Today, NASA released new data confirming what many of us have suspected ourselves: that last year was a really cold year -- as it turns out, 2008 was the coldest year in nearly a decade!

It almost seems as though those global warming skeptics might have been onto something.

In fact, 2008 was still top 10 warmest year since scientists have been collecting data (1880). Even more striking, the 10 warmest years have all occurred within the 12-year period from 1997-2008! Although natural/cosmic factors beyond our control have certainly given us a break this past year, it's clearly no time for complacency.

This news comes after the historic swearing-in of President Obama. I was happy to hear Obama promise to "restore science to its rightful place." I'm as hopeful as the next guy that the new administration will usher in sweeping changes on a whole host of issues, and certainly, the man has hit the ground running. But no one moreso than the President himself is well aware of the limitations of government, having spent his inaugural address to signal "a new era of responsibility."

So what now? Even in light of the coldest year since the new millenia, the threat of global warming continues to hang over our heads. If we've got El Nina and sun spots behind us on this, let's seize the opportunity to maximize global cooling.

You can green just about every aspect of your life (green your sex life?). Click here to view TreeHugger's guides to go green. Okay, some of those guides are a bit extreme. But, the good news is that unless you've been living under a rock, you already know how help global cooling.

* Bring reusable bags to the grocery store. Keep one in your car or even your purse, there's really no excuse not to use at least one.

* Drink tap at home, you already do in restaurants. Use a Brita filter if you need. If you can't stand that, buy water in bulk (gallons) and reuse that plastic water bottle (or Nalgene, Sigg, etc.).

* Keep your tires inflated, your car tuned, and your foot light. Speeding up to that red light isn't getting you anywhere fast. Get a fuel-efficient car when your current one dies. Better yet carpool, take public transportation, bike, skate, or walk.

* Turn down that thermostat (especially in sunny California). Turn off the lights. Use CFLs. Take quicker showers.

This list could go on forever though, so I'll cut it short. Because, really it just boils down to a familiar childhood lesson:

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

In that order, to the fullest. Cheers.