Life Hacks

What can you do to live a more sustainable life?

How to make a positive change towards sustainability.

Can I be a force for positive change?

Start out by making change in your own life and your daily habits. Nothing major just a few things you can start to do and get used to. As you become more and more green friendly and famiiar you will learn and adapt to even greater changes for the positive. The ultimate goal for each individual should be to live a carbon neutral or carbon negative lifestyle. This would encompass a lot of changes in the way you shop for goods, use those goods, and recycle those goods. It will also require some changes in the way you travel and possibly the way you work and spend you free time.

Some ideas

Here are some basic ideas that we put together to help you get started an a greener more sustainable future.

 

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Life Hacks (The green way)

At Home:

-Use energy efficient light bulbs (CFL’s). Lasting 10-25 times longer, while using 75% less energy, in turn saving you money!

-Use less water (take shorter showers) and install water-efficient low-flow faucets and showerheads (2.5 gallons per/min less).

– Unplug electronic devices, turn off lights, and don’t leave the A/C running when you’re not at home.

• Wash clothes in cold water
• Hang clothes to dry
• Turn off lights in empty rooms
• Use motion sensors to turn lights on
• Install Compact Fluorescent lighting (CFL)
• Turn the thermostat down
• Unplug AC/DC adapters when batteries are charged
• Don’t use the dry cycle in the dishwasher
• Install proper installation
• Use reusable containers
• Pick up canned and dry goods once a week or a month
• Use glass and aluminium
• Take your shoes off to save the carpet
• Unplug unused appliances
• Make cold dinners
• Use Natural pesticides/fertilizers
• Buy rechargeable batteries
• Dispose of batteries properly
• Buy fruits and vegetables locally

Transportation:

-DRIVE LESS. Carpool, seek public transit options, bike or walk.

-Drive more efficiently by accelerating slowly and smoothly. Drive the speed limit and maintain a steady speed.

 

At Work:

-Print less and send electronic copies via email whenever possible.

-Turn off what you turned on or install occupancy sensors.

• Use recycled paper.
• Print on both sides of the paper
• Turn your computer screen off when you leave your desk
• Use single-serving coffee makers
• Send electronic instead of paper documents
• Buy rechargeable batteries
• Provide ceramic coffee cups to employees
• Buy equipment and supplies made locally whenever possible
• Use motion sensors to turn lights on
• Join a carpool or take public transportation
• Turn the thermostat down
• Buy only Energy Star equipment and appliances
• Use email instead of fax or regular mail when possible
• Install water filters on water taps, eliminate bottled water
• Separate recyclable trash from garbage
• If you don’t turn your computer off, put it in stand-by when you leave
• Buy natural cleaning products

In Life:

-Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

-Bring a refillable bottle. Did you know GCC has filtered refilling stations on campus?

-Stop junk mail. Imagine a life without junk mail! That my friends, is worthy of doing whether you are trying to reduce or not.

-Buy local. Did you know our food travels an average of 3,000 miles to reach you?

• Carpool with neighbors to school or the shopping mall
• Put the leaf blowers away and get out the rakes
• Water early in the morning or after the sun sets
• Bring your own bags when shopping
• Don’t idle at the train station or in parking lots
• Create a community garden for herbs, fruits and vegetables
• Recycle dead branches and lawn waste as mulch
• Ask your local government to institute green policies
• Form walking/biking clubs
• Form a subscription club to swap newspapers and magazines
• Plant more trees
• BBQ with neighbors to use less propane/charcoal
• Cut grass less frequently or use a push mower
• Schedule garage sales on the same day
• Use reusable dishware for parties
• Plant indigenous trees and shrubs that need little water
• Use natural fertilizers and pesticides
• Collect rainwater in covered containers for plants and trees

-Join the Environmental Club!