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What you can do to ease global warming

Join PaloAltoGreen. Visit www.cpau.com/programs/green/gindex.html.

Switch to energy efficient appliances and take advantage of city-sponsored Smart Energy Program rebates for refrigerators, dishwashers, furnaces, boilers, air conditioners, insulation and more. Visit www.cpau.com/programs/smtenergy/smtindex.html.

Contribute to the urban forest by planting trees. Trees reduce carbon-dioxide emissions. Also,one large street tree has the cooling power of 10 air conditioners operating 20 hours per day. Visit Canopy at www.canopy.org.

Join the Cool It! Campaign and use the Cool It! personal carbon-dioxide emissions calculator to learn how to reduce emissions and purchase renewable-energy certificates (green tags) to offset your emissions. Visit www.acterra.org.

Recycle. Visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/zerowaste/ to learn more about the city's solid-waste diversion plan.

Build green. Remodel your home using green upgrades. Calculate your home's green report card by using the Architectural Review Board's Green Points rating system. Visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/planning-community/arb_index.html.

Don't drive. Walk, bike or use public transportation, such as the Palo Alto Free Shuttle, or Stanford's Marguerite. If you're shopping for a car, purchase a hybrid vehicle. Visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/transportation-division/shuttle-index.html.

Got tips to share about how to help the environment? Post them at Town Square on Palo Alto Online, www.PaloAltoOnline.com.