Get Your Child To Go Green

Here's are some family-oriented tips for reducing your carbon footprint with a school-age child, from Cool the Earth co-founder and Executive Director, Carleen Cullen.

1. Pack a No-Waste Lunch. Ever notice how much garbage is generated by your child's school's lunch? You'll save 133 lbs of carbon dioxide a year, if you pack your child's school lunch in reusable containers. You can pack drinks in reusable aluminum bottles and use eco-friendly products, like reusable sandwich wraps and cloth napkins. It's a bit more effort than using plastic baggies, but you'll save carbon money and help the planet.

2. Don't be Idle in the Car pick up line. When you're picking up your child from school, don't idle your engine. Use the 20 second rule! If your car is stationary for more than 20 seconds, turn it off to save on fuel. You'll save 240 lbs of carbon for the year and $95.

3. Lighten your footprint to School. Walking or biking to school an average of just 10 days a month reduces your carbon by 540 lbs. Take mass transit of any kind and you'll save 372 lbs. over driving alone. If you must drive alone, organize a carpool and save 270 lbs. The average American car gets 23 mpg and gives off one pound of carbon for every mile driven.

4. Shorten your child's shower by getting a shower timer. Lessen your child's school-morning shower by just two minutes and save 350 lbs of carbon and $120 a year. What does water have to do with carbon? Plenty! Just think about how much energy it takes to collect, filter, pump and heat the water. Buy your family a shower "timer" to keep everyone on the new schedule.

5. Before and after school, layer your child's clothing and turn down the thermostat. Teach your child to wear a sweater inside and lower your thermostat by 2 degrees in the winter and you'll save 2,000 lbs in carbon and $115 dollars a year. Climate control is the number one energy hog in the house. Tell the kids to wear a sweater whenever they say, "I'm cold."

For more information visit http://www.cooltheearth.org/.

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