oprah300.jpg- Used her show to discuss the consequences of an over dependence on fossil fuels; the contribution of landfill waste to green house gases and the dire need for a strong policy response to the problem.
- Oprah isn't finished with this important topic, as the "Be On the Show" section of Oprah.com lists two global warming-themed questions (" Are you worried about global warming?" and " Is your family worried about global warming?" ) on the "Upcoming Shows" roster. A reader need only click on the linked questions and fill out the form, and s/he could find her or himself on the way to Chicago as a guest of the Oprah Winfrey Show.
- Helping teacher Steve Luna with his "Bright Idea" program which is set up to help fight global warming by providing every child in America with a compact fluorescent light bulb to plug into their favourite lamp.
- Uses her show as a platform for eco-friendliness and global awareness by inviting special "Green Celebrities".
- Designed her own line of "Green Grocery" bags.
THINGS WE ALL CAN DO: www.oprah.com
ActivismAmerican Forests
The average person is responsible for emitting 94 pounds of carbon dioxide every day. It takes four trees, which act as natural air filters, to offset the carbon dioxide each person generates in a month. For each dollar donated, American Forests plants a tree. For more information and to plant trees, visit www.americanforests.org Earth 911
Find information about environmental services and events in your community, visit www.earth911.org.
Shopping and Cleaning
Ecobags
Bringing your own bag when shopping saves plastic bags. Visit www.ecobags.com Method Home
Method offers some cleaners that are dye- and perfume-free, nontoxic, biodegradable, naturally derived and never tested on animals. For more information, visit www.methodhome.com Mrs. Meyers cleaning supplies
All of their cleaning supplies are made with natural essential oils, are biodegradable and phosphate-free. For more, visit www.mrsmeyers.com Seventh Generation products
Seventh Generation is one of the leading brands of nontoxic household products. For more information, visit www.seventhgeneration.com Shaklee
This company has been producing natural cleaning products—everything from dryer sheets to stain removers—for 50 years. Call 800-670-6251 or visit www.shaklee.com to save 33 percent on the Shaklee Healthy Home pack and 15 percent off all other items at Shaklee.
Energy
BITS Ltd. smart power strips
Even after turning off a computer, power continues to flow to computer peripherals like printers and scanners. This power strip ($32.99) stops the energy from being wasted. For more information visit www.bitsltd.net Carbonfund.org and Terrapass
If your local utility company doesn't offer green power, you can reduce the environmental impact by purchasing offsets. In this system, you give money to companies like Carbonfund.org or Terrapass, which use it to develop renewable energy sources. For more on purchasing power offsets, visit www.carbonfund.org or www.terrapass.com Duke Energy
Duke Energy provided energy efficiency starter kits for audience members. The kits are available to their customers in Indiana and Kentucky who qualify for in-home energy audits. For additional information visit www.duke-energy.com Check with your local energy company for similar ways to save energy. GE Energy Smart lightbulbs
GE Energy Smart bulbs use 70 to 75 percent less energy than incandescent lightbulbs and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. For example, by using a 26-watt compact fluorescent lightbulb—equivalent to a 100-watt incandescent lightbulb—users can save up to $59 on energy costs over the life of the bulb. Saving energy saves money and is better for the environment.
