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This chapter is all about organizing your thoughts and wishes about what you can do to affect positive environmental change.
Use these checklists. You should refer to them often to help you decide what you can do. From the large and the small efforts, they all serve the same purpose - you help to reduce carbon emissions, reduce the ever-growing landfill masses, and save the Earth's resources. Remember: Every little bit helps.
Water
Kitchen
| Use a bowl to clean fruits and vegetables. |
| Never leave your faucet running. |
| Avoid using the dishwasher and use a washtub to wash dishes by hand. |
| If you use a dishwasher, only run full loads. |
| If you must use your dishwasher, buy an energy-efficient model. |
| Start a compost pile instead of using your garbage disposal. |
| Use leftover water to give to your plants. |
| Don't use running water to thaw meats; thaw them in the fridge overnight, or in a bowl of cold water on the sink. |
| Instead of running the tap each time you want a glass of water, store water in a container in the fridge. |
| Fit a spray nozzle into your kitchen faucet and save several hundreds of gallons of water a year. |
Bathroom
| Fix all leaks. (If you have a leak that is leaking at the rate of a drop a second, you are losing 2,700 gallons of water a year.) |
| Take showers instead of baths. |
| Turn the tap off when you brush your teeth. |
| Don't flush every single time you urinate. Flush every third or fourth time and save up to 5 gallons each time you don't flush (depending on the age of your toilet). |
| Take short showers, even turning the water off when you soap up and shampoo your hair and then turn the water back on to rinse. |
| Get a low-flow showerhead. |
| Take the water you run while waiting for it to get hot and use it water plants. |
| If your toilet is old, use a "displacement" device to reduce the amount of water you use with each flush. |
| If you can, replace your old toilets with new, low-flow ones which save up to 4 gallons with each flush. |
| Consider buying a composting toilet. |
| Attach a low-flow regulator to your shower head. |
| Insulate your water pipes so your water will heat up faster in the winter, causing you to use less water before it gets warm. |
Garden
| Save rainwater in barrels to water your plants. |
| Avoid using hoses or sprinklers hooked up to a hose. Use drip irrigation or a sprinkler system. |
| Add drought-resistant plants so you use less water in your garden. |
| Never water in the heat of the day. Water your garden in the morning or evening to prevent evaporation. |
| For small plants, use a watering can and pay attention to how much water you are using. |
| Water only plants that need watering. Some might and some might not; pay attention and water only when needed. |
| If you use a hose in the garden, add a trigger nozzle to it so you can control the amount of water use. |
| Don't water if it's going to rain. Always check the weather forecast before watering. |
| If it's windy, avoid watering your garden. Wind increases evaporation and all your watering efforts will be pointless. |
| Don't water the plant - water the base of the plant so the water goes directly where it needs to be. |
| Water your plants occasionally but very well, rather than often but very little, which encourages shallow rooting. Using this method will keep your plants more drought resistant. |
| Choose plants that like dry, hot conditions - think of lavender, rock rose, thyme, and evening primrose. |
| Let your grass grow long - cutting it often encourages growth. |
| When you mow your lawn, leave the clippings on top of it. It will not only reduce moisture loss, but provide valuable nutrients to your grass as well. |
| Insulate your outside pipes and taps in the winter to reduce the chance they will freeze and burst. |
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