'We basically have three choices - mitigation, adaptation, and suffering, We're going to do some of each. The question is what the mix is going to be. The more mitigation we do, the less adaptation will be required and the less suffering there will be.'

--- John Holdren, energy and climate expert at Harvard University.

It’s worth giving serious consideration to these definitions:

· Mitigate

1. To lessen in force or intensity
2. To moderate (a quality or condition) in force or intensity; alleviate
3. To become milder; lessen in severity.

· Adapt

1. Change in behavior of a person or group in response to new or modified surroundings.
2. To make suitable to or fit for a specific use or situation.
3. Adapt, accommodate, adjust, conform, fit, reconcile. These verbs mean to make suitable to or consistent with a particular situation or use: adapted themselves to city life.

1. To feel pain or distress; sustain loss, injury, harm, or punishment.
2. To tolerate or endure evil, injury, pain, or death.
3. To appear at a disadvantage.

Even if we were able to halt every action that emitted greenhouse gases, there would still be enormous disruptions to planetary life as we know it. The carbon dioxide that has accumulated in the lower atmosphere (as a result of our activities) has a life span of 150 years. Therefore, the effects from those amassed molecules have set into motion a series of modifications to the planets climate (and will continue to until those molecules have broken down), which is resulting in:

• changes to where food can be grown,
• increased droughts and flooding (affecting both water quantity and quality),
• increased forest fires,
• the spread of disease (to plants, crops, animals, humans & waterlife)
• sea level rise,
• more extreme weather events & temperatures,
• massive species extinction, and
• associated economic impact from all of the above.

These changes are taking place at a rate unprecedented in Earth’s history, with the exception perhaps of Earth being hit by a massive meteor. The cumulative result of population growth, technology, consumption and globalization is being felt.  Unfortunately, while developing countries are experiencing the worst of these impacts and have little or no means with which to respond- it is the developed countries that are responsible for the majority of worldwide greenhouse gases emitted. Personal actions are important, but they are not enough.  We need to exhibit political will and push the US to become a leader in addressing climate change. The following pages offer both personal and political action.  Please do what you can. 

1.  Purchase local foods
The production of food is one of the most fossil fuel intensive industries today. Find out where products come from before purchasing them. Eat a highly nutritious and superior diet that has not traveled an average of 1500 miles or more.  For each calorie that you consume, 10 calories of fossil fuels are used in production (this does not include transportation).  Support local farmers and become part of the community. Check out these Community Supported Agriculture Farms (CSA) and other local sources of food.

A comprehensive link:  http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml
Biodynamic farms by state:  http://www.biodynamics.com/csa.html
Farmers Markets by state:  http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm
Natural Food stores by state:  http://www.organicconsumers.org/foodcoops.htm

2.  Measure your carbon footprint
¨ Measure your carbon footprint: Make a resolution to reduce it! The following websites ask simple questions that result in letting you quantify your impact on the planet. The questions asked in both surveys are very helpful in raising awareness in many areas that you may not have thought of:  

www.myfootprint.org
www.conservation.org/ecofootprint/#top

3.  Electricity
The majority of U.S. greenhouse gas
emissions are from the generation of electricity.
Support clean electricity from renewable energy.

Renewable energy solutions, such as wind, solar, low impact hydro and biomass can reduce our reliance on coal-burning power plants. Call your local utility and sign up for renewable energy. If they don't offer it, ask them why not?

Locate suppliers by state:  http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/buying_power.shtml
Locate suppliers by state: http://www.utilityconnection.com/page2b.asp

Lighting: Replace you’re your incandescent bulbs with Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs)*, especially those that you use the most. CFLs produce the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs, but use one quarter of the electricity and last ten times as long. Turn off unneeded lights, and save up to 376 lbs of carbon dioxide per year. Also, keep bulbs dust-free. Dust on a light bulb or dirt on a glass fixture can reduce the light it emits by 10 percent and make it seem that you need a higher-wattage light. When building a new home or remodeling, include natural lighting features (skylights, larger south-facing windows, etc.) to reduce the need for artificial lights. Adjust your schedule when possible to be active in daylight and sleep during the dark.

Better Appliances: Purchase energy efficient household appliances. This can make an enormous difference. For example: A new Energy Star refrigerator uses about 20% less energy than a standard new refrigerator and 46% less than one made before 1980. Install the dishwasher away from your refrigerator: the dishwasher's heat and moisture make the fridge work harder. Replace your top-loading washing machine with a front-loader, and you may save $100 a year in energy, water and detergent. A new Energy Star washing machine uses nearly 50% less energy than a standard washer.” 
For details, visit: www.energystar.gov

Unplug Appliances: Unplug appliances like microwaves, stereos, VCRs and printers that do not have to be on all the time, but use energy when plugged in. Simply unplugging these appliances can save a lot of energy. If possible, unplug electronic devices and chargers that have a block-shaped transformer on the plug when they are not in use. Unplug the extra refrigerator in your basement or garage, and save 448 lbs of carbon dioxide per year.

Cold Water Wash and Line Dry: Washing clothes in cold water reduces your washer's energy use by 75% and saves almost 500 lbs. of CO2 per year. Drying clothes outside in the fresh air and sunlight not only lengthens the life of your clothes but also saves energy and 1,386 lbs. of CO2 emissions per yr. Clothes can also be dried on inside racks during inclement weather. When you need to use the clothes dryer, run full loads and use the moisture-sensing setting. Clean the lint trap after each use and clear the outdoor dryer vent frequently to eliminate blockage and reduce resistance. 

Dish washing: Always do full loads when using your dishwasher. Conserve energy by turning off the dry cycle on your dishwasher and air-dry the dishes instead. 

Oven Smarts: Do not preheat longer than necessary. Minimize the number of times you open an oven door during cooking: each time you open the door, you lose 25 to 50 degrees or more. Preheating is not necessary when broiling.  When you do turn on the oven, bake multiple items at once.

Use a pressure cooker: This is one the best inventions ever!  For example: Cook a winter squash in 9 minutes as opposed to 1 hr in the oven!   

On the stove top: Always put a cover on your sauce pan when bringing an item up to temperature.

Refrigeration Tips: Maintain your refrigerator and freezer at the right temperature. If they're only 10 degrees F colder than necessary, energy consumption will jump 25 percent. The refrigerator should be between 38 and 42 degrees F and the freezer between 0 and 5 degrees F. Make sure the door is sealed tightly. Check the rubber seal for cracks and dried-on food. Choose a refrigerator with a freezer on top rather than a side-by-side unit. On average, the savings amount to 20 percent. Make sure that your frig and freezer are full, and put gallons of water or food from the cupboard in them if they are on the empty side.  This helps to maintain the proper temperature.

Air Conditioning:  In our part of the country, air conditioning is seldom necessary in a well-insulated home-  But- if you do have to use it, increase your air conditioning thermostat by only 3°F and save an average of 470 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year. Save up to 3% of energy consumed for each degree the thermostat is set above 72 degrees.  Ceiling or room fans can also be used to cool rooms significantly while using less energy than air conditioning. An attic "whole house" fan is an effective way of cooling your home without using the air conditioner. It forces hot air out of your home and draws cooler air in through attic vents.

Home Heating: Lower your thermostat in winter by 2° F and save 353 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year. Dress warmly to stay comfortable instead of turning up the heat. Change furnace filters often because dirty filters restrict airflow, so use more energy. Keep your furnace clean and properly adjusted. Switch from an oil or electric heating system to natural gas, which is more efficient. Replace simple dial-type thermostats with smart programmable thermostats. These units allow you to set the heating and cooling system to take a break while you're asleep or out, then come on at preset times to keep you comfortable when you wake up or come home. In an average house this can reduce emissions by 1,000 pounds per year—not to mention producing significant savings on your energy bill. Lower the thermostat to 55 degrees or off at night or when leaving the house/office for an extended period of time. For every degree you lower your heat in the 60-degree to 70-degree range, you'll save up to 5% on heating costs.

Seal Air Leaks: One of the least expensive and most effective ways to reduce energy consumption in the home  is to seal air leaks. A simple effort to weatherize your home—especially to seal any large air gaps in the attic and basement—can reduce a typical home's greenhouse gas emissions by 1,300 pounds per year. Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning to prevent heated air from escaping through the chimney. Avoid using kitchen, bathroom and other ventilating fans in excess, as these can eject a significant amount of heated or cooled air in a very short period of time. 

Add Insulation: Adding attic insulation is highly effective and can save an additional 1,300 pounds of CO2. Adding insulation costs more per unit of energy saved, but can trim a home's CO2 emissions by 2,000 pounds per year. 

Window Efficiency: Adding air-gap window films or low-e films to existing windows, while not always cost-effective, can reduce your home's emissions by 1,000 pounds per year. When possible, replace old windows with new high performance, energy efficient (double-paned) windows or install storm windows.  Curtains and shades can also help prevent hot or cold air from escaping.

Duct Work: Sealing and insulating heating and cooling ducts is a more expensive job, but saves more energy and therefore can reduce your emissions by an average of 1,300 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. Upgrading your heating or cooling equipment with new technology and making sure these units are regularly tuned (typically every year) will also reduce emissions by several hundred pounds.

4.  Living small
Reduce Your Home Size: If you’re about to build or buy a new home, build small. Many new homes are much larger per person than in the past, which increases home energy consumption dramatically for construction, heating, dehumidifying and cooling. The median size of a newly built U.S. home in 1970 was 1,500 square feet.  By 2000, it had increased to 2,300 square feet, even though the median family's income hasn't changed much and family sizes are smaller now.  In existing homes, close off rooms that are rarely used or that you can do without.
Tons of info and links for small homes: http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/about.htm

5.  Transportation
Efficient Transportation: A well-tuned car with properly inflated tires and a clean air filter burns less fuel. When buying a new car, purchase one with the highest MPG rating possible. If you have two cars, drive the one with better gas mileage whenever possible.
Better yet, skip the drive and walk, or bicycle when you can. Use public transportation or address the lack of it in your community.
Most of all- think before you jump in the car.  Do you really need to run that errand? Combine trips and commune with your neighbors on driving. Build a stronger community.
Don’t be fooled- Biofuels are not the best answer, for it takes fossil fuels to produce them, and in addition, land is being used to grow fuel as opposed to food.  Public transportation and traveling less distance and supporting locally produced power and products is the best way to get back in balance with nature and to reduce our harmful pollutants.
For efficient driving and more: http://eartheasy.com/live_fuel_efficient_driving.htm

6.  Water
Hot & Cold Water Efficiency: Turn down your water heater to 120°F (from
the usual 145°F), and you may save 163 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year.  If it is electric, put it on a timer. You can insulate older water heaters with an insulating blanket. (Be sure to leave the air intake vent uncovered when insulating a gas water heater.)  When buying a new water heater, look for the most efficient and properly sized type with the lowest life-cycle cost.   Better yet, install a solar hot water heater.  Run water sparingly at all times! Reduce water consumption by installing efficient showerheads, faucets and other fixtures. If building a new home, look into installing a grey water system.
100 water tips:http://www.wateruseitwisely.com/100ways/index.shtml

Eat a Vegetarian Diet or at least convert some of your daily meals to vegetarian dishes: The production of meat, dairy, and eggs is energy intensive.  We can all reduce our food energy consumption by eating plant proteins directly.  This will also be healthier for you and your family, save money, reduce water consumption, reduce water pollution, reduce land-use impacts of livestock production, and reduce the potential for animal cruelty.
Waste reduction tips: http://www.epa.gov/msw/reduce.htm

8.  Landscaping
Smart Landscaping: Shading your east and west windows with overhangs or trellises or by planting shade trees are also effective ways to reduce unwanted heat gain on hot, sunny days. They also act as windbreaks in winter. Also, plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units (but do not block the airflow.) A unit operating in the shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun.  Reduce the amount of lawn that you mow to an amount that you can cut with a reel mower. Better yet, turn some of your lawn into a garden and grow some food.
Landscape with native species- They are naturally pest & disease resistant, naturally acclimated to your regions rainfall patterns
Brush Piles & Leaves: Don’t burn them! The result is unnecessary pollution. They can be removed from and piled somewhere. This creates habitat for woodland critters and nourishes the ground! Leaves also make great compost & mulch.
Plant a Tree, protect a forest: Plant trees, at home in and in your community.
Green gardening tips:  http://www.govlink.org/hazwaste/house/yard/
Native flower gardens:  http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/nativegardening/index.shtml

9.  At work
Save Energy at Work: Reduce energy consumption and equipment wear by setting computers, monitors, and copiers to sleep-mode.  Turn off office equipment if you are not going to use them for an extended period of time, and ALWAYS when you go home at the end of the workday. Do the same with lunchroom and other office appliances which are always on otherwise. Over your lunch-break, turn off your computer monitor.  This will save energy without losing your work or having to reboot.  Encourage co-workers to do the same.  Recycle at work and do not turn on the lights out of habit, if you do not need them. THINK before you print, set up printers to print double sided, and use one sided discards in the printer before putting in the recycling bin.  Remember- recycling should always be a last resort, as it takes energy to complete.  Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- in that order.
Greening the workplace: http://www.entlink.net/education/resources/greenoffice.cfm#CP_JUMP_3616

10.  Political Action
Write and call Congress today
For addresses & phone numbers, go to:  www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Urge Congress to raise fuel economy standards to 40 miles per gallon:
It's the biggest single step we can take to curb global warming. Taking this step would also save nearly 4 million barrels of oil a day — more oil than we currently import from the Persian Gulf and could ever extract from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge combined.
Urge Congress to enact the legislation in the ClimateUSA platform
Urge Congress to endorse the Climate Crisis Coalition Platform
Work in your community to slow the emission of greenhouse gases