Sensible Practices for Sustainability

Think sustainability!

Use energy saving and eco-friendly, practices in your day-to-day life to save 'green' money on your monthly gas and utility bills, conserve water and reduce your carbon-footprint with low-impact living.

Convert to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs)Replace all traditional light bulbs in your home and office with compact fluorescent bulbs. Incandescent lights convert only about 10% of their electricity to light and most of the energy is lost to heat that can increase your cooling costs. Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) last about ten times longer than incandescent lights and are the most efficient lights available. Organize a bulk purchase ‘light bulb replacement drive’ with neighbors, friends, club and organizations to save money on the purchase. You will reduce your lighting costs anywhere from 30-60%.

Grow vegetables, herbs, or flowers-get back to nature

Experiment with new landscaping and gardening projects to have fun, enjoy the outdoors, and stay fit. Start a healthy hobby (with the added benefit of lovely flowers and great-tasting food!) in a build-your-own greenhouse, by planting herbs, vegetables, flowers, or create a natural backyard wildlife habitat to enjoy.

Select appliances with the Energy Star rating

Choose efficient, energy saving appliances whenever you upgrade or purchase new items and organize the household use of everyday appliances so you draw current only when items are used. Items you plug into outlets draw electricity even when you are not using them.

Buy and dine on locally grown produceStart a healthy hobby and plant your own organic vegetable garden or use a solar green house to promote sustainability. It is less expensive to the environment when local produce can take the place of long-distance fuel costs to ship or truck vegetables and fruits from around the globe.Use free green house plans, buy a hobby green house kit, or build you own walk in green house as a fun, family project. Gardening is great fun for adults, groups, or kids of all ages.

Try this perfect starter-project:

It works for any sized group or budget. Plant your favorite herb in a small pot for your kitchen window, make a kitchen herb container garden for your patio or deck, grow vegetables in beds along your fence line or expand to any size.

Identify your local farms that use little or no pesticides. Purchase or pick your own fruits and vegetables or grow your own! Start small and save money by planting a small kitchen herb garden or get fit and start a new hobby like an organic garden or greenhouse; organize a family, church, school, or neighborhood plot to share the work, joy, and rewards with others.

Experiment in the kitchen using locally grown and seasonal foods when you cook. [Share your favorite recipes with us!]

When dining out, select restaurants that support sustainability initiatives and choose your seafood wisely. The less food travels to get to us, the more energy we all save.
Set the thermostat to 68° and 78°Think Eight is Great! Invest in a digital thermostat for an eco-friendly, energy saving method of controlling the temperature of your home. Wear socks and take advantage of new wicking fabrics that work well with layered clothing to keep you snuggly-warm and comfy in the winter and perspiration-free in the summer.


Starve the landfill and reduce, reuse, and recycle
Create a habitat for native bees