It's about time we all go on a diet.
But we're not talking about the conventional diet of cutting out carbohydrates and processed sugar.
We're referring to a much more important--and global--diet.
We're talking about a low-carbon diet.
And what better place is there to start cutting our carbon footprint than right at home? Tens of thousands of U.
S.
households have joined a national campaign to cut carbon emissions by 25 percent.
The United States is responsible for 20 percent of total global emissions, and buildings alone count for about 38 percent of our country's carbon-dioxide emissions.
Across the nations, carbon-conscious communities have refused to wait for the federal government to take the bold actions necessary to curb climate change, instead taking the matter into our own hands.
Cities such as Portland, Davis, Rochester, Boston and dozens of others have already signed onto the Cool Community Campaign.
The Empowerment Institute launched the initiative in hopes of starting the campaign in more than 600 cities.
This would represent 32 percent of the American population who are committed to cutting our homes' greenhouse-gas emissions.
Adopting a low-carbon diet means greening our houses.
This involves improving our houses' energy efficiency, conserving water and using recycled materials, among other measures.
Some eco-friendly measures might cost a lot-such as installing rooftop solar panels-but many other measures only require a small investment, such as opting for LED lighting, a dual-flush toilet or water-efficient showerheads.
This eco-conscious way of creating our built environment plays a critical role in reducing carbon emissions, which contribute to global warming.
Builders have started to diet by constructing homes that meet LEED for Home certification.
This U.
S.
Green Building Council rating system promotes the design and construction of high-performance green houses.
These homes consume less water, energy and natural resources.
They also create less waste, lower energy bills and provide healthier indoor environments for occupants.
The green-building industry currently supports roughly 2 million jobs and generates $100 billion in gross domestic product and wages.
The U.
S.
Green Building Council predicts that green building will support 8 million jobs and contribute $554 billion to the GDP by 2013.
A diet that trims carbon fat and creates much-needed jobs for unemployed Americans? As far as diets go, you can't get much better than that.
But we're not talking about the conventional diet of cutting out carbohydrates and processed sugar.
We're referring to a much more important--and global--diet.
We're talking about a low-carbon diet.
And what better place is there to start cutting our carbon footprint than right at home? Tens of thousands of U.
S.
households have joined a national campaign to cut carbon emissions by 25 percent.
The United States is responsible for 20 percent of total global emissions, and buildings alone count for about 38 percent of our country's carbon-dioxide emissions.
Across the nations, carbon-conscious communities have refused to wait for the federal government to take the bold actions necessary to curb climate change, instead taking the matter into our own hands.
Cities such as Portland, Davis, Rochester, Boston and dozens of others have already signed onto the Cool Community Campaign.
The Empowerment Institute launched the initiative in hopes of starting the campaign in more than 600 cities.
This would represent 32 percent of the American population who are committed to cutting our homes' greenhouse-gas emissions.
Adopting a low-carbon diet means greening our houses.
This involves improving our houses' energy efficiency, conserving water and using recycled materials, among other measures.
Some eco-friendly measures might cost a lot-such as installing rooftop solar panels-but many other measures only require a small investment, such as opting for LED lighting, a dual-flush toilet or water-efficient showerheads.
This eco-conscious way of creating our built environment plays a critical role in reducing carbon emissions, which contribute to global warming.
Builders have started to diet by constructing homes that meet LEED for Home certification.
This U.
S.
Green Building Council rating system promotes the design and construction of high-performance green houses.
These homes consume less water, energy and natural resources.
They also create less waste, lower energy bills and provide healthier indoor environments for occupants.
The green-building industry currently supports roughly 2 million jobs and generates $100 billion in gross domestic product and wages.
The U.
S.
Green Building Council predicts that green building will support 8 million jobs and contribute $554 billion to the GDP by 2013.
A diet that trims carbon fat and creates much-needed jobs for unemployed Americans? As far as diets go, you can't get much better than that.