Sustainable Living

Think about your actions and the environmental consequences of your behaviors.
- the solutions aren’t simple, the consequences may not be immediate, the consequences may not be local and they may be indirect (your behavior affects x, which, later on, affects y) .
Show your children how it’s done.
- Don’t miss out on teachable moments.
- Help them build good habits early on. They will inherit the earth.
- Volunteer at their school to help improve the 4Rs in their school
Support candidates at all political levels who commit to environmental issues as a priority. (See also “Advocate”, below).
Shift to a vegetable-based diet.
- Try ‘Meatless Monday’ (https://www.meatlessmonday.com)
- reduce the amount of red meat you consume
Get a ULEV for your next car.
- maybe you don’t really need that/another van or big car
Buy newer/ more energy efficient appliances.
- Water heater, refrigerator, heat pump (heat/cool)
- Convection vs. gas oven
- Use LED lights (not incandescent bulbs)
Upgrade insulation in your home.
- Reduce heating & cooling bill
Investigate solar for heating water and/or generating electricity.
- Participate in the Solar Coop to get reduce rates on rooftop solar
Reduce the amount of single use plastic containers. Strive for a plastic free lifestyle.
- 90% of ocean debris is plastic
- Use reusable cloth bags
  - Place those cloth grocery bags on the front door handle, so they get back in the car when you go to the grocery store
- Say no to plastic bags when you are just buying 1 or 2 items (that are already in a box) .
- Reuse plastic bottles, and (fast food) containers.
  - Buy a re-usable water bottle
  - Use tap water (its tested more thoroughly, not stored in plastic and is cheaper than bottled water)
  - Make your own sparkling water (reduce glass consumption & cost)
- Bring a reusable travel mug to your favorite coffee shop.
  - Avoid the disposable cup, cozy and lid !
- Get a compost bin for your kitchen.
  - Use the compost in your yard or garden
  - Reduce fertilizer/runoff
  - Reduce methane (greenhouse gas) during organic matter decomposition
- Ditch the plastic straw.
  - Tell your server not to put a straw in your water or soda
  - Use paper, compostable or metal straws
  - Join our StrawFreeArlington campaign.
  - Contact us for details.
- Pack lunch for your kids (or husband or yourself) .
  - Cut down on cost and on packaging
- Re-use…….
  - Bring your own (bamboo) cutlery to lunch.
  - Wash plasticware and (re-) use when you go out or at parties you host
  - Bring your own plastic food containers if you are thinking “doggie bag”.
  - Wash the “Chinet” and plastic glasses/ forks/knives after a party
  - Wash tin foil and “Glad” bags and re-use
    - Tin foil is recyclable if it does not have food on it!
  - Use cloth or bamboo/rayon towels instead of paper towels
  - Use “bees wrap” instead of “saran wrap” on cheese , fruits, veggies bread, etc. Its washable.
  - Buy party-ware at Goodwill
    - Glass champagne flutes and wine glasses are so much more elegant
  - Shop in your closet
    - Donate to/swap with friends (& drink some wine together)
  - Clean out the attic and donate rarely used & long unused items
- Get or make a rain barrel
- Buying in bulk where feasible (reduce packaging)
  - check out your local farmer’s market or Mom’s Organic Market, for example, where you can bring your own containers .
- Set the thermostat to 69⁰F in the winter and 79⁰F in the summer,
  - Replace your thermostat with a programmable one.
Reduce your lawn area
- Plant canopy trees and a diverse range of native plants
  - reduce urban heat effect & run-off
Provide habitat for wildlife, which allows for native plants and animals to flourish and saves money, energy, and time.
- Participate in the Arlington County Tree Canopy Fund.
Reduce storm-water runoff
- Install rain gardens, swales, and rain barrels and reduce impervious/hard surfaces.
  - The Arlington County “Stormwaterwise Program” offers assistance to homeowners.
Bike, walk, or use public transportation when feasible
- Trim your waistline
- Improve your cardio
- Improve your mental health
  - time outside has been shown to be beneficial to well being
Go digital
- Reduce paper invoices/annual reports/newspaper/books
  - try it before you discount it
Think twice about buying from Amazon, online & big box stores.
- Packaging is often enormous
  - every boxed product is in a bigger box.
  - reduce it by consolidating your purchase/check-out only after you have several items in your cart.
- Support local business
Join a group/volunteer:
- EcoAction Arlington (R4 Action Group, Energy Masters groups), Sierra Club, Nature Conservancy
- Help build a sense of community by supporting each other and getting things done
Participate in occasional events if you can’t commit
- Ex. EcoAction Arlington.org has stream cleanup events, an Earth Day bike /run cleanup, invasive plant removal events. We also support County Special Events (you can help w/ recycling, etc. at The Marine Corps Marathon, The Columbia Pike Blues Festival and more).
Advocate for awareness and change
- Advocate via your HOA/condo association
- Advocate via your place of worship
- Advocate through your PTA
  - School cafeteria waste is enormous !
  - Help your child understand what’s recycling and what’s trash
  - Use your school’s Food Bus if there is one available (or start one!)
  - Pack your child’s lunch with foods they will want to eat
  - Composting unused food is challenging, because adult supervisors are often unavailable
  - Teachable moment are often lost if you don’t intervene.
- Volunteer at schools
- Advocate at your running club/group
- Get a group together and meet with County and School Board members
  - There is strength in numbers
  - Be prepared. Have a simple & clear “ask”.
- Get a group together and write letters to:
  - the editor or ‘local’ journalists.
  - the County Board
  - the School Board
Review, modify/add to this list !
- Share your knowledge
- Build a community