If you could get Americans to change one thing in their energy consumption, what would it be?
CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN: To help people understand that individual behavior has a cumulative impact–our actions matter.
If you leave water running when you brush your teeth, you waste between five and 10 gallons of water per day, depending on the length of brushing and speed of water flow. The amount of oil deposited along our coastlines from nonpoint source pollution (such as from when people pour oil onto the ground when they change their car oil) every eight months is equal to the amount of oil that spilled from the Exxon Valdez. Unplug chargers after charging devices, turn off water when it’s not needed–these seemingly little things can make a big impact.
Christine Todd Whitman was governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001 and administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from 2001 to 2003. She is currently president of Whitman Strategy Group, a consulting firm that specializes in helping companies find solutions to environmental challenges.
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