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It's easier than you think to get your family to go green—and it can cost very little, if nothing at all. Karen and Michael Dunne of Colorado have turned their family "green," and are making a difference.

"I first became interested in going green when I read an article that said the world supply of seafood could collapse by 2048." Karen says. "I thought, 'How is this possible? This is in my lifetime.'

"Once we began looking at how we live, we began making small changes that anyone can do."

Transportation
  • Michael says he used to drive four days a week and take the train maybe once a week. Now he takes the train two or three times a week or more to cut down on carbon emissions.
  • The Dunnes even tackle energy saving with their garage—rather than opening and closing the garage door all day, once the car is out in the morning, it stays out until the end of the day!
  • A hybrid vehicle is in Karen and Michael's future. Until they can afford one, they use their most energy efficient car as much as possible.
Water
  • To cut down on the amount of dishwasher water usage, the Dunnes have their children choose a different colored water glass for the day, which they use for the whole day.
  • The average American can use up to 25 gallons of water per shower. Karen says she put a timer in her shower so she's in and out in less than five minutes!
Energy at Home
  • The Dunnes have begun paying attention to how many lights they are using, so they can be more energy efficient. They've even moved furniture to take advantage of natural light.
  • Karen recommends cleaning the lint out of the dryer after every use. The Dunnes reduce their energy use by up to 30 percent per load by doing this.

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