Sustainability

Learn how to reduce your carbon footprint

All information came from The California Academy of Sciences, accessed April 2009.

Sustainability is often defined as meeting current human needs without endangering our descendants. There is a broad, scientific consensus that our current environmental demands are unsustainable, causing climate change, degradation of natural habitats, loss of species, and shortages of essential resources.

Although the problems may seem overwhelming, there are easy, basic steps that all of us can take to help achieve a lasting, sustainable future for the Earth. Join the millions of people who have already incorporated these habits into their daily lives, and play an active role in protecting our planet’s natural resources.

This guide is designed to help you make sustainable changes to your life, easily and simply. There are several categories, and each has three steps, progressing from the simplest to the most complex. Sustainability can start with a single change: try one out. You'll see how easy it is, and hopefully be motivated to try others.

Getting Around

We all need to get around, but the damage being caused to our climate by vehicle emissions is serious. The following changes will help reduce your global warming emissions, and can help keep you fit at the same time.

There are other modes of transportation than driving.

Choosing Your Mode

1. Walk or ride your bike for short trips
2. Commute using public transportation or by carpooling.
3. Consider purchasing a hybrid or fuel-efficient compact car.

Driving Habits

1. Conserve gas by observing the speed limit.
2. Turn off your engine rather than idling when you are still for more than a few minutes. 3 Open your windows when going slowly; close your windows and switch on the A/C when on the freeway.

Vehicle Maintenance

1. Keep your tires inflated to their proper pressure. It will increase your gas mileage.
2. Check and replace your air filter regularly. It will reduce harmful emissions.
3. Get regular tune-ups. It is beneficial for both mileage and emission reduction.

Heading Out of Town

1. Reduce the number of business trips you take. Use teleconferencing whenever possible.
2. Take the train or bus instead of flying or driving. If you have to fly, fly direct when possible.
3. Purchase verified carbon offsets. Carbon offsets fund environmental projects that reduce global warming emissions, including wind farms or solar energy installations.

On The Menu

What you choose to eat and drink affects your health and the environment. Sustainable food choices may seem complicated, but by following some of these suggestions you’ll lead a healthier, greener life.

Make sure your food comes from sustainable sources.

Meat and Dairy

Industrial farming of livestock is very energy-intensive, and is responsible for more global warming emissions than the entire transportation industry.

1. Look for free-range, grass-fed beef and organic dairy products.
2. Eat less beef by substituting chicken or seafood—it’s the easiest and fastest way to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Eat more vegetarian meals.

Seafood

1. Purchase seafood that has been harvested sustainably from the ocean. A good resource is the Seafood Watch guide, which you can find at www.calacademy.org/sustainable_future.
2. Bring the Seafood Watch guide to restaurants you frequent and ask the staff to consider sourcing only sustainable seafood.
3. Ask the government to pass legislation protecting fisheries from over fishing.

Shopping

1. Cut down on processed foods.
2. Look for local, seasonal, organic foods.
3. Subscribe to a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)program—CSA members receive regular baskets of organic produce from a local farmer, in return for helping to fund the farm.

Eating Out

1. Choose local restaurants over chains. They are more likely to operate sustainably.
2. Patronize those local restaurants which source local, seasonal and organic ingredients.
3. Bring your own reusable take-out containers from home.

At Home

Choices made around the home have a huge impact on the natural world. You can quickly lower that impact by adopting some of the changes below.

Insulation can go a long way in cutting energy costs.

Waste

1. Purchase products with less packaging.
2. Recycle bottles, cans, plastic, paper, and old electronics. Compost food waste.
3. If your local government has no curbside recycling and composting program, lobby them to develop one.

Energy

1. Enroll in a green power or a similar environmental program from your utility provider.
2. Lobby your elected representatives to support legislation that limits greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Have solar panels or wind power installed.

Lighting

1. Turn off all unnecessary lights.
2. Switch all your bulbs to compact fluorescents (CFLs).Make sure to dispose of CFLs properly because they contain mercury and should not go into landfills.
3. Install motion sensor lights that automatically switch off.

Home Heating and Cooling

1. Keep your thermostat at 78° F in the summer and 68° F in the winter.
2. Turn down heat or air conditioning when you are sleeping or not at home.
3. Install a programmable thermostat to ensure your home’s temperature is optimal for your comfort and for the environment.

Insulation

1. Conduct a home energy audit. You can do it yourself online: pge.com. Companies in some areas will conduct a free at-home audit; check your local listings.
2. Replace any single-paned windows with double-paned models.
3. Install modern, effective insulation in your home.

Electronics and Appliances

1. Turn off all electronics, including TVs and computers, when not in use.
2. Unplug or shut off everything using power strips—many electronics consume standby power when they are turned off but still plugged in.
3. Purchase Energy Star appliances.

Water Conservation

1. Reduce the amount you water your lawn and gardens. Water in the evenings and early mornings to reduce evaporation.
2. Install low-flow toilets or place jugs filled with water in your toilet tanks to lower the water they use per flush.
3. Install low-flow faucets and shower heads—they can reduce water use by up to 50 percent.

Hot Water Conservation

1. Take shorter showers.
2. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water only.
3. Turn down you hot water heater to 120° F and wrap it in a thermal blanket.

Purchasing

1. When you go shopping, bring your own reusable bags.
2. Buy eco-friendly products that contain no toxic chemicals and are produced using sustainable methods.
3. Evaluate your needs and cut down on unnecessary purchases. Donate or sell unneeded items and buy used items from your friends and neighbors.