Climate change is already affecting our lives and the places we live, and has the potential to dramatically impact the lives of future generations. While the science is complex, everyone should know the basics: the Earth is heating up as gases from vehicles, power plants, deforestation and other sources build up in the atmosphere, acting like a thick blanket over our planet. Around the globe, seasons are shifting, temperatures are climbing, sea levels are rising and storms are becoming stronger.

With nearly 1,200 miles of shoreline and 75% of the population living in coastal communities, low-lying Florida is especially vulnerable to these effects.

With simple changes at home, we can all do our part to reduce global warming. Even small changes can have a big impact. Use these tips to turn down the heat and keep Tampa Bay healthy:

Change a light.
CFLs – or compact fluorescent lighting – are more expensive to buy but they use about 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer. In most cases, you can save about $30 over the life of a bulb. They also produce about 75% less heat, so you save on air-conditioning costs as well. If every household in the U.S. replaced five conventional light bulbs with CFLs, it would prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions from nearly 10 million cars.

Adjust your thermostat.
Cooling and heating make up about half of a home’s energy use. Turning down the heat or air conditioning even by as little one or two degrees can yield big savings. Simple steps like cleaning air filters regularly also save energy and increase comfort at home.

Upgrade appliances.
When it’s time to replace old appliances, choose higher-efficiency models that meet EPA Energy Star guidelines. Energy Star ratings are available for products in various categories, from refrigerators and dishwashers to air conditioners and lighting. Older ACs have SEERs (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratios) of 6 to 10, while new models may be rated 14-18 or higher and operate up to 60% more efficiently.

Seal and insulate your home.
Sealing air leaks and adding insulation in the attic can produce cool savings when Florida summers send temperatures and utility bills soaring. Consider replacing old windows with energy-efficient double- or triple-pane windows that slash energy bills by improving thermal insulation. Contact your utility about free home energy audits that can help you identify cost-saving measures.

Give your car a break.
In the U.S. automobiles produce over 20% of carbon emissions. For every mile you travel, walking or biking saves one pound of carbon, not to mention the health perks you’ll accrue. Combine errands and carpool, use mass transit or telecommute whenever possible.

Inflate your tires.
Cars with properly inflated tires burn less gas and emit less carbon. Check your automobile monthly to make sure that tires are fully inflated and save 300 pounds of carbon for every 10,000 miles you drive.

Plant a tree (or two).
While a single tree may absorb up to a ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime, one of its most important functions at home may be reducing the need for air-conditioning – saving an estimated 600-900 pounds of CO2 annually. With strategically planted trees, temperatures around AC units can drop six to eight degrees, resulting in an estimated 10% savings on the energy you burn to stay cool.

Break the bottle habit.
Ease up on purchases of bottled water and try carrying a refillable water bottle instead. Manufacturing the 30-plus billion plastic water bottles purchased in 2006 required the equivalent of more than 17 million barrels of oil (enough to fuel more than one million vehicles for a year), produced more than 2.5 million tons of CO2, and used three times the amount of water in the bottle. And those figures don’t take into account the environmental impacts of transporting those bottles or the fact that 8 out of 10 end up in landfills.

Reduce, reuse, recycle.
The old mantra is as fresh as ever. Reduce throwaway packaging by buying in bulk, reuse plastic and glass containers, and recycle what you can. Reduce your carbon footprint further by purchasing products made from recycled materials, which require less energy to produce.

Pay bills online.
Savings can add up quickly when paper mountains are cut down to size. According to the PayItGreen Alliance, if 20% of households make the switch to electronic billing, it would save 2 million tons of greenhouse gases annually and 103 million gallons of fuel.