Wisconsin Climate Change
Roles
During the past 100 years, human behaviors have been affecting our world's climate. As human activity increases greenhouse gases, and the greenhouse effect subsequently warms the planet, Earth's climate and climate patterns are changing. Climate change impacts people, economies, and ecosystems. Behavior choices, large or small, can affect the degree of climate change. Even small changes in everyday life can make a difference. Learn more ways that you can help!
Tip of the Week
Get ready to start the new year right by making some green resolutions. This year keep reusable grocery bags in your vehicle. Forgot to bring them in the store? Go back to get them. Soon it'll be a habit you always remember. Find more shopping tips at http://www.epa.gov/osw/education/pubs/shopping.htm.
2011 Tips
| Week Of | Tip |
|---|---|
| 26-Dec | Get ready to start the new year right by making some green resolutions. This year keep reusable grocery bags in your vehicle. Forgot to bring them in the store? Go back to get them. Soon it'll be a habit you always remember. Find more shopping tips at http://www.epa.gov/osw/education/pubs/shopping.htm. |
| 19-Dec | Holiday baking is upon us, but resist the urge to keep peeking into the oven. Every time you open the door, the temperature drops 25° F and more energy is burned bringing the temperature back up. |
| 11-Dec | Those holiday gifts need batteries? Save resources and buy recyclable batteries this year. |
| 04-Dec | Did you know the first Christmas lights went on sale in December 1882? Today's lights are more efficient though...Replace conventional holiday string lights with light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. LEDs use up to 95% less electricity, last longer, and are safer because they produce very little heat. |
| 27-Nov | This year, plan your holiday shopping and errands well in advance to combine trips and reduce the number of miles you drive. Be like Santa and trip-chain, combining all your errands into a single, well-planned trip. |
| 20-Nov | Show your thanks to Wisconsin's food growers and get as much of your Thanksgiving spread as possible from local farmers. Many of the traditional foods are grown right here. Buying local really reduces the fuel used in shipping food across the country and world. |
| 13-Nov | Get recylables out of your trash -- toilet paper rolls, junk mail, many plastics, glass. Reusing these resources saves energy and raw materials. November 15 is America Recycles Day. |
| 06-Nov | Welcome to pre-holiday catalog season! Stop junk mail to reduce waste. To stop receiving paper catalogs for free, go to www.catalogchoice.org. To stop junk mail, go to www.41pounds.org or www.stopthejunkmail.com. |
| 30-Oct | Happy Halloween -- go out and hunt vampires, those electronics -- like phone chargers, coffee makers and TVs -- that drain energy even when not in use. Unplug electrical devices to cut down on vampire energy use. |
| 23-Oct | Rake your leaves this fall instead of using a powered leaf blower. Compost them or save them in bags to use as mulch on next spring's gardens rather than purchasing bag mulch that has been shipped in from elsewhere. |
| 16-Oct | Buy smart. Look for Energy Star and Water Sense labels when buying new appliances. And don't buy larger units than you need… a half empty freezer or refrigerator wastes energy. |
| 09-Oct | Take your own, reusable and insulated cup to the coffee shop to avoid using disposable cups, lids and cup wraps. Your beverage will stay warmer, many shops give discounts for using your own mug and you avoid the energy used to make disposables. |
| 02-Oct | October is Energy Awareness Month. Have an energy audit done to identify ways to save money and energy all year long. Some of the measures may quality for tax rebates. Focus on Energy provides a home assessment tool and can also help you find a home energy consultant. |
| 25-Sep | Autumn is here, winter won’t be far behind. Install a programmable thermostat before winter so you can automatically set the temperature lower when you are asleep or away from home for work or school. Then set it to warm up starting 30 minutes before you get out of bed or back home. |
| 18-Sep | September 22nd is Car Free Day… a great opportunity to look for options to driving. Bike, take the bus, walk for short trips. |
| 11-Sep | Clean and replace air filters -- on exhaust hoods, vacuums, clothes dryers, cars, furnaces, etc. Clogged filters will make these units run less efficiently and will take more fuel. |
| 04-Sep | Idling gets zero miles per gallon. Turn off the engine while picking up kids at school, chatting with your neighbor, waiting at a railroad crossing, or in line at the drive up. Cars and buses waiting and idling at schools can cause local air pollution problems, especially for the young lungs of students. Excessive idling can damage your engine too. Waiting more than 30 seconds -- turn it off! |
| 28-Aug | Heading back to school or to work after vacation? Rather than buying overly-packaged lunches, bring food from home in your own reusable containers. |
| 21-Aug | Reduce cooling costs with a few simple stragies. Use the microwave or outdoor grill instead of the oven. Keep blinds and drapes closed when the sun is shining in. Turn off electronics you are not using. Keep your air conditioner's condenser and filter clean and keep debris away from the outside condenser. |
| 14-Aug | Argghhh! September 19th is Talk Like a Pirate Day. Stop standing in front of the fridge with the door wide open or walk the plank, you scurvy dog. |
| 07-Aug | If you need to water your yard or gardens, remember it takes lots of energy to get that water to your hose so be smart and water only as much as you need and only what you want... Don't let your sprinklers water the sidewalk, driveway or street. |
| 31-Jul | Turn your compost pile. Not only does periodic turning help the material break down more quickly, it also reduces odors and the production of greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide. |
| 24-Jul | Use ceiling or other fans, even with air conditioning. Fans help reduce energy costs by circulating cooled air and by allowing you to feel comfortable even at warmer temperatures so you can set your air conditioner at a higher temperature or turn it off completely. |
| 17-Jul | During the hotter dry days of summer, mow your lawn less and set your mower higher when you do mow. It will not only save gas, but will also help keep your lawn from drying out, thus saving energy and water from sprinkling. |
| 10-Jul | Check the seals on your refrigerator and freezer doors. Leaky and loose seals mean harder work and more energy use by the cooler. Close a dollar bill in the door and then try to slip it out. If you can move it, the seal is not tight enough and the seals or the refrigerator/freezer need to be replaced. |
| 03-Jul | Want to avoid the traffic jam before and after the 4th of July activities? Take your bikes or a bus and avoid the road hassles while reducing emissions and saving money. |
| 26-Jun | Biking is a great way to see the neighborhood, appreciate nature and enjoy the outdoors without needing electricity. The bicycle was patented on June 26th, 1819. |
| 19-Jun | Become a Clean Air Trekker. Think about how you drive -- slow down to the speed limit on highways, use cruise control and avoid tailgating to save gas, your pocketbook and the environment. Find out more at www.cleanairtrek.com. |
| 12-Jun | When you eat on the go, save money and energy by packing food in reusable containers rather than putting food in throw-away bags or wraps. Bring food from home rather than buying over-packaged fast food. Pack a feast and get outdoors with family and friends for international picnic day this June 18th. |
| 05-Jun | Father's Day is coming up. Gift has you stumped? How about a basket of organic food items that dad will love? Organic growing reduces fertilizer and pesticide runoff for cleaner waterways, limits greenhouse gas emissions from chemical production, encourages more biodiversity, and may be safer to eat. |
| 29-May | Fishing is a fun activity you can do close to home and without electronics. Reduce transportation emissions and get the kids outside for an electricity-free day during Wisconsin's free fishing weekend on June 4 and 5. |
| 22-May | May is National Bike Month. Can you swap one car trip with one bike trip per week? To school, work, church, the store, a friend's house? |
| 15-May | Trees take up and store carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) and make clean air for us to breathe. After the last hard frost date in your area, plant a tree. |
| 08-May | Time for a new mower? Consider an electric mower or even a push mower. Gas-powered mowers can create more air pollution in an hour than driving a car for three hours! |
| 01-May | Happy Drinking Water Week! Moving and treating water takes lots of energy. Did you know you can reduce your home water use by 20 to 30 percent with more water-efficient fixtures? Look for the WaterSense® label. |
| 24-Apr | April is National Garden Month and the perfect time to plan summer plantings. Shade trees can keep your house cool in the summer by shielding windows from intense sun. A row of evergreens can help block winter winds. A vegetable garden provides yummy fresh food and avoids trips to the store and overpackaging. |
| 17-Apr | The first laundromat opened in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 18th, 1934. Line-dry your clothes in the spring and summer instead of using the dryer to reduce your energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions and to celebrate Earth Day not just on April 22nd but every day. |
| 10-Apr | Now that your taxes are done, take your shredded paper waste out to your compost pile and turn it into nutrients for your garden. |
| 03-Apr | April is National Library Month. Donate your used magazines and books to your local library so more people make use of them. |
| 27-Mar | It's officially spring now! Get excited about upcoming local produce and sign up for a Community Supported Agriculture share or identify farmers' markets in your area. |
| 20-Mar | March 22 is World Water Day. Put a water-saving shower head in your bath -- it's an easy way to conserve water and the energy needed to purify and pump it. |
| 13-Mar | It's Fix a Leak Week. A leaky toilet can waste a few to hundreds of gallons of water each day. Find silent leaks by dropping food coloring into the tank and check the bowl for color. Tighten faucets and seal showerhead connections with pipe tape. |
| 06-Mar | On March 7th, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell received his telephone patent. Today Americans get a new mobile phone on an average of every 14-18 months. Keep that phone longer to reduce waste. And recycle it when you do upgrade. |
| 27-Feb | Get your car tuned up. You'll get better mileage and release less heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. |
| 20-Feb | Consider LED (light-emitting diode) lighting in your home. LED lights are becoming more common for can, track, under-the-counter and other lighting. They use one-tenth the energy of incandescent lights and one-third the energy of compact fluorescent lights. And the bulbs last longer than either of the others. |
| 13-Feb | February is Creative Romance Month. February 14 is Valentine's Day. February 18th is the full moon. Take your sweetheart out for a moonlit walk, snowshoe or ski for a romantic and fossil fuel-free evening. |
| 06-Feb | Wrap your water pipes. Installing piping insulation is an easy way to prevent hot water from cooling off on the way to your tap. You'll get your desired water temperature faster and waste less water. |
| 30-Jan | Making soup or hot chocolate this winter? Match the size of the burner to the size of the pan and put a lid on it to save energy. |
| 23-Jan | Use a humidifer -- humidity makes you feel warmer in cold months. At 20 to 40 percent relative humidity you'll be able to turn your thermostat to a lower temperature, save energy and still feel comfortable. |
| 16-Jan | Check tire pressure more frequently in winter -- for every 10-degree drop in temperature, tire pressure decreases by one pound and gas mileage drops about 1 percent for every pound of tire pressure below the recommended level. |
| 09-Jan | Save energy by turning down the thermostat a couple degrees, put on a sweater and have a cuppa to celebrate January, Hot Tea Month. Heat the water for your team in the microwave; it uses less energy than your stovetop. |
| 02-Jan | Start the year with a fun earth-friendly outing. Visit the Milwaukee Zoo and see nearly 40 evergreen trees decorated with ornaments made of recycled materials. January 8 is Family Free Day at the zoo. |
2010 Tips
| Week # | Week Of | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | 12/26/2010 | Mulch your evergreen wreathes, garland, or tree. It will reduce waste and be put it to good use on trails and gardens. Check the newspaper or inquire at your local government office for information about drop-off sites or local pickup. |
| 51 | 12/19/2010 | After unwrapping holiday gifts, salvage the boxes or paper or ribbon for next year. Or reuse newspaper or buy greener wrappings such as fabric or reusable cloth bags, cloth ribbon, or lace. http://www.co.guilford.nc.us/planning_cms/docs/greentip/GreenTip21_GreenWrappingPacking.pdf. |
| 50 | 12/12/2010 | Wisconsin maple syrup products make great presents and can be sourced locally. Some climate change models predict that sugar maple trees will be much less abundant in Wisconsin as temperatures warm - something to think about on National Maple Syrup Day, December 17. |
| 49 | 12/5/2010 | Replace conventional holiday string lights with light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. LEDs use up to 95% less electricity, last up to 10 times longer, and are safer because they produce very little heat. http://www.mge.com/images/PDF/Brochures/Residential/LEDHolidayLights.pdf. |
| 48 | 11/28/2010 | Keep your tires inflated to you car manufacturer's recommended pressure, usually noted inside your door or glove box, to cut fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions. http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/road.html. |
| 47 | 11/21/2010 | Consider staying home for the holidays or traveling by bus or train. Air travel produces more greenhouse gas emissions than other types of inter-city travel. |
| 46 | 11/14/2010 | Put a lid on your saucepan when cooking to heat the contents quicker, use less energy, and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions. |
| 45 | 11/7/2010 | Move your home thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer. If you dress for the season (e.g., shorts in the summer, sweaters in winter), you can still be comfortable at home and save energy. |
| 44 | 10/31/2010 | One compact flourescent (CFL) bulb uses less than 1/4 of the electricity of a standard model and lasts about 10 times longer. CFL bulbs save money and greenhouse gas emissions. http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/home.html. |
| 43 | 10/24/2010 | Remove your vehicle's roof rack when you’re not using it to save on fuel efficiency. http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/road.html. |
| 42 | 10/17/2010 | Install a programmable thermostat at home. For winter, set the temperature low while you are away at work or sleeping. Set it to start warming up 30 minutes before you get up in the morning and before you come home from work. |
| 41 | 10/10/2010 | Consider purchasing organic food when possible. Organic growing reduces fertilizer and pesticide runoff for cleaner waterways, limits greenhouse gas emissions from chemical production, encourages more biodiversity, and may be safer to eat. |
| 40 | 10/3/2010 | Combine errands when you have to drive to save fuel and wear and tear on your vehicle. Several short trips, taken from a cold start, can use twice as much fuel as a longer multi-purpose trip, covering the same distance, when the engine is warm. And, if you plan well, you probably won't need to travel as many miles. |
| 39 | 9/26/2010 | Meat-based diets contribute more greenhouse gases than vegetarian diets because of natural land conversion to pastureland, growing corn for feed, and emissions from manure. Eliminating meat and dairy intake one day a week can make a big difference. Give it a try for World Vegetarian Day October 1. |
| 38 | 9/19/2010 | Avoid short car journeys when you can. Instead walk or cycle and burn up some calories! Carpool for regular trips like work and school commutes to cut congestion, reduce emissions and save on your fuel bill. Try to observe Car Free Day September 22. |
| 37 | 9/12/2010 | Buy local food direct from the farmer whenever possible to keep dollars in your local economy and save on transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. http://www.localharvest.org/. |
| 36 | 9/5/2010 | Visit your local library rather than buying all your own books, magazines, CDs, and DVDs. Less new stuff equates to less greenhouse gas emissions. September is Library Card Month! |
| 35 | 8/29/2010 | August 31 is National Trail Mix Day. Make your own by buying the ingredients in bulk and packaging it yourself in reusable containers to save money and waste. |
| 34 | 8/22/2010 | Check the thermostat on your home's water heater. Setting it at 120 degrees F will help you save energy and avoid burns. |
| 33 | 8/15/2010 | Install faucets and toilets with the WaterSense label. They are 20 percent more water-efficient than the average products in the marketplace. Consider other ways that you can save water at home during National Water Quality Month. http://epa.gov/watersense/. |
| 32 | 8/8/2010 | Reduce, reuse, and recycle to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If you are on the road and can't find a recycling bin, save your bottles or cans until you get somewhere with recycling bins. http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/waste/index.html. |
| 31 | 8/1/2010 | Run only full loads in the dishwasher and clothes washer to save energy and water. http://epa.gov/earthday/tips-all.htm. |
| 30 | 7/25/2010 | Drink tap water instead of bottled water. You'll save money and reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions. If you do not like the taste of your tap water, use a filter and change or clean it regularly. |
| 29 | 7/18/2010 | Eat food that is in season. It is especially easy to do in July when there is an abundance of fruits and vegetables available at local famer's markets and pick-your-own farms. This will cut down on greenhouse gas emissions associated with long-distance transport of produce. http://www.farmfreshatlas.org/. |
| 28 | 7/11/2010 | Compost food scraps and yard waste so you can skip synthetic garden fertilizers, which pollute water and are energy-intensive to produce. http://dnr.wi.gov/org/aw/wm/publications/recycle/publsw072.pdf. |
| 27 | 7/4/2010 | Use reusable dishes and glassware instead of disposables at your July 4th celebration to reduce waste. |
| 26 | 6/27/2010 | Camping is a great way to appreciate nature, no electricity needed, and to celebrate Great Outdoors month. http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/parks/reservation/. |
| 25 | 6/20/2010 | Keep the sun out this summer. Closing blinds, shades and drapes on the sunny side of your home during the day will help keep the house cooler so you can save energy on air conditioning. |
| 24 | 6/13/2010 | Choose less-processed foods. They tend to be healthier and take less energy to process and package than pre-made meals. June is both Dairy and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable month. |
| 23 | 6/6/2010 | Reduce water pollution associated with heavy downpours by installing a rain barrel or planting rain gardens to capture stormwater runoff and help prevent it from entering local lakes, streams, and coastal waters. June 8 is World Oceans Day. http://wihort.uwex.edu/gardenfacts/XHT1157.pdf. |
| 22 | 5/30/2010 | Fishing is a fun activity you can do close to home. Reduce transportation emissions and get the kids outside for an electricity-free day during National Fishing Week. http://dnr.wi.gov/fish/. |
| 21 | 5/23/2010 | Check your vehicle's air filter monthly and replace it when it looks dirty to help your car run more efficiently. May is Clean Air Month. http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/baq/docs/factsheets/AQVAMP.pdf. |
| 20 | 5/16/2010 | May 16 is World Biodiversity Day. Take a hike to see some spring wildflowers or migrating birds. Learn about how you can help conserve native species. http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/support/get_involved.htm. |
| 19 | 5/9/2010 | If you barbeque for Mother's Day, skip the lighter fluid and start your charcoal with an electric igniter or chimney starter to reduce air pollution, including greenhouse gases. |
| 18 | 5/2/2010 | Incorporate a diversity of native plants into your landscape to help feed wildlife and to cut down on needed watering and fertilizing. International Migratory Bird Day is May 3 - help the birds by providing them with native treats in your garden. http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assistance/backyard/gardens/native_plant/nativelandscaping.pdf. |
| 17 | 4/25/2010 | Trees take up and store carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) and make clean air for us to breathe. After the last hard frost date in your area, plant a tree in honor of Arbor Day. http://dnr.wi.gov/forestry/publications/newtreeplanting.pdf. |
| 16 | 4/18/2010 | April 22 is Earth Day! Line-dry your clothes in the spring and summer instead of using the dryer to reduce your energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions. |
| 15 | 4/11/2010 | Consider growing some of your own vegetables, fruits, and herbs this year. It is a cheap and easy hobby that results in fresh food and helps avoid packaging and trips to the store. April is National Garden Month and the perfect time to plan outdoor projects. http://www.gardenguides.com/599-starting-first-vegetable-garden.html. |
| 14 | 4/4/2010 | Don't idle for more than 30 seconds while waiting or at a drive-through. Instead, turn off your car to reduce the needless emission of greenhouse gases and pollutants that aggravate respiratory conditions like asthma. http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/road.html. |
| 13 | 3/28/2010 | For National Craft Month (March), get creative with natural materials you find outside or enjoy making treasures out of trash. Making your own decorations can cut down on greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, manufacturing, and waste. http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/teacher/wee/weecrafts/Wee%20Crafts%20'09%20lo.pdf. |
| 12 | 3/21/2010 | March 22 is World Water Day. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and shaving -- it's an easy way to conserve water and the energy needed to purify and pump it. |
| 11 | 3/14/2010 | Fix easily corrected household water leaks to save more than 10 percent on your water bill and 10,000 gallons of water. Learn more about Fix a Leak Week, March 15-21, 2010, at http://www.epa.gov/watersense/water_efficiency/fix_a_leak.html. |
| 10 | 3/7/2010 | Run cold water for the garbage disposal. Using cold water saves on energy for heating and it solidifies grease, helping it move more easily through the garbage disposal and pipes. |
| 9 | 2/28/2010 | Use cruise control on the highway to keep your speed constant, decrease the need to use the accelerator, save fuel, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. http://epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/road.html. |
| 8 | 2/21/2010 | Shovel snow instead of using a snow blower to save on greenhouse gas emissions. It's also great exercise to honor American Heart Month. |
| 7 | 2/14/2010 | Consider giving your sweetheart gifts like tickets to a concert, a museum membership, or art classes. You can share these experiences together and they don't come with boxes or wrapping to throw away. |
| 6 | 2/7/2010 | Cook with small appliances to save energy. Use your toaster oven or microwave rather than the stovetop or oven, when possible. |
| 5 | 1/31/2010 | Use deicer salts sparingly on your driveway and sidewalks to reduce water pollution and observe World Wetlands Day (February 2). |
| 4 | 1/24/2010 | Stop junk mail to reduce waste. To stop receiving paper catalogues for free, go to: http://www.catalogchoice.org. |
| 3 | 1/17/2010 | Support local cheese makers and reduce the miles your food travels. January 20 is Cheese Day! http://www.eatwisconsincheese.com/. |
| 2 | 1/10/2010 | Tote your groceries in reusable bags instead of throw-away plastic and paper bags. Find more shopping tips at: http://epa.gov/osw/education/pubs/shopping.htm. |
| 1 | 1/3/2010 | Start the year off right by making some green resolutions. Start by turning off lights and other electrical devices when you aren't using them. Go a step further and unplug electrical devices to cut down on vampire energy use. http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=about.vampires. |
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