If just getting information about the harmful effects of a bad habit were enough to motivate change, we would never smoke, eat junk-food or waste energy. But we need something more.

Acterra, a nonprofit organization serving San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, encourages individuals to take action in decreasing their carbon footprint. Their program, Green@Home, trains volunteers to help residents evaluate their energy consumption.

Citizens will be more likely to change if they have specific easy steps, measurable results, incentives and peer support, Debbie Mytels, an Acterra program director, explained at a workshop Wednesday at the East Palo Alto Public Library.

Created in 2008, Acterra guides families to make their homes more energy efficient by installing energy-saving  appliances and educating citizens about how to improve home energy use.

“We send volunteers to peoples' houses and give them free light bulbs, measure the temperature of their refrigerator and water heaters and go through the energy-saving checklist with them,” Mytels said. “When you go though our checklist, you can see just how much money you save by becoming more energy efficient.”

A Green@home consultation is free for residents living in Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Redwood City, Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Cupertino. Residents can schedule a visit from Acterra at greenathometraining@acterra.org.

Why should you care?

• Going green gives you more green: You will save on utility bills.
• You like going outside: More energy use contributes to global warming and climate change, which leads to a rise in sea level, polluted air, droughts, reduced Sierra snow pack and wildfires.

What should you do? Acterra suggests the following to "green" your home:

•  A bright idea: Instead of using a regular 100-watt bulb, use a brighter and more efficient 26-watt florescent bulb.
• Turn it down: Lower the temperature of your thermostat and water heater. You do not need to heat an empty house during the day.
• Beef is bad: Switching from a meat-based to a plant-based diet saves you more than 50 percent of carbon emissions than does switching from an SUV  to a Prius. Try not eating meat one day a week.
• Car care: A tuned-up engine and fully inflated tires use less fuel.
• Every drop counts: Install low-flush toilets and check faucets for leaks.
• Go for the Kill: Buy a Kill-A-Watt meter, which shows how much energy each appliance in your house uses.
• Get educated: Contact your energy company to learn about your  energy consumption. If you are using more energy than the average home, you are most likely paying a higher price, because energy companies charge in tiers based on how much energy you use.

Interested in attending an Acterra event? There will be a presentation about a new approach to affordable solar electricity on Jan 31. from 7-9 p.m. It's at Acterra's Conference Room Peninsula Conservation Center, 3921 East Bayshore Rd., Palo Alto.