By SkySite Property staff

National businesses, retailers, non-profits and cities are setting out to fight climate change—Together.

“Together” teams up giants like Target, Dell and Timberland to promote easy ways for consumers to reduce carbon footprints.

The Climate Group, an international environmental organization, launched the Together initiative last year in the United Kingdom, where it saved consumers more than $200 million on energy bills and reduced carbon emissions by 522,000 tons. Organizers plan to introduce Together to China, Australia and India in the future.

As part of its involvement, Target plans to carry more than 10 Together products — including the Honeywell programmable thermostat that automatically adjusts your home’s temperature, which could lead to savings of $150 a year. The retailer also began distributing reusable shopping bags and energy-efficient light bulbs, giving away 15,000 of the bags and $2 coupons for the light bulbs in celebration of the initiative’s launch.

As part of Dell’s commitment to Together, the company offers a recycling program for responsible disposal of computers, monitors and printers. The computer maker recycled more than 100 million pounds of equipment in 2007. Dell also allows individuals to donate the planting of a tree or even a forest — Dell purchase not necessary — to offset carbon emissions related to use of computer products.

Nestle Waters is doing its part by giving its bottles a makeover by giving them a more eco-friendly shape that uses less plastic. The move has reduced the company’s carbon emissions by 8 percent, said president Kim Jeffrey.

After joining Together.com and adopting solutions — anything from recycling plastic bottles to switching to paperless bank statements — users can view the Togetherizer, the site’s online meter that calculates the impact of the initiative’s solutions on the environment, including emissions savings.