Those of us that are fond of the comic strip the “Far Side" will remember the cartoon where a dinosaur is standing at a lectern before a group of other dinosaurs. He says: "The picture's pretty bleak, gentlemen. The world's climates are changing, the mammals are taking over, and we all have a brain about the size of a walnut."

Whether it was a meteor or some other long range cause, whatever the reason for the demise of the dinosaurs, it really all boils down to this: the dinosaurs died off because they couldn't adjust to new realities. And the same holds true to the challenges we now face with global climate change.

Climate change does confront us with profound new realities. And with homes and buildings accounting for 43 percent of the country's carbon dioxide emissions, what can we do right now, right here in Charlotte, with your own home, to make reduce global warming?

BUY EFFICIENT PRODUCTS

One of the best ways to cut costs and reduce household emissions is to buy energy efficient appliances. Look for Energy Star-qualified products in more than 40 product categories, including lighting, window film, home electronics, heating and cooling equipment and appliances. Some Energy Star appliances do have a higher upfront cost, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says the electricity savings over the life of the product typically offset the premium. According to the EPA, a home that uses only Energy Star products will use 30 percent less energy than a home equipped with traditional products.

TALK TO YOUR LOCAL UTILITIES

Locally, the two big utilities are Piedmont Natural Gas and Duke Energy. In many cities, utilities offer a variety of energy efficiency programs including free or low cost home audits to determine energy efficiency, as well as rebates for appliances that meet certain energy-efficient criteria. Check with your local utility for more details.

North Carolina is among a growing number of states -- but the first in the Southeast -- to tackle climate change instead of waiting for federal greenhouse-gas limits that are widely expected in the future. Pending legislation helps to make an impact. A 1 percent increase in power bills could establish a state fund to finance energy-efficiency efforts.

CHANGE YOUR LIGHTBULBS

In an average home, traditional incandescent lightbulbs account for over 12 percent of household greenhouse gas emmissions. Standard incandescent bulbs waste 95 percent of the energy going into the bulb as heat coming off the fixture. A compact fluorescent bulb can cut your lighting costs by 75 percent compared to a standard incandescent light bulb. With less heat, they also help lower your air conditioning costs.

LOWER YOUR THERMOSTAT

Industry experts say that 68 degrees is the lowest indoor air temperature that most people find comfortable. For each degree you lower your thermostat, you will save 3 percent in heating costs, according to the Edison Electric Institute. Installing a programmable thermostat enables you to raise or lower the temperature settings so that the heating and cooling equipment are not running needlessly.

TURN DOWN THE TEMPERATURE ON YOUR WATER HEATER

For most homes, turning down the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees, can lower your utility bill and reduce energy consumption. Another water saving tip: wash your clothes in the coolest water possible. About 80 percent of the energy used for your clothes washer comes from heating the water.

KEEP FIREPLACE DAMPERS CLOSED

An open or poorly sealed chimney can draw your homes warm air up the chimney even when the fireplace isn’t being used.

HAVE YOUR FURNACE MANTAINED ANNUALLY Whether you live in a condo or a suburban home, chances are your home is heated and cooled by a modern HVAC system. By having regular tune ups, changing filters and cleaning dirty air vents, your HVAC system will not have to work as hard. This can save energy and increase comfort at home, and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When it's time to replace your old equipment, choose a high efficiency model, and make sure it is properly sized and installed.

KEEP THE CURTAINS ON SOUTH FACING WINDOWS OPEN IN WINTER AND CLOSED IN THE SUMMER

Letting the light in during the winter months will not only keep your house warm, it will help brighten a rather dreary time of year. In contrast, in the summer, blocking the sun’s rays will help keep your home cooler. In both cases, you’ll be able to stay comfortable and reduce the energy used to heat or cool your home.

SEAL UP YOUR HOME WITH BETTER INSULATION AND DUCT WORK

Close up any visible cracks and gaps in your house, install adequate insulation, check that ducts are sealed and choose ENERGY STAR qualified windows when replacing old windows. Not sure where the cracks and gaps are? A home energy auditor can also help to identify areas with poor insulation and evaluate the energy efficiency of your home. By taking these steps, you can save energy that would otherwise be wasted.

REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE

The Charlotte area has a wonderful recycling program to recycle household waste such as newspapers, beverage containers, paper and other goods. Use products in containers that can be recycled and items that can be repaired or reused. In addition, support recycling markets by buying products made from recycled materials. Reducing, reusing, and recycling in your home helps conserve energy and reduces pollution and greenhouse gases from resource extraction, manufacturing, and disposal.

BE GREEN IN YOUR YARD

Skip the YMCA on Saturday and use a reel to reel mower to cut your grass. Unlike a gas or electric mower, a push mower consumes no fossil fuels and emits no greenhouse gases. If you do use a power mower, make sure it is a mulching mower to reduce grass clippings. Composting your food and yard waste reduces the amount of garbage that you send to landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

USE WATER WISELY

Everyone can save water through simple actions. Municipal water systems require a lot of energy to purify and distribute water to households, and saving water, especially hot water, can lower greenhouse gas emissions. Do not let the water run while shaving or brushing teeth. Do not use your toilet as a waste basket for toiletry items - water is wasted with each flush. And did you know a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day? Repair all toilet and faucet leaks right away.

TURN OFF UNNECESSARY ELECTRONICS

Electronics use energy even when idle or on stand-by. To save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, always activate the power management features on your computer and monitor, unplug laptop power cords when not in use and turn off equipment and lights at the end of the day in your home office. Consider using a power strip that can turn off everything from a router to a monitor in one simple motion.

SPREAD THE WORD

Tell family and friends that energy efficiency is good for their homes and good for the environment because it lowers greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Tell five people and together we can help our homes help us all. Making a few small changes in your home and yard can lead to big reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, increase the nation's energy independence and save money.