Martha Stewart - Do Just One Thing
As it turns out, helping to change the world isn’t that hard. It begins with one simple decision — to unplug a charger, to trade paper napkins for cloth. These small acts become habits that create a chain reaction. As they gain momentum, soon you’re not doing just one thing; you’re revolutionizing your life in a way that can, in fact, save the planet.
The days of environmentalism as a fringe cause are long gone. It’s everyone’s responsibility. “It’s more important than ever to do all that we can right now,” says Martha Stewart, whose embrace of Body Soul three years ago reflects her own ongoing commitment to sustainable living. “I recycle, compost, use long-lasting light bulbs. And I encourage everyone to take baby steps. Imagine what kind of world we’d have if we each did just one little good thing as often as we could. We could really make a difference.”
• Recycle magazines*
• Bring your own bags to the grocery store*/**
• Support your local economy and curb excess fossil-fuel consumption by shopping close to home*
• Install Energy Star–qualified double-pane windows for better insulation
• Take the bus (or train)***
• Buy energy-efficient appliances (look for the Energy Star label)*/**
• Go for bamboo (for flooring, cutting boards, towels, sheets, and so on)
• Clean the fridge coils for better productivity*
• Turn off the lights when you leave the room*
• Install low-flow showerheads and take shorter showers*
• Eat more veggies*
• Get a library card*
• Ride your bike**
• Don’t let the sink faucet run when you wash dishes and brush your teeth**
• Leave only footprints when you travel
• Unplug your electronics (DVD player, TV, cell-phone charger) when you’re not using them
• Use greener cleaners
• Baking soda will clean just about anything!
• Wash clothes in cold water**
• Cover pots on the stove to avoid losing excess heat—and wasting energy*
• Line dry your clothes when possible
• Find a green dry cleaner, and bring your own garment bag***
• Turn off the dishwasher’s drying cycle***
• Shut your computer down when you leave work—especially on Fridays***
• Vote for change*
• Drive a hybrid
• Join a food co-op
• Swap paperbacks with paperbackswap.com
• B.Y.O.B. (of water)
• Get off junk-mail lists by registering at dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist *
• Shred old paper for packing instead of using Styrofoam peanuts**
• Skip the elevator and take the stairs***
• Check the air pressure in your tires since underinflated tires reduce fuel efficiency*
• Buy recycled toilet paper*
• Print on both sides of the paper*
• After you finish baking, turn off the oven and leave the door open to heat your home*
• Eat only sustainably harvested fish to help protect the health of the ocean (visit oceansalive.org)
• Go carbon-neutral
• To save gas, drive under 60 mph, or don’t drive as much*
• Don’t use pesticides on your lawn*
• Find new uses for old things*
• Compact your nonrecyclable trash and use fewer bags**
• Give your car a tune-up so it drives more efficiently
• Buy things that will last
• Invest in environmentally conscious mutual funds (find them at socialinvest.org)
• Buy shade-grown coffee
• Unload your trunk; the lighter the load, the less gas your car consumes*
• Seal up your house*
• Go toxin-free at home
• Switch to a reusable coffee filter*
• Eat what’s in season*
• Start an eco-converstion everywhere you go
• Sign up for online banking to stop receiving paper statements*
• Cancel the phone-book delivery**
• Install a ceiling fan to improve heat and cool-air circulation*
• Opt for an Energy Star–qualified laptop instead of a power-guzzling desktop
• Replace your lightbulbs with compact fluorescent ones*
• Join a community supported agriculture (CSA) program (visit localharvest.com)
• Volunteer your time at local conservation agencies
• Conserve energy by using power strips (many electronics suck power even when off—but power strips in the “off” position don’t)**
• Don’t charge your cell phone overnight***
• Get on the list. Find out if your city has pledged to meet Kyoto Protocol emissions targets; if not, contact your mayor
• Reuse your Ziploc bags**
• Keep your shades down in the summer and up in the winter
• Use a push lawn mower*/**
• Purify indoor air with plants instead of with artificial room fresheners**
• Use clean energy
• Support recycling by buying products made from recycled materials
• Decorate responsibly by purchasing eco-sensitive accessories (check out
vivaterra.com)
• Buy or borrow pre-used moving boxes
• Plant a garden*/**
• Use rechargeable batteries*
• Bring lunch to work in reusable containers (a “no-garbage” lunch)***
• Upgrade your toilet to a low-flush model*
• Fix leaky faucets*
• Buy low-VOC paint and donate the leftovers (find local reuse programs at earth911.org)
• Donate old cell phones and help save the African gorilla (eco-cell.org)
• Pass on the paper towels (same goes for napkins)
• Fill up your freezer, since the fuller it is, the less energy it uses to keep food frozen*
• Dress sustainably (try designers like Linda Loudermilk, Stewart+Brown, Edun)
• Buy in bulk to avoid excess packaging
• Spend more time outdoors**
• Seek out reclaimed wood furniture**
• Weather permitting, take your exercise outdoors**
• Think big picture
• When traveling, ask your hotel what it’s doing to be greener
• Start composting**
• Choose reusable instead of disposable products (diapers, razors, cups, pens)*/**
• Prewash dishes only if you have to
• Install dimmers or motion sensors for your lights*
• Use organic beauty products
• Buy Fair Trade
• Stop idling in your car*
• Carpool***
• Buy organic food (especially milk, meat, fruits, and vegetables)**
• Bring your own mug or thermos to your favorite coffee spot
• Collect rainwater and use it for landscaping**
• Use natural—not artificial—fragrances
• Swap, don’t buy (try eBay.com, craigslist.org, and freecycle.org)
• Use concentrated soaps and cleaners since less packaging means less waste
• If you see litter, pick it up**
• Spread the word**
Source: body+soul, April+May 2007
* I do these ** I plan to do these *** N/A
Filed under: whole living
