Small changes in one’s routine can greatly reduce overall environmental impact. Start by calculating your carbon footprint. Your kids can join in on the fun, too!
Then, think about what you can do to reduce your impact. Perhaps you can:
Turn off and unplug appliances and electronic equipment when they are not in use; this is easy to do with a power strip. Energy is still used when an electronic is plugged in while off.
Utilize LED light bulbs; be sure to turn them off when they are not being used.
Don’t let water run; turn it off when brushing your teeth or while shampooing your hair.
Use cold water to wash clothes, and line dry items instead of using a dryer.
Collect rainwater and reuse it to water plants.
Sign up for electronic communications instead of mailers, when possible.
Use cloths instead of paper towels. You can even make your own rags from old clothing.
Shorten your showers.
Find another home for unwanted items- donate or recycle them instead of throwing them out.
Utilize rechargeable batteries.
Reuse paper items (newspaper, magazines, etc.) to wrap gifts.
Give items a new life by purchasing things used instead of new.
Buy in bulk to reduce packaging.
Print double sided.
Carpool when possible.
Walk, bike, or use pubic transportation.
Bring your own reusable items (mugs to the coffee shop, bags to the grocery store, food storage container to restaurants).
For more information on these topics, please click here.