Energy...

Cutting your carbon footprint is one thing - but becoming carbon free in 10 years? Sounds impossible? Putting out ZERO carbon emissions requires major deprivation and sacrifice, right? Not so. You’d be amazed at how simple, painless changes can help you snag the gold ring -- saving yourself money and saving the planet from fire and (melting) ice.

Now for the details: I found one of the best step-by-step breakdowns of how one family can do it in Yes Magazine. This helpful article takes a hypothetical family of three and proposes changes they’ll need to make each year to go from producing 60,000 pounds of carbon emissions per year to zero.Here’s a sampling of what you can do to make the biggest difference - with the least effort and expense. Remember, even if you can’t do it all and get to ZERO, taking any of these actions will be a move in the right direction.

Year 1

• Switch to CFLs
• Wash clothes in cold water and air dry them
• Turn off the computer when not in use
• One adult commutes by bus three days a week

Year 2

• Insulate attic and basement
• Insulate heat ducts
• Patch air leaks around the home

Year 3

• Commute by bus daily
• Sell second car
• Weatherize windows and doors

Year 4

• Take train (not plane) when you go on vacation

Year 5

• Trade in old car for an electric model

Year 6

• Lower hot water heater temp
• Insulate hot water heater and pipes
• Replace old refrigerator with energy-efficient model
• Eliminate second refrigerator

Years 7 to 10

• Vacation close to home
• Buy energy-efficient washing machine
• Convert to solar hot water system
• Commute by electric bikes 8 months of the year
• Replace furnace with electric heat pump that also cools
• Buy certified green, renewable power from their electric company

Now that wasn’t so hard was it?

For more details, see Yes Magazine.

For more on Reducing Your Carbon Footprint:

Carbon Footprints

What Exactly is a Carbon Footprint?

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint From Travel

Wash Your Carbon Footprint Away

The Quest For The Perfect Carbon Calculator