Cooler Smarter
20/20: 20 days. 20 ways. 20% less carbon.
We know you're already pretty cool and smart. But we can help you get even cooler and smarter. Your path to reducing your global warming emissions by 20 percent in just 20 days starts here. It's easy and fun, we promise.
Step 1: Tell us a bit about yourself.
We've got a few simple questions in just three categories. Choose the answer that best matches your circumstances and habits. Be honest, now.
On the go:
My vehicle has...
- Enough cargo space that friends often ask me to help when they move.
- Logged a ton of miles but keeps on chugging.
- All the standards: A/C, stereo and enough room in the trunk for a weekend getaway.
- A fancy electronic readout about my fuel consumption.
- Pedals and handlebars.
- A conductor so I can read or game as I'm on the go.
My frequent flyer miles...
- Accumulate quickly from business trips, allowing me to take lots of nice vacations.
- Accumulate slowly through the occasional family vacation, but not fast enough.
- Don't exist because I don't fly nearly enough to use them.
I spend most of my time in the car...
- Listening to tunes or an audiobook on my long solo drive to and from work.
- Running errands or shuttling the kids around.
- Talking to the neighbor I commute with.
- I'm rarely in a car because I take public transportation, bike, or walk on most of my trips.
In my free time, you can often find me...
- Working in my garden and tending to my lawn.
- Lying on a beach or teeing it up on the golf course.
- Playing in the snow or reading a book by the fireplace.
- Playing video games or watching the latest blockbuster.
- Enjoying a book on my e-reader.
Step 1: Tell us a bit about yourself.
We've got a few simple questions in just three categories. Choose the answer that best matches your circumstances and habits. Be honest, now.
Consumption junction:
When shopping, I tend toward...
- The latest thing. I like all the newest gadgets and try to keep up to date.
- Vintage and retro items. I like the classics and find beauty in older things.
- Anything labeled organic, natural, or green — I'm always looking for things that are good for me AND the planet.
- The basics, I might splurge on occasion, but for the most part I have simple needs.
When I go to quench my thirst...
- I'm greeted by the hiss of escaping air as I pop the tab on a soda or open some sparkling water.
- I try to get some extra vitamins in with bottled juice.
- A bottle of spring water is never far away.
- I turn on the tap.
When I shop for food, I love to...
- Load up on soda and beer to keep my spare fridge stocked.
- Buy only local and organic produce whenever possible.
- Buy fresh berries, tropical fruit, and cut flowers for the table.
- Maximize convenience with ready-made meals that are quick and easy.
When I'm hungry, I'm most likely to...
- Fire up the grill for some tasty cheeseburgers.
- Cook up a veggie stir fry.
- Pop a frozen dinner in the oven.
Step 1: Tell us a bit about yourself.
We've got a few simple questions in just three categories. Choose the answer that best matches your circumstances and habits. Be honest, now.
Home sweet home:
If my home was an oil painting, it would be...
- An Old Master—a classic, even if it could use some restoration.
- A new work by an up-and-coming artist or a modern take on a timeless classic.
- An unfinished work in progress—it will be great after a lot of changes and improvements I want to make.
- A work on loan. I'm enjoying it now but it will have to go back to its owners when the lease ends.
When I'm at home and it's cold out...
- I crank the dial on the thermostat to keep warm.
- My thermostat automatically kicks in for all the hours I'm home and awake.
- I'm stuck dealing with whatever temperature my landlord has set for the building.
- It rarely gets cold where I live. I'm more likely to need the A/C.
When it comes to my electricity usage, I...
- Flip the switch and don't think much about it.
- Turn off lights whenever I leave the room and often even unplug the microwave to save energy.
- Swapped out my incandescent bulbs long ago.
- Know where my electricity comes from and even keep track of my state's renewable energy standards.
When it comes to my appliances...
- I hate to buy new ones when the old ones work fine.
- My furnace was installed back when "Disco Inferno" was heating up the charts.
- I have a second refrigerator/freezer so I'm always well stocked.
- My house is a constellation of "Energy Stars."
Step 2: Choose your path to 20 percent.
Step 3: Get your FREE sticker.
Fill out the form below and we'll send you a sticker to help you start spreading the word (and letting everyone know you just got 20 percent cooler).
Step 4: Thanks, your sticker is on its way!
You're already cooler and smarter for taking the 20/20/20 challenge and doing your part to reduce your carbon footprint.
Scaling it up...
Think small changes can't make a big impact on carbon emissions? Think again — here's how the world would look if 20 people, 20,000 people, 20 million people, or the entire U.S. population was just a little cooler and smarter:
Want to make your friends and family cooler and smarter?
Share the 20/20/20 challenge with 20 people — friends, family, neighbors, classmates, and coworkers — to help them find the best ways they can reduce their footprint and save money too.
