1. Reduce Traffic and Air Pollution: Carpool, take public transportation, and organize bike-to-school or walk-to-school groups
Driving alone creates more air pollution, carbon emissions and traffic congestion than using public transportation and carpooling. Some communities are organizing successful bike-to-school and walk-to-school groups, which besides being fun, help keep children and group leaders more fit.
2. Save Energy: Install a thermostat timer, use Energy Star appliances and compact florescent bulbs, and wash clothes in cool water.
Home energy use accounts for the largest percentage of the average American’s energy consumption. That’s why this is the best category for saving money. More info can be found at the US EPA’s website for Energy Star and the US Department of Energy’s site for saving energy at home.
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3. Save Gas: Inflate car tires properly for improved gas mileage; get regular tune ups and avoid idling for more than 30 seconds.
Driving less is the best way to cut automotive expenses, but you can also drive smarter. By keeping tires inflated you can save 3-5 percent on regular fuel costs, while getting frequent engine tune-ups can save you even more on fuel in the long run. Unless you are warming up a car on cold days, don’t idle your car for more than 30 seconds, as this wastes gas compared to shutting off the engine and restarting it when you’re ready to go.
4. Save Resources, Reduce Pollution: Bring a travel mug to your local coffee shop or a shopping bag to the grocery store. Reuse plastic and paper bags.
Because producing paper and plastic bags or paper coffee cups takes significant energy and water, the answer to “Paper or Plastic?” is neither! Bring your own reusable bag for groceries, and use a reusable travel mug for coffee. Many coffee shops offer a discount for bring-your-owns, and supermarkets are doing the same for those that bring a canvas tote bag for groceries. Check out this recent book, which explains why “neither” is the best answer to “Paper or Plastic?”
5. Save Water: Use a dishwasher instead of hand washing; use large loads for dishwasher and clothes washers
Home water use has major impacts on energy use, and is becoming a residential expense in parts of the nation, particularly in the West and Southwest. No matter where you are, if your community does not meter your water use and charge by the amount you use, it might soon do so. Smart water usage can save money and precious natural resources. Using a dishwasher with large loads saves significant water and energy from hand-washing dishes, and so does using large loads in the washing machine instead of using many small loads. Drip irrigation systems on automatic timers are another way to save lots of water that is otherwise used unnecessarily for landscaping.
6. Use the Power of Your Green: Avoid over-packaged products and disposable goods, when possible, buy in-season food produced in your region, and buy in bulk.
Packaging and transportation use great amounts of energy. Reduced packaging means not only cutting down on pollution, but it means saving energy required to make and dispose of the packaging. Buying from farmers markets, farmstands, community supported agriculture and from local food producers cuts down on packaging and “food miles” while keeping your regional economy strong. Local Harvest provides information on where local food is available throughout the United States in stores, restaurants and markets.
7. Garden Green: Use drought-tolerant plants and avoid pesticides
Native and drought-tolerant plants not only save you water, they can save you time and the expense of using pesticides and insecticides. Native plants—including lawn varieties designed for your climate––are usually better adapted for local conditions and pests than so-called “exotics”.
8. Spare the Air: Reduce your peak time (1-6 p.m.) energy use during heat waves and drive less on high air pollution days.
Energy costs can be as much as four times as high during peak hours in the summer than they are during non-peak hours. Recent heat waves in the United States have put large regions in danger of black outs because of record electricity demand. Because of the need to conserve by time of day, some utilities are offering savings for those that cut back on energy usage during peak time, generally around 1 to 6 p.m., during summer heat waves. So try to wash dishes and do laundry after 9 or 10 p.m. on those peak demand days.
9. Get Local: Contact your local government leaders and find what is being done to ‘green’ your community.
Many communities, from large cities to small towns, have taken steps to get green in terms of local policies, projects and ways of operating. Contact your local leaders to find out if they have sustainability or environmental management offices. If your community does not have these positions, mayors and other local officials are now appointing people to supervise everything from climate change policies and green building standards to the use of biodiesel fuel in public buses and renewable energy. Do you want to find out about who’s leading the way in your community? Write SustainLane Government at fignrftom and let us help you find out.
10. Learn Who's Green and Why: Find out what other communities have done to be green.
SustainLane Government is a knowledge base and newsletter for state and local government official best practices in sustainability. SustainLane Government also has an overview of the results of the SustainLane US City Rankings, covering the largest 50 cities in the US.
