OAR -- Reid Harvey -- Climate Change

Judy Pino:
As we go about our day, we are having an impact on our environment.  You release greenhouse gases as a result of using energy to drive, using electricity to light and heat your home, and through other activities that support our quality of life.  All of this adds up to your carbon footprint.  Hello, I’m Judy Pino, with the EPA office of multimedia, and this is Green Tips. 

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Greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced through simple measures you can take to, not only reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, but also reduce air pollution, increase the nation’s energy independence and save money.  Your goal is to reduce your carbon footprint.  And to explain to us how, is Reid Harvey, branch chief in EPA’s climate change division.  Welcome Reid.

Reid Harvey:
Hi Judy.  

Judy Pino:
What is carbon footprint?

Reid Harvey:
The term “carbon footprint” is used to describe the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere each year by an entity, like a person, or a household or a building, an organization or a company.  So for example, a person with a small carbon footprint would engage in activities that limit the amount of greenhouse gases that he or she emits in the course of the year.  A person’s carbon footprint would include all the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their activities, not just those of carbon dioxide.  EPA’s climate change Web site is a good resource for more information on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.   On that site, we have a personal emissions calculator.  And the address is www.epa.gov/climatechange.

Judy Pino:
Yes, and this is a fantastic little calculator.  I tried it myself.  Just so our listeners get the idea: it asks you questions like, how do you heat your house?  Do you recycle?  How often do you drive your vehicle a week?  And according to the calculator read, my household’s total emissions is about 23,000.  How did I do?

Reid Harvey:
Well, that is about the average footprint for a one-person household.  So I’d say you’re doing okay.  There’s still more that all of us can do to reduce our household emissions.  For example, by leaving your car at home, taking public transportation a couple days a week, you would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 1600 pounds per year.

Judy Pino: 
Now, yeah, I agree.  And I do use public transportation, but how about the people that cannot part with their cars?  What do you do then?

Reid Harvey:
Well, before buying a new or used vehicle, or even for renting one, you should check out EPA’s green vehicle guide, also at epa.gov.  It’s designed to help you choose the cleanest and most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets your needs.  So a well-maintained car is fuel efficient, it produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions, it’s more reliable, and it’s safer.  

Judy Pino:
Okay, now let’s go through some other suggestions.  

Reid Harvey:
Another thing you can do is to change five lights.  If you replace the conventional bulbs in your five more frequently used light fixtures with bulbs that have the Energy Star label, you’d save emissions and energy.  If every household in the U.S. took this one simple action, we’d prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars.  

Judy Pino:
And you can find the Energy Star label in many energy efficient products, right?

Reid Harvey:
That’s right.  If you look for the Energy Star qualified products in more than 50 product categories, you’ll find varied lighting, home electronics, heating and cooling equipment, and appliances.  And speaking of which, we also recommend heating and cooling smartly.  Simple steps like cleaning your air filters regularly, having your heating and cooling equipment tuned annually by a licensed contractor, can save energy and increase comfort at home, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  The Energy Star Web site is at energystar.gov. 

Judy Pino:
And you also include home insulation on the list.

Reid Harvey:
Absolutely.  You can seal and insulate your home and by taking those steps, you can eliminate drafts, you can keep your home more comfortable year-round, save energy that would otherwise be wasted and reduce your emissions.  

Judy Pino: 
And of course, never forget to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  You also recommend smart landscaping.  

Reid Harvey:
Right.  For example, if you have a small lawn, you can use a push-mower, which unlike a gas or electric mower, consumes no fossil fuels, and it’s no greenhouse gases.  Smart landscaping, doing things like minimizing your lawn space can save energy, it can save you money and reduce your household’s emissions.

Judy Pino:
Wow, that’s great.  Now, water is also a concern in every community.  How can we conserve water?

Reid Harvey:
Well, saving water around the house is simple.  Municipal water systems require a lot of energy to purify and distribute water in the households and saving water, especially hot water, can lower greenhouse gas emissions.  If you look for products with EPA’s WaterSense label, these products save water and perform as well, or better than their less efficient counterparts.  

Judy Pino:
And finally, Reid, you recommend spreading the word.  

Reid Harvey:
That’s right, if you tell your family and friends that energy efficiency is good for their homes, and good for the environment because it lowers greenhouse gas emissions, it’ll also reduce air pollution.  If you tell five people, and together we can help our homes, help us all.  And if you have questions, you can always visit EPA’s climate change Web site.  

Judy Pino:
Excellent, and through this, I’m sure we’ll reach more than five people [laughs].  And the Web site again is www.epa.gov/climatechange.  Thank you.  Reid Harvey, branch chief in EPA’s climate change division for your Green Tips.

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OAR -- Reid Harvey -- Climate Change	1	3/28/2008


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