By National Geographic

Can one person in seven billion make a difference? Despite the furor over government reports and international conferences, climate change is a problem of personal consumption. Swiss scientists say humanity could limit the effects if each person used just 2,000 watts of power a year. The average American consumes 12,000. A Bangladeshi uses 300. The challenge is conscientious reduction in the West, writes Naomi Klein in This Changes Everything. Lifestyle choices, such as traveling less plus better regulation and technologies will help the numbers drop.

TINY HOUSE FOOTPRINT
Since 1973 the average U.S. home has ballooned by 60 percent to 2,657 square feet. A warmer world may favor a reverse trend. Jay Shafer (at left in photo), the California pioneer of living in tiny houses, built a lifestyle in 96 square feet (layout provided)-and helped others build pint-size homes. Developers in New York City and San Francisco have created the urban equivalent: micro-apartments.

EFFICIENT LIVING
Shrinking your space doesn’t mean shrinking your life. Downsizing, experts say, can bring both psychological and financial benefits. Start by getting rid of clutter. End with lower utility bills, less space to clean, and more time outdoors.

With the cost of living continuing to rise, it is no surprise that more and more people are looking for new and innovative ways to save money. For example, quite often one of the simplest ways to save money is by switching energy provider. Quite often this can also have environmental benefits if the newfound supplier is committed to renewable energy. Green Mountain plans are popular for this very reason. To learn more about renewable energy and changing your power provider, head to the Home Energy Club website.