One Small Step: Mall Monitor

"My background is in market research at DaimlerChrysler. When I retired, I finally had more time to learn about environmental issues. Heating costs have been going up, and I read in the newspapers that you should save energy at home by setting your thermostat at 68 degrees. But when I was shopping with my daughter in the mall, I noticed that it was very warm in there, so I decided to bring a thermometer with me next time. I measured the different temperatures in all the open areas, and it was 72 or 73 degrees--and this is in Michigan, where people are walking around in their winter coats!

"So I contacted the mall manager, and he promised to look into it. Later, at Lowe's, I decided to go right to the top. I sent a letter to the CEO suggesting they lower the temperature in the winter and use energy-saving compact fluorescent lightbulbs. They called me back and said that they set the temperature from the headquarters in North Carolina and that they would lower it to 68 degrees! I'm also working on Home Depot. I calculated that with 600 60-watt lamps on display in each store's lighting department, they could save $10,000 and 100 tons of CO2 per store annually by changing their lightbulbs.

"People say, 'Global warming is like the weather--you can't do anything about it.' But that's not true. Here we burn natural gas for heat, so it reduces our pollution if we keep our homes cooler in the winter. Check your offices, churches, schools, and stores. Contact whoever is in charge to show them they can save money and help the environment.

"My family thinks I'm a little wacky at times, sneaking around with thermometers, but they're supportive because they see that it works--a lot of the stores have responded."