There are many ways to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions in your daily life - and save money at the same time! Check out our California-specific Carbon Calculator.
Reduce Waste
Composting kitchen scraps reduces the amount of trash sent to landfills. Check out more Cool Tips.
Drive Smarter!
Drive less by combining trips and carpooling. Check out the ultimate buying guide for cleaner vehicle technologies at DriveClean.ca.gov.
California Residents make this State the great place it is.
Each household and individual in California has the power to protect the climate and keep California cool. Many of our daily activities result in the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, mostly in the form of carbon dioxide.
Check out our Tips, Tools, and our Financial Resources for ways you can save money and help the planet. Become a Success Story! Tell us what you or a friend are doing to help reduce your carbon footprint.
Highlights
The greenhouse gas emission reductions required under Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32) cannot be realized without the active participation of the people of California. While many of the measures outlined in the Scoping Plan must be taken by large sources of emissions, such as power plants and industrial facilities—it is the voluntary commitment and involvement of millions of individuals and households to choose to make shifts in individual choices.
Thinking about climate change and our carbon footprint will naturally become part of how individuals make decisions about travel, work, and recreation. Start by calculating your impact with the California-specific carbon calculator. Then check out our Top Ten ways you can reduce your carbon footprint to help you get started reducing your impact. In less than two decades, separating household waste and recycling at home and work have become commonplace, as has the widespread purchase of appliances with the Energy Star label to save energy. Reducing our carbon footprint by moving toward a cleaner more efficient economy will produce a wide range of benefits to individuals, through lower energy bills and a healthier environment for all. Water and energy conservation can also play a key role.
Total amount of greenhouse gases produced to support a household, including those caused by direct and indirect emissions.
How does your household compare?
Stand for Less in San Diego
Did you know?
Carbon Dioxide, or CO2, is the most abundant greenhouse gas released by human activities, mostly through the burning of fossil fuels. It is the main contributor to climate change.
Reducing your driving speed to 55 mph from 70 mph could increase your fuel efficiency by 23%. Also, one gallon of gasoline emits 19.6 pounds of harmful CO2 into the atmosphere.
By implementing cost-effective energy efficiency projects, annual utility bills can be reduced up to 20%. Reducing energy use at home saves money, conserves resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Packaging makes up a third of all garbage tossed in the U.S.
Cut back on single-serving foods and beverages and take-out cartons.
Up to 50% of the average household's energy consumption goes to heating and cooling the home. Properly sealed windows can help insulate the home, reducing the energy consumed—and money spent—to maintain indoor air temperatures.
Refrigerators more than ten years old are typically 40 percent less efficient than newer, Energy Star-qualified models.
Letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours.
