Cool Los Altos

What can I do?

Here's What Can You Do to Help Fight Global Warming

1. DONATE to GreenTown Los Altos. Help us to fight the good fight.

2. Sign the Pledge

3. Take Action in Your Community:

  • Join GreenTown Los Altos. Be an active participant! Contact Kacey Fitzpatrick (kacey@greentownlosaltos.org) and she'll send you directions and information about upcoming meetings
  • Speak out to city officials about your concerns, and email Los Altos City Council (council@ci.los-altos.ca.us)
    • David Casas, Mayor
    • Ron Packard, Mayor Pro Tem
    • Lou Becker
    • Val Carpenter
    • Megan Satterlee
  • Spread the word to others in your circle. Organize a workshop and invite a GreenTown presenter to give a talk to your school, neighborhood, or faith group
  • Be a champion for reducing the carbon footprint of the institutions, schools and businesses in which you're involved
    • Carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide or CO2 emitted through the combustion of fossil fuels; in the case of an organization or business, as part of their everyday operations; in the case of an individual or household, as part of their daily lives

4. Challenge your Place of Business to:

  • Pledge with Sustainable Silicon Valley to reduce company carbon footprint (www.sustainablesiliconvalley.org)
  • Develop leading-edge policies that support commute alternatives
  • Evaluate purchasing and solid waste practices to maximize recycled content and minimize waste
  • Check out the PG&E's rebate programs and ClimateSmart initiative (www.pge.com)
  • Go green and become a Bay Area Certified Green Business. In Santa Clara County call (408) 282-3180 for more information

5. Lead by Your Own Actions:

  • Make a pledge on the Cool Los Altos Low Carbon Challenge, and get your friends to sign on too
  • Evaluate your own carbon footprint using a carbon calculator such as Cool It! (www.cool-it.us)
  • Go on a "Low Carbon Diet," using the Empowerment Institute's book how to reduce your carbon footprint. Acterra offers workshops or you could organize your own
  • Meet with a group of friends or colleagues to support each other in reducing your energy consumption by 10%+. www.empowermentinstitute.net
  • Walk, bike or use public transit whenever possible. 511.org provides information on the best way from here to there using public transit
  • Reduce home energy use. PG&E offers tips and rebates to help you make your home more energy-efficient.
  • Invest in renewable energy, such as solar panels for your home electric needs.
  • Offset your remaining emissions through Cool It! or PG&E's ClimateSmart
  • When you remodel, call a certified green building professional (www.buiditgreen.org)
  • Support local organizations such as The Greenbelt Alliance ( www.greenbelt.org), Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter (www.lomaprieta.sierraclub.org ), Acterra (www.acterra.org), and others both locally and nationally, working to develop smarter solutions for a clean energy future

6. Change your Habits, Reduce your Carbon Footprint at Home:

  • Install low-flow shower heads (2.0 GPM) and reduce shower time to 5 minutes
  • In winter, wear a sweater and slippers instead of turning up the heat; keep the thermostat at 65-68° in winter and 55-58° at night
  • In summer, set your thermostat at 78° and open the windows when it is cooler out
  • Switch one load of laundry each week from hot to cold water
  • Bike to work once a week; plan & combine trips to reduce vehicle miles traveled
  • Reduce waste: Take your own re-usable shopping bags to the store; Take your own travel mug to Starbucks; Stop buying bottled water – drink tap water
  • Buy local produce at farmers markets; Buy locally manufactured products
  • Buy products with less packaging; Buy second-hand items instead of new
  • Start composting your food waste at home. Take a class to learn how (www.scc.gov)
  • Replace old appliances with Energy Star rated appliances: front-loading washer; dishwasher; refrigerator; furnace; Install Energy Star ceiling fans and light fixtures
  • Install a solar water heater; and turn your water heater down to 120°
  • Install a tankless water heater and an on-demand pump (i.e. ACT Metlund)
  • Replace a standard pool filtration pump with a variable speed pump
  • Sign up with Green Dimes (www.greendimes.com) and DirectMail.com (www.DirectMail.com/Junk_Mail) and get rid of Junk Mail!
  • Plant deciduous trees on the southern face of your home for summer shade
  • Clean the filter on your furnace monthly; clean the coils on your AC every 3 years
  • Replace 5 regular light bulbs with compact fluorescents in frequently used rooms