What are some simple steps or creative ideas that people can take at home and work to combat global warming?

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There are many little things we can do that will collectively make a substantial impact to combating global warming. At the home, if we keep appliances or electronics that is not used unplugged, we will be saving electricity. Switching out lightbulbs for the energy efficient ones definitely help. Replacing old appliances for energystar ones will make a great impact. More drastic changes like switching from electric to propane wherever possible, or installing solar panels on the roof, would help even more. At work, we have motion detection lights after hours so that we don't waste energy. As well, the HVAC system is powered down in non-critical areas during the weekends and holidays to conserve.

On the macro-scale as a society, we need to invest more in alternative energy sources such as:
- wind and solar energy generation
- improved battery technologies, which will lead to new applications for batteries
(Case in point: The Saturn EV-1 was originally supposed to use new battery technology that would have given it a range of 300-400 mi/charge, but GM did not invest in battery technology between the concept car (Impact) and the production of EV-1. Can you imagine how many of us would be driving EV-1 or other electric vehicles now had they made the early investment?)
- alternative fuel for aircrafts, which is a great source of greenhouse gas emissions as well...Show more

The most important ways that the people can combat global warming is getting rid of their older model cars (1979 Buick) because, older cars emmitt more toxic fumes into the air. Its obvious that the more technological advanced a car is, the less harmful gases it emmitts. A car that was built 3 or 4 years ago will be more economy friendly than a car that was assembled 35 years ago.

For high populated cities such as New York, Bus and Taxi companys should replace current vehicles with cars that are powered by hydrogen or electricity. Just think, if every major city used the Toyota Prius as taxi's, there would be a decreased level of pollution, and also taxi fares could be drastically lower as well....Show more

I, like many others who have answered do what I can. I recycle what is recycable (including plastic bags and aluminum cans),I have the energy efficent bulbs in my lamps and recently at my house we switched to a HE washer and dryer. They use less water and elecrticity. They also require less detergent. I don't leave lights on when I'm not in the room and try not to use the AC too much (even though I live in sunny South Florida). There are a few ways I think we can combat Global Warming.
1. Stop building new, I keep seeing these empty store fronts, gas stations, or whatever that are left vacant while multimillion dollar stores cut down previously protected land to have a brand new store.
2. Make hybrid and elecrtic cars more affordable for the common person. (This includes the E85 which they keep hiding from us)
3. Of course, with the E85 that would mean we would have to pay the American farmers to grow produce.
4. Planting the right type of trees in the right area. (No shallow root trees in Hurricane areas, they cause problems)
5. Find a way to pack meat without using styrofoam
Now as a response to those who said I am only one person, it doesn't matter, you do matter. Think of you doing something (even if you think it is small) as the beginning of a positive domino effect....Show more

I think that the best thing we can do is to write to the US Ambassador to the United Nations and ask when the other nations of the world are going to do their share to help prevent global warming.

Even though the US has more cars and trucks on the road than we did 25 years ago, our overall production of green house effect gasses is down by 80%.

Even with these advances, as Americans we are expected to do more, like stop using gasoline powered lawn mowers, less outdoor grilling, and limited use of recreational vehicles. This, while other nations continue the uncontrolled and unfiltered use of fossil fuels.

It's time to stop seeing the United States as the "bad guy" all of the time, and for other nations like China, India, Mexico, Indonesia and Russia to work as hard as we have in reducing greenhouse emissions....Show more

The vast temperature shift being seen this year in much of the US and Canada is being attributed entirely to global warming, however, this is unlikely the case. There is no way that global warming could have such a profound effect in comparison to last year.
This is not to say that global warming is not a problem. It definitely is a big issue that must be dealt with for the planet's future. As a big source of global warming is due to carbon dioxide production the planting of trees which convert this gas to oxygen is definitely a good option. Ideally, halting the use of fossil fuels and other polluting sources of energy would solve or at least ease the problem, however, this solution is unrealistic. Conscious efforts to reduce wasteful energy expenditure are key to at least slowing the problem. Carpooling, biking and public transportation represent good starts. A move towards nuclear power seems inevitable but will eventually leave us with the problem of disposing the nuclear waste.

As for the emissions created from farmed cattle, this is something that isn't exactly removable because we aren't about to go slaughter however many bovines roam our planet.

If every person does just a little bit to improve their environmental friendliness, through recyclying or conserving energy, as a collective this will be a significant step towards improving our world....Show more