Sustainable Living

REDUCE what we buy

Ask ourselves: Do I really need this? How long will I use it? How long will it last? Choose items with the least packaging Use the local library or start a toy library instead of buying new books and toys Buy used clothes, give away clothes we don't need, or host a clothes exchange party. Shop for second hand appliances, furniture etc Cancel subscriptions for newspapers and magazines we don't read Take our own reusable bags shopping Avoid disposable items

REDUCE our energy consumption at home

Hang clothes to dry instead of using the electric dryer Turn the thermostat down on our hot water tank Take shorter showers and use an energy efficient shower head Turn off lights Choose energy efficient appliances Select a small R3000 or R2000 house with solar passive heat and a root cellar (cold room) Build toilet dams by placing plastic bottles in the tank and save water every time we flush!

Reduce in the winter

Wear an extra layer of warm clothing inside so we can turn down our thermostat Heat only the room we are in Insulate and seal our home properly Avoid idling our car when stopped and waiting

Reduce in the summer

Find creative ways to cool off without air conditioning Plant deciduous trees around the house Replace all or part of our lawn with a more natural environment like a meadow For a lawn, use a 4 stroke engine mower or even better a hand push mower

REDUCE our energy consumption for transport

Car pool, use public transit, bike or walk If possible, choose employment close to home Strategically plan our driving to reduce the distance we drive Buy locally and choose locally made products Make do with one less car Choose a smaller more efficient car; hybrid cars may be possible to lease Avoid air travel

REDUCE our energy consumption for food

Eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat Become a vegetarian Buy organic, unpackaged, locally produced food Join a natural food coop Grow our own vegetable garden Produce our own greens sprouts at home during winter Avoid restaurants which use disposable dishes

Before recycling or throwing out an item, see if we can repair or reuse it Write on both sides of paper before recycling it Reuse envelopes, wrapping paper and ribbons Bring our own cup or glass to work and parties Reuse plastic containers for storage Find creative ways of reusing newspaper, for example, to mulch the garden Use cloth towels and handkerchiefs instead of paper Reuse milk bags to store maps, seeds, freeze vegetables etc

Participate fully in recycling programs offered in our community Organize our household to make recycling easy Compost organic materials: kitchen & garden waste Encourage producers to recycle by selecting recycled and recyclable products