To reduce your emissions further and to better prepare for climate change, pledge to follow one or more of the suggestions on this list.

1. Learn more about your carbon emissions. There is a lot you can do to reduce your household carbon emissions. Find out more about your emissions and where you can best reduce them by using an online ‘carbon calculator’. See the list maintained by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
2. Commute by carpooling or using mass transit. More than a quarter of the vehicle-miles travelled by households are for commuting to and from work – usually with one person in the vehicle. Carpooling, buses and ferries are among the options that offer big reductions in carbon emissions.
3. Plan and combine trips. A lot of driving involves frequent trips nearby, to go shopping or run errands, for example. Plan and combine trips to reduce the miles you need to travel. Better yet, take someone with you so they can leave their car behind.
4. Replace your vehicle with one that gets better mileage. For example, diesel vehicles provide better mileage and lower emissions, and tend to require less servicing. Plus the new diesel vehicles are able to take a percentage of biodiesel, which helps to reduce the dependence on petrol-diesel. In fact, most of the current car brands in Bermuda are also available as diesel models. Learn more about diesel vehicles and electric vehicles.
5. Drive more efficiently. In particular, observe speed limits and avoid rapid acceleration and excessive breaking. Don’t drive aggressively.
6. Switch to ‘green’ power. Use micro (small-scale) renewables like PV solar or wind power to subsidise your existing power demands. This will allow you to reduce your carbon emissions while lowering your electricity bill.
7. Insulate and seal your apartment or house. This will reduce emissions associated with both heating and cooling, two of the largest sources of residential carbon emissions.
8. Replace older appliances with high-efficiency units.
9. Learn more about the potential impacts of climate change.

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