you say, these are a supplement, not a substitute, so the
“carbon neutrality is just a click away” line is really too much
hype.
13.0 Conclusion
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/conclusion/
January 12th, 2010
But let’s be honest, while you’ve made good progress, there’s
much more to do. Change incrementally – it will insure
greater long-term success.
1. kenlevenson Says:
I agree – but it’s meant with a grain of salt, as it were. I’ll
clarify that!
2. Earl Killian Says:
You’re hardly at zero at this point. (Trivial example: even
if you’re eating local food you’ve got fossil fuels in your
veins. Even if you grow your own food, the water you
irrigated them with was probably pumped with fossil
fuels.)
My point is that you’ve left off the most important item
that would let us get to zero eventually: Elect politicians
that will get rid of the fossils.
13.1 Epilogue (get political)
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/111-epilouge/
January 12th, 2010
1. Copy and distribute this checklist. Download it.
2. Talk to neighbors about how to make the neighborhood
greener.
3. Join groups of folks working together to reduce:
EcoMom Alliance.
4. Join a Carbon Rationing Action Group (CRAG).
5. Use internet sites that help you reduce your carbon
footprint and have fun doing it. Check out Make Me
Sustainable and Carbon Rally.
6. Get political – join and support organizations fighting
to stop climate change: 1Sky, Environmental Defense
Fund, Greenpeace, Natural Resources Defense Council
and the World Wildlife Fund to name a few possibilities.
12
January 12th, 2010
7. Lobby for green building codes. Architecture 2030,
Efficiency First.
8. Talk to skeptical family members, friends and neighbors.
Be patient and listen, but explain, explain, explain. For
skeptic arguments and responses see Grist’s How to
Talk to a Climate Skeptic. An appropriate take-down
of skeptic opinion makers: see Chapter 2, “The Denial
Industry” in the book Heat, How to Stop the Planet From
Burning by George Monbiot, 2006.
13.2 Science & Skepticism
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/112-a-note-on-
climate-science-and-skepticism/
January 12th, 2010
Skepticism is an essential part of the scientific method.
Scientists see the benefit in being proven wrong. Yet the so-
called global warming skeptics (deniers is a more appropriate
term) believe that the scientists have an unprofessional
interest in the outcome and are rigging it. The accusations are
partly self-delusion and partly just plain lying. [2]
While there is much legitimate debate about the particulars
of global warming like how bad and how fast. Yet there is
no legitimate debate about whether human-generated carbon
emissions are the root of the problem – humans have thrown
the great carbon cycle horribly out of whack and it is only a
question of just how sensitive is she to our abuse.
Man-made global warming is as scientifically certain as the
rising sun, Einstein’s theory of relativity or Darwin’s theory of
evolution. The science of climate change is now essential to
understanding how our world actually works and will work in
the future.
[1] It’s almost embarrassing to include such a note but we live
in the U.S., where public opinion has been so damaged by a few
corporations and religious fundamentalists. Just recently Bob
Lutz, General Motors’ vice chairman, stated that in his view,
global warming is a “total crock of shit.” Then he added: “I’m
a skeptic, not a denier. Having said that, my opinion doesn’t
matter.” (source: www.frontburner.dmagazine.com)[2] See
Chapter 2, “The Denial Industry,” in the book Heat, How to
Stop the Planet From Burning, by George Monbiot, 2006.
1. kenlevenson Says:
Thanks for the kind words. And we can agree to disagree
on the characterization. The rising sun is a literary term,
obviously. As for Einstein and Darwin’s theories – I
chose them for the very reason that they are, like AGW,
called theories – tested and proven theories at that….as
without Darwin there’s no biotech revolution etc….
Let’s get to work.
Cheers.
2. Koop Says:
Thanks for this site and the work that went into it. But
instead of telling you all the things that you did right I’m
going to point out where I disagree.
Published by: teducation
To say that “man-made global warming is as
scientifically certain as the rising sun, Einstein’s theory
of relativity or Darwin’s theory of evolution” is way
over the top. The first argument can be made purely
on semantics. For one the sun does not rise, the
earth rotates and revolves giving the appearance of the
sun rising. Secondly, theories aren’t certain. Laws are
certain. They are called Einstein’s and Darwin’s theories
and not Einstein’s and Darwin’s laws.
We have great concensus in the scientific community
that man made gasses are causing some warming. On the
face of it it makes perfect sense. But then again it makes
perfect sense for clouds to reduce global warming since
they increase the albedo effect and reflect light and heat
back into space. But then again it makes perfect sense for
clouds to increase global warming since water vapor is a
greenhouse gas and clouds are mostly water vapor.
Consensus isn’t certainty and modesty is the best course
of action. WIth that said, let’s get the hell off of fossil
fuels. Let’s start debating the merits of Cap and Trade
or Cap and Dividend or of a Carbon Tax. Let’s make it
happen.
13.3 Checklist Sources
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/checklist-
sources/
January 12th, 2010
Books -
by Michael Brower and Warren Leon, 1999
Garbage Landby Elizabeth Royte, 2005
Global Warming, The Causes, The Perils, The Solutions, The
Actions: 51 Things You Can Do Edited by Kelly Knauer, Time
Inc., 2007
by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. Kostigen, 2007
by the editors of E, 2005
by George Monbiot, 2006
by Ed Begley, Jr., 2008
The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook, by
David de Rothschild, 2007
Reports -
by Jessica Bellarby et al., Greenpeace, 2008
The Case for Investing in Energy Productivity, McKinsey
Global Institute, February 2008
Newspaper and Magazine Articles -
Biofuels Deemed a Greenhouse Threat, by Elisabeth
Rosenthal, New York Times, Feb 8, 2008
Ethical investing: Funds that favor planet savers, by G.
Jeffrey MacDonald, Christian Science Monitor, Feb 25, 2008
For ‘EcoMoms,’ Saving Earth Begins at Home, by Patricia
Leigh Brown, New York Times, Feb 16, 2008
Websites -
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January 12th, 2010 Published by: teducation
Ellen Honigstock Architect P.C. , Brooklyn Green. Books:
U.S. Dept of Energy – Energy Efficiency and Renewable With Speed and Violence: Why Scientists Fear Tipping Points
Energy. in Climate Change by Fred Pearce – The best A to Z treatment
I’ve read.
Dire Predictions – Understanding Global Warming by
14.0 Climate Change 101 Michael E. Mann and Lee R. Kump – The best explanation of
Source: http://checklisttowardzerocarbon.wordpress.com/120-appendix-i- the IPCC findings anywhere.
climate-change-resources/ Hell and High Water: Global Warming–the Solution and the
January 12th, 2010 Politics–and What We Should Do by Joseph Romm
Climate science data and analysis are evolving fast. Here’s a The Discovery of Global Warming by Spencer R. Weart
short list of books, reports and websites where you can get a Censoring Science: Inside the Political Attack on Dr. James
snapshot of where things now stand. Hansen and the Surprising Truth About Global Warming by
Mark Bowen
GLOBAL WARMING 101 – A READING LIST: Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning by George
The Basic Scientific Understanding: Monbiot, Matthew Prescott
The Atlas of Climate Change: Mapping the World’s Greatest
Basic Fossil Fuel Facts – an indispensable condensed Challenge by Kristin Dow, Thomas E. Downing
explanation – at the end of a letter addressed to Governor The Revenge of Gaia: Earth’s Climate Crisis and the Fate of
Gibbons of Nevada by Jim Hansen. (The facts starts on page Humanity by James Lovelock, Crispin Tickell
5 – the letter is very good too.)
And Now Action:
Climate Code Red: The case for a sustainability emergency – Okay, enough reading! Armed with the facts, go out and
a great summary of the science up to the start of 2008, giving fight for our children’s future – change our personal, political
the crisis the urgency it deserves. and public lives. A comprehensive place to start is with the
Understanding and Attributing Climate Change – IPCC checklist. Download it, edit it, make it your own, and pass it
makes the case. (See also Dire Predictions in Books below.) on.)
Detecting and Attributing External Influences on the Climate
System: A Review of Recent Advances – Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory.
Assessing key vulnerabilities and the risk from climate
change – the IPCC’s take on what’s at stake.
The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land
Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity, Executive
Summary – U.S. Dept of Agriculture
Special Report: Climate Change – covers the crisis from many
angles.
The Science Behind the Science and Why it can be trusted:
Scientists Explain How They Attribute Climate-Change Data
– A Wall Street Journal article shows why the science can be
trusted.
Models ‘key to climate forecasts’ – BBC’s examination of our
most powerful tool in understanding global warming.
Addressing Doubt:
Climate change: A guide for the perplexed – a great “round-
up of the most common climate myths and misconceptions”.
How to Talk to a Global Warming Sceptic – and stop them in
their tracks.
How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic – Grist’s rundown is great
help too.
The Denial Industry – George Monbiot’s eye opening account
of the origin of the concerted network opposing legitimate
climate science. Think Big Tobacco.
MORE READING
Best Global Warming Blogs:
Related Websites:

14