Pledge to reduce your carbon footprint. Accept the challenge and you can drop 3,000 pounds of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Take one step each month, and by the end of the year, your footprint will be a little smaller. We’d love to hear about your successes.

Here’s the plan, developed by The Green Guide.

Month | Activity | Calculation | CO2 Savings

Sept. 1: Caulk and weatherstrip your home. (72 lbs. per month) x 12 months = 864 lbs.

Oct. 1: Take the bus to work one day a week. (13 lbs. per month) x 11 months = 143 lbs.

Nov. 1: Clean your refrigerator’s coils and defrost it. 58 lbs. per month) x 10 months = 580 lbs.

Dec. 1: Replace one 70-watt bulb with a 9-watt LED. (5lbs. per month) x 9 months = 45 lbs.

Jan. 1: Turn down your thermostat by 2 degrees. (53 lbs. per month) x 3 months = 159 lbs.

Feb. 1: Run the dishwasher only when full and on its energy-saver mode. (70 lbs. per month) x 7 months = 490 lbs.

March 1: Wash clothes in cold water rather than hot. (42 lbs. per month) x 6 months = 252 lbs.

April 1: Keep tires properly inflated. (21 lbs. per month) x 5 months = 105 lbs.

May 1: Dry half your clothes on the clothesline or drying rack. (60 lbs. per month) x 4 months = 240 lbs.

June 1: Raise your thermostat from 72 to 73 degrees this summer. (40 lbs. per month) x 3 months = 120 lbs.

July 1: Plug electronics into a power strip and turn off when not in use. (20 lbs. per month) x 2 months = 20 lbs.

Aug. 1: Insulate your water heater. (26 lbs. per month) x 1 month = 26 lbs.

(2 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)

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