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Suggested list of (mostly) simple sustainability actions that can be taken by
individuals and/or institutions, from Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry
Professor Scott Hewitt, chair of the Academic Senate’s Ad Hoc Sustainability
Committee:
Transportation
Drive a car less: carpool, take the bus or train, walk, cycle
Plan your errands to minimize the miles driven
Buy a more fuel-efficient car, perhaps a hybrid
Keep the car’s tires properly inflated
Keep the car’s engine well tuned
Accelerate slowly to reduce fuel consumption
Park in the shade so air conditioning won’t be needed
Don’t let your car idle for more than one minute
Keep track of your fuel economy because fluctuations will let you know when something is malfunctioning
Choose a place to live that reduces the need to drive
If you have more than one car, use the less fuel-efficient car only when necessary
Use tires with low rolling resistance
Save trips by shopping on-line
Telecommute one day a week
Keep junk out of the trunk: The more weight in the vehicle, the more fuel consumed to carry it
Home (some of these will reduce your federal and/or state taxes)
Get a home energy audit and make changes accordingly
Replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs
Install a programmable thermostat
Keep thermostat temperature low during winter, high during summer
Use a thermostat program to minimize heating/cooling when no one is home
Dry clothes on the line instead of in a dryer
Install/replace weather stripping on windows and doors
Seal cracks in homes that allow unwanted air exchange
Add more insulation (roof, attic, walls, floors, around heating and cooling ducts)
Seal ductwork
Install dual-pane windows
Turn down the temperature on your water heater, especially during warmer months
Turn down the thermostat and water heater temperature when you go away for more than one day
Install a precut insulated jacket for your water heater to reduce energy loss
Install a tankless water heater and/or use a solar water heater
Install an energy efficient air conditioner and furnace
Clean or change furnace air filters every one to three months
Install a whole-house cooling fan instead of an air conditioner
Install a swamp cooler (for hot, dry climates) instead of an air conditioner
Install a reflective roof to reduce air conditioning usage
Install a roof radiant-heat barrier and proper ventilation in your attic
Replace your roof if needed
Install a wind turbine
Buy only power-efficient appliances
Connect all electronics and appliances to plug strips so that they don’t draw current when not being used.
Unplug the extra refrigerator or freezer that you rarely use
Clean the lint filter before drying each load of wash in the clothes dryer
Wash only full loads in clothes washing and drying machines
Plant trees and tall shrubs to provide shade for your home
Install awnings for shade
Let the sun in for heating: skylights, large double-paned south-facing windows, etc.
During warm weather, close blinds or drapes to block direct sunlight. During cold weather, open blinds or drapes to let sunlight in. This helps minimize using power for cooling and heating
During warm weather, open windows for cool air in the early morning and evening
Install solar photovoltaic panels for electricity
Tell the power company you want wind power (it might cost a little more)
Food
Go vegetarian or, at least, avoid beef and shrimp, because raising them causes some pollution
Eat peanut butter sandwiches instead of burgers or meat sandwiches
Download a sustainable-seafood guide and follow it. Seafood generally causes less pollution to produce
Buy organic food to reduce the use of insecticides and artificial fertilizers
Buy locally at farmers’ markets to reduce the amount of food that must be transported long distances
Compost appropriate organic materials on the property rather than sending them to landfills then buying fertilizers
Water
Shorten showers
Install low-flow showerheads
Turn off water when brushing teeth or washing dishes
Fix leaky faucets, toilets and pipes
Wash only full loads in the clothes washer and adjust water level to fit the size of the load
Only wash full loads in the dishwasher
Install low-flush toilets
Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket
Water lawns early in the morning and only when needed to avoid over watering and water loss due to evaporation.
Install an irrigation system with a smart timer instead of using sprinklers
Put mulch around trees and plants to hold water and cool the soil
Wash a car with a bucket of water followed by a quick hose rinse, rather than letting the hose run
Wash and/or rinse a car where the water can irrigate grass or plants, if appropriate
Clean sidewalks and driveways with a broom, not water from a hose
Insulate exterior hot-water pipes
Use grasses on your lawn that require less water
Take a bath instead of a shower
Drink tap water instead of bottled water to reduce the amount of water that must be transported and to reduce the number of bottles used for the water
Christmas
Use LED Christmas lights
Use bows and wrapping paper multiple times
Use wrapping paper made from recyclable paper
Miscellaneous
Receive your bills and statements on-line to avoid paper use
Bank on-line instead of writing checks
Recycle newspaper, paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, plastics and metal
Buy wood from forests that are managed in a sustainable fashion
Buy products that contain recycled material
Plant a tree, but be certain it is the correct tree for that particular environment
Let policymakers know you are concerned about global warming and sustainability
Biological Science