ENVIRONMENT

“Making small changes in your everyday life can make a big difference. I'm trying to conserve water. How can you green your routine?” – Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU

What You Should Know...

Greening Your Routine is Simple

Going green is about improving quality of life through green living. Greening your routine starts with adopting one simple everyday action that is good for you and good for the environment. Discover how great it feels to do a little green – while joining others to do a world of good.

Choose one thing you can get passionate about – that makes you happy, and makes your life more sustainable. What makes an action more sustainable? When it positively affects you, your family and community, your workplace and your planet. Studies show that once you’ve incorporated your action into your routine for one month, chances are, you’ll stick with it for life.

There are many things you can do to help the environment. We invite you to adopt a simple green practice for a period of 30 days. Choose one thing that inspires you and makes sense in your life. Make sure that you can easily incorporate your choice into your daily routine. Measure your progress to see how your actions add up to big impact. The satisfaction from tracking success will encourage you to stick with your green routine and pass it on to family and friends.

What You Can Do...

Whether you’re at work, at home, at the store, or on the go, daily habits and simply being environmentally-conscious can go a long way towards conserving natural resources, decreasing unnecessary waste and fundamentally protecting the world we live in.

AT HOME

Wash laundry in cold water
Dry clothes on a line rather than in the dryer
Turn off the water while brushing teeth
Use environmentally friendly soaps and cleaners
Install a low-flow showerhead or toilet
Use only a pencil-width flow of water at the sink
Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)
Insulate your walls and ceilings to keep air from escaping your home
Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner
Move the temperature on your thermostat down two degrees in the winter and up two degrees in the summer
Unplug electronics in standby mode
Save waste by removing yourself from junk mailing lists
Pay bills online
Go outside to exercise
Plant a tree
Get the family involved and host a yard sale to get rid of surplus goods

AT WORK

Take the stairs instead of the elevator
Use recycled paper
Print reports and memos on both sides of the page
Use reusable mugs for the water cooler and your morning coffee
Ship packages in reusable cardboard boxes and make packing material out of shredded waste paper
Get in the habit of shutting down and unplugging your computer at the end of the day

AT THE STORE

Plan shopping lists to avoid multiple trips to the store
Look for food that is fresh, organic or locally grown
Buy bulk for your family at the supermarket
Purchase a reusable water bottle
Carry reusable shopping bags
Buy eco-friendly gifts
Give presents in reusable gifts bags
Purchase Energy Star appliances
Buy vintage or organic cotton clothing

IN TRANSIT

Drive less - try walking, biking, rollerblading, mass transit or carpooling with a friend
Lighten your load - take only what you need in your car's trunk to increase fuel efficiency
Consider rolling down the windows instead of using the air conditioner
Use windshield shades to keep your car cool in the summer and keep frost away in the winter
When in the market for a new car, choose the most fuel-efficient model that fits your budget and lifestyle
Keep tires properly inflated and get a regular car tune up
Check into your community's car sharing organization