I recently received a notice from my local utility company comparing my energy usage with that of my neighbors. According to this home energy report, I used 61 percent less energy than 99 of my neighbors, and I received a double smiley face on my report. You might think that would warm my green heart, but really, it shows how inefficient most of our homes are.

I'm not making an effort to be more energy-efficient than my neighbors. I am just more conscious of energy use and do a few things most people don't, such as weatherizing windows, using the breeze instead of air conditioning and drying my clothes on a clothesline whenever possible. By doing a few simple things such as those, I save $1,784 from my yearly bill, according to my utility company.

Imagine what you could save if you really made an effort. Many mayors in New York signed a "Climate Smart Communities" pledge to reduce their municipal carbon footprint. Walden Mayor Brian Maher did just that and committed his village to take the Alliance for Climate Action's 10 Percent Challenge, which was issued by Sustainable Hudson Valley. This means that the village government will try to measure and reduce its energy usage by 10 percent and get 10 percent of local households to do the same.

Walden joins several other municipalities in Orange County, N.Y., willing to adopt simple efficiency measures to use tax dollars more wisely. By successfully measuring and reducing energy expenses, these municipalities are reducing tax dollars spent on energy by 10 percent, and residents who participate are lowering their monthly energy bills by 10 percent, saving money all around.

"Cutting our energy footprint 10 percent is an invitation to creatively redesign our lifestyles, work routines and communities. And the real transformation is in getting 10 percent of our people involved and developing energy-savvy local leadership for the future. Yes, we need energy, and yes, many people are motivated by convenience. But it is human nature to rise to a challenge that is properly offered," notes Sustainable Hudson Valley.

Here are some suggestions for implementing the 10 Percent Challenge in your community:

—Make a plan. Assess your current greenhouse gas emissions and opportunities for environmental improvement that get people involved and create economic opportunity.

—Signature outreach event. Invite participation through a half-day or evening event, with an intriguing format for large groups to engage in conversations that generate new ideas and build relationships for implementation.

—Commitments. Participate by making a public commitment and action plan. Commitments and progress are tracked on the website and publicized in the news media to build a compelling regional story.

—Toolkits. Use expert resources, such as "The Climate Challenge: 101 Solutions to Global Warming," by Guy Dauncey, the New York state Climate Smart Communities pledge and handbook, and the Empowerment Institute's "Low Carbon Diet" workbook.

—Imagery and imagination. This campaign asks people to close the gap between what they know and how they live, walking a path of improved performance.

—Leadership: What we are creating is a social movement — a person-to-person invitation to get involved in an effort that is energizing, satisfying and meaningful.

Can you cut your energy use by 10 percent? Can your co-workers and neighbors do the same? Can you help to spark a local movement that will get 10 percent of the people around you involved as leaders themselves? If you can, you are up to the 10 Percent Challenge.

Changing a few light bulbs may seem insignificant, but imagine living in the first community to do away with incandescent lighting by taking a stand and creating a plan that includes the 10 Percent Challenge.

"We're in a new economic era. We have growing resource constraints but lots of underemployed people," says J. Michael O'Hara, campaign manager for 10 Percent Challenge. "If we're going to achieve a turnaround, in economy and quality of life, we have to build upon our assets, and one of the greatest assets is the power of people who want to make a difference."

Get your local government involved, and cut 10 percent of your energy usage today to reduce your bills and curb climate change.

Shawn Dell Joyce is an award-winning columnist and founder of the Wallkill River School in Orange County, N.Y. You can contact her at [email protected]. To find out more about Shawn Dell Joyce and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.