To the rescue, at last, comes the Union of Concerned Scientists, with a book called The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices . It takes a comprehensive look at the many ecological impacts of the stuff we put through our lives, including the stuff it takes to make the stuff. In a surprisingly understandable appendix, it explains its calculations and data sources. Finally it sorts out the consumer choices that really make a difference. The book is full of interesting details.
Refrigerators are the biggest energy users among household appliances.
I could go on with the factoids, and I'd like to tell you about the chapter on what the government can do, but there's only room here to get to the bottom line. Here are the top things the UCS book says consumers can do to help the environment. Choose a place to live that reduces your need to drive. Think twice before buying a second car. Not only will that save the pollution involved in making the second car, but it will also force more thoughtful, shared use of the first one.