Energy & Environmental Information

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

These links can help you reduce your carbon footprint (the amount of greenhouse gas emissions you are responsible for) by helping you be more energy- and water-efficient, locate lower-carbon transportation alternatives, and become more knowledgeable about the sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

Your Home

• ENERGY STAR (appliances, equipment, homes)
• Home Energy Magazine
• Home Energy Saver (Do-It-Yourself audit developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
• PG&E (rebates, info resources)
• Solar California (rebates, tax credits)
• National Wildlife Federation—How to Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard

 

Carbon Footprint Calculators

Some of these were developed by non-profit organizations, some by the private sector.

• Bonneville Environmental Foundation
• California Carbon Calculator
  • The Carbon Calculator was designed specifically for California, and is offered in both an English- and a Spanish-language version.
  • We also invite you to use the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Home Energy Saver feature, also on the Cool California web site.
• The Climate Trust
• Earthday Footprint/Redefining Progress
• Nature Conservancy
• Wikipedia—links to ecological footprint, carbon, water information
• Zerofootprint Youth Calculator

Transportation

Vehicles

• PlugIn America
• Increasing mileage and reducing your transportation carbon footprint
• Online ridesharing wherever you live

Bicycling

• Cargo bikes
• Safe routes to school and transit
• Bicycle-friendly communities

Commuting: San Francisco Bay Area Local/Regional

• TransLink Smart Card for Transit
• Spare the Air
• 511.org
  • Contra Costa County
  • Silicon Valley
  • Sacramento
• East Bay
• San Mateo County
• Solano County
• Transportation Management Association of the Bay Area

Water

• Use water more efficiently
• East Bay Municipal Utility District

Miscellaneous

• Re-Use Stuff
• Stop Junk Mail
• Dry your clothes the old-fashioned way