Business as usual is wreaking havoc on the Earth and causing a disruption in weather patterns. I know–you’re thinking, What can I do? I’m just one person. And I can’t make a difference. And even if I did do something, there’s still China, India, all those other people, etc., etc. etc.
NOT TRUE! It comes right down to each one of us and the choices we make in our daily lives. Remember that Margaret Mead quote?
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Lifestyle changes are now an absolute necessity to mitigate the effects of climate disruption. How could you be more environmentally conscious in the way you live, work, create and consume? Think about it. I know it’s hard to take those first few tentative steps, but when you do, it’ll be like a snowball rolling downhill.
Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Travel
- Take the no fly pledge
- Offset your carbon footprint with TerraPass
- Drive less
- Combine shopping trips in one trip
- Keep your car till it dies instead of upgrading every few years
- When your car has lived out its useful life, purchase or lease a hybrid or an electric car
- Walk or bike instead of driving whenever possible
Home and Garden
- Switch from oil heat and an air conditioning unit to geothermal heating and cooling
- Keep your thermostat at 68 in winter and 78 in summer
- Replace old windows with energy efficient windows
- Insulate walls, attic and basement
- Use the dryer for 10 minutes to soften clothes—finish drying on a rack
- Even better, hang clothes outside to dry
- Switch to LED light bulbs indoors and outdoors
- Use energy efficient appliances
- Install solar panels on your roof or in your yard
- Pay extra for wind energy if your house is not suitable for solar energy
- Use only non-toxic cleaning products
- Plant native plants and trees. They are necessary for healthy ecosystems and ecosystems regulate climate.
- Remove invasive plants
- Reduce the size of your lawn
- Compost all appropriate materials from your kitchen
- Use finished compost for veggie garden
Food
- Grow as many veggies as you can
- Buy most of your food from a farmer
- Shop at a Farmers Market
- Join a CSA
- Forgo processed food (it’s bad for you anyway)
- Cook meals from scratch
- Have potlucks with friends instead of going to a restaurant
Water
- Use 0.5 gpm faucet aerators and 1.5 gpm showerheads
- Use a travel mug instead of buying bottled water
- Do the wash in cold water
- Stop watering your lawn
- Better yet, replace your lawn with a veggie garden or native plants
- Purchase a whole house water filter that uses no electricity
- Mulch your garden with shredded leaves so you don’t have to water
- Install a dual flush toilet
Miscellaneous
- Shop thrift stores and consignment shops instead of buying new
- Even better, shop at the Media FreeStore
- Buy only what you absolutely need
- Join a Timebank
- Avoid malls
- Don’t replace anything until it’s totally worn out and not fixable
- Recycle, repurpose and reuse
- Swap items you no longer want with your friends and neighbors
- Use cloth bags instead of plastic bags
- Use cloth napkins and cloth handkerchiefs instead of paper and kleenex
- Go to the library instead of buying books
- Use recycled printer paper https://www.echopaperstore.com/
- Opt out of all junk mail, catalogs and magazines
- Send text messages instead of emails. Text messages use less energy
- Find a hairdresser within walking distance of your house
- Think about EVERYTHING you do—how will it affect the Earth?
- Write to your legislators. Keep on writing until they listen and take appropriate action.
Christmas
- Use less Christmas lights and make them LEDS
- Give food or herbs from your garden
- Give handmade gifts
- Decorate with greens and pine cones collected from Mother Nature
- Send ecards instead of paper Christmas cards
- Give tickets to concerts, plays, movies, sporting events
- Keep it simple
I wouldn’t suggest you make changes that I haven’t made myself, so I can tell you from experience that all of the above is completely doable. And if you have any other ideas, let me know! Leave a comment. I’m all ears.
Need support to get rolling? Go to transitiontownmedia.org Join our Inner Transition Group. Read Circle of Simplicity by Cecile Andrews. Read our biodiversity blog. Follow our Protecting Biodiversity FaceBook page. Or go to the NW Earth Institute web site.
