What you can do to reduce greenhouse gases

Electric vehicles, or "zero emission vehicles," are gaining in popularity. When you quit the gas habit, the savings to your pocketbook, health, and the environment from going electric add up quickly. Washington state is working to add more charging stations, and the state offers a sales tax rebate of up to $2,500 on qualifying electric vehicles.

• Learn about Washington's tax credits for electric vehicles.
• Visit the West Coast Electric Highway map to find charging stations on the west coast.
• Check out Department of Energy maps for charging stations nationwide.

• Share a ride with others, carpool, or take a bus.
• Telecommute.
• Ride your bike.
• Don’t let your car idle.
• Fly less.
• Be the first on your block to buy a Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV).

• Many utility companies offer free home energy audits to reduce heat loss.
• Install a programmable thermostat.
• Turn your thermostat down 3 degrees in winter and up 3 degrees in summer.
• Seal and insulate heating and cooling ducts.
• Replace single-paned windows with dual-paned.
• Install insulated doors.
• Install solar panels.
• Keep appliances maintained.

• Look for the Energy Star label on new appliances. These are found on refrigerators, freezers, furnaces, air conditioners, and water heaters.
• Check with your local utility provider for rebates and incentives when you replace an old inefficient appliance with an Energy Star appliance.
• You may also be eligible for federal tax deductions. 

• Unplug electronics when not in use. Many electronics continue to use electricity even if they are turned off. 
• Limit your time browsing the web.
• Turn off the TV when you aren't watching it.

• Wash your laundry in cold water.
• Line dry your clothes.
• Buy low-flow shower and faucet heads and water-efficient toilets/washing machines/dishwashers.
• Switch your irrigation system to a "smart sprinkler." These sprinklers can tell if it has rained recently and won't water plants if it has. 
• Don't let the water run when you aren't using it.

Tankless, or on-demand, water heaters warm only as much water as is needed, so there is little energy wasted. Check with your utility company for rebates.

• Replace your incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient LED lights. These lights use less energy than incandescent lights and last longer, saving you money.
• Install solar tubes in your home. These lights look like small skylights on the roof but magnify the sun without using any power. They are perfect for rooms with dark corners or without windows.
• Illuminate the outside of your home with solar lights.

• Switch to a manual or electric lawnmower. You'll save on gas and put less pollution in the air.
• Compost leftover fruits, vegetables, and yard waste.
• Plant your own vegetable garden.
• Buy local products to reduce fuel use from transporting goods.
• Recycle as much as possible.