10 Things You Can Do To

1. Save Energy
   • Change incandescent light bulbs to CFLs: CFL’s use 2/3 less energy than the standard incandescent light bulb.
   • Buy Energy Star appliances
   • Turn off lights and appliances when not in use
2. Take it from the Tap
   1. • Residents of Santa Rosa are fortunate to have a source of very high quality drinking water – Water Quality Report
      • Polycarbonate plastic used in plastic bottles leach bisphenol-A, which is linked to birth defects, miscarriage, and prostate cancer.
      • Plastic water bottles require 1.5 million barrels of oil each year to make.

   

3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
   • Producing new paper, glass, and metal products from recycled materials saves 70 to 90 percent of the energy and pollution, including CO2, that would result if the product came from virgin materials. Recycling a stack of newspapers only 4 feet high will save a good-sized tree. Please…buy recycled products!



4. Conserve Water
   • Install low flow showerheads and faucets
   • Be a water wise gardener
   • Don’t leave water running
   • Check for leaky faucets, toilets, and pipes
5. Bring your own Bag
   • Every year, more than 500 billion plastic bags are distributed, and less than 3% of those bags are recycled. They are typically made of polyethylene and can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade in landfills that emit harmful greenhouse gases. Reducing your contribution to plastic-bag pollution is as simple as using a cloth bag (or one made of biodegradable plant-based materials) instead of wasting plastic ones. For your next trip to the grocery store, BYOB.



6. Buy Local
   • Buy locally grown foods
   • Support local business. Shop Santa Rosa
7. Compost
   • Composting done for you: Put your veggies in the yard debris can
   • Start your own compost bin!
8. Know your Ecological Footprint
   • An Ecological Footprint Quiz estimates how much productive land and water you need to support what you use and what you discard. Find out your ecological footprint and ways to reduce your impact at http://www.earthday.net/footprint
9. Offset your Carbon Emissions
   • Participate in PG&E’s voluntary ClimateSmart Program that allows you to balance out the greenhouse gas emissions that are produced by the energy you use and make your energy use climate neutral.
   • Other ways to offset your carbon emissions:
     • TerraPass – supports wind and biomass projects (turning methane from cows and landfills into energy).
     • Native Energy – supports Native American alternative-energy projects.
     • Carbon Fund – non-profit offsetter that supports solar and wind farms, promotes cleaner industry, and plants trees around the world.
10. Reduce Car Trips
    • Leave your car at home. If you can stay off the road just two days a week, you’ll reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,590 pounds per year [Source: EPA]. Combine your errands — hit the post office, grocery store and shoe repair place in one trip. It will save you gas and time.
    • Walk or ride your bike to work, school and anywhere you can. You can reduce greenhouse gases while burning some calories and improving your health. If you can’t walk or bike, use mass transit or carpool. Every car not on the road makes a difference.
    • Santa Rosa FreeRide Program
      

    – Information Found On The City Of Santa Rosa, CA