Individual Action - The 10% Solution

One thing about reducing individual carbon emissions is that everyone is in the same boat. It is difficult. Taking carbon reduction in steps can be helpful. Something called the "10% Solution" is a way to start. Here's how it works...

Let's take the example of driving. In Sonoma County, the total GHG emissions from the transportation sector increased by 43% between 1990 and 2000. During that same time, there was an increase of 18% in the population. The two factors most responsible for the huge increase were number of cars on the road, and more miles traveled. Now most people think of getting a more fuel efficient car, when talking about using less fuel. But here's where the 10% Solution comes in. Think about how you would use your car 10% less.

Take the 10 mile commute to work. Instead of thinking about walking or riding your bike or taking public transit the entire way to work, drive nine miles, park your car, and walk or bike the rest of the way. You have just reduced the GHGs you produce from commuting to work by 10%. You can start doing this with all your trips. Just always keep your bike on the bike rack of the car and when you find a good place to park, take the bike out and ride the rest of the way.

You can also try car sharing 10% of the time. Or just combining trips so you reduce the number of car trips by 10%.

Other things to try:

• Have the TV on 10% less time each day. If it is on 5 hours a day, try 4.5. You've just reduced your GHGs from TV watching by 10%.
• Try saving 10% on your heating bill by wearing a sweater. The furnace just needs to come on 10% less time. Same with air conditioning.
• Each incandescent light bulb you replace with a compact fluorescent reduces the energy use from that light fixture by up to 80%. Make sure all your incandescents have been replaced, and your GHGs from your lighting energy use have come down WAY more than 10%.

So the trick is, look at everything around you that uses electricity, natural gas, gasoline or diesel. This includes not so obvious things like water (energy used by the water system for pumping and heating), wastewater (energy used for treatment). Then try to see if you can reduce the use of that item by 10%. It seems like a small amount, but the main thing is, it gets you started thinking about how much energy you are using, and how you are using it.