Reducing your environmental impact can be done in a variety of ways. You can do anything from opting to use reusable coffee cups at home and in the office, to putting solar panels on the roof of your home, to choosing to use public transportation and everything in between. That’s the beauty of it, each of us can take numerous actions to minimize the negative impact we have on the world around us.

The question is…where do you start?

In all honesty, anywhere you’d like. The actions you take to curb your environmental impact need to be your own.

To get you started, I wanted to share these three easy actions you can take to minimize your environmental impact starting today:

1) Conserve Energy

Energy conservation is a simple thing each of us can do and it’s one of a variety of ways you can create a low-emission home. Do things like:

• Turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.
• Keep your thermostat at the proper setting. Programmable thermostats can help with this.
• Swap out existing light bulbs for LEDs.
• Keep your air filters clean.
• Seal any leaks along windows and doors.
• Use ceiling fans to help circulate air.
• Lower blinds to keep heat out when the sun is high.
• Only use washer/dryer and dishwasher during off-peak hours and only when you have a full load.
• Invest in solar.

2) REduce Water consumption

Reducing water consumption is another way to minimize your environmental impact. Try these at home:

• Turn off faucets when not in use, i.e. when brushing teeth, soaping up, etc.
• Repair any visible leaks so water isn’t being wasted.
• Add flow-restricting aerators to your faucets.
• Limit your shower time. Researchers are saying people need less time in the shower than originally thought.
• Use greywater to water your plants.
• Install a rainwater harvesting system, so you can get water from nature instead of a water company.
• Only use your dishwasher and washing machine when you have a full load.

3) Opt for organic/local foods

Last, but not least, opt for organic and/or local foods instead of processed, pre-packaged foods. This can be done in different ways including:

• Shop on the outside aisles of the grocery store. This is where the fresh fruits and vegetables can be found, as well as where other “healthier” options tend to be.
• Grow your own. If you want to know you’re eating fresh, organic produce, the simplest way is to grow your own. You can plant all kinds of fruits, vegetables and herbs in your yard.
• Start, or participate in, a community garden. This way, you and your community can all benefit from having local, organic food.
• Get food from your local farmers’ market.
• Support local farms by investing in CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture).
• Cook at home, using the fresh food you have, rather than eating out or frequenting fast food establishments.

In Summary

Don’t even think for a minute these are the only actions you can take, because we know that’s simply not true. We all need to start somewhere, though. Added in these actions is a good place to start. Make them part of your normal routine, then add more as you go along.

What actions are you taking to minimize your environmental impact? We’d love to know!