- Cold washes can save more than 80% on energy consumption, since most of the energy used actually goes into heating up the water.
- Powering your home with solar panels can reduce your electric bills, shrink your carbon footprint and increase your home's value. Install a water efficient showerhead, water heaters, invest in green energy/ green building and use LED light bulbs.
- Using tertiary treated water for gardening/ horticulture, not only help to conserve fresh water but it is also a sustainable way to promote greenery. e.g. In Chandigarh, all green belts/parks are being irrigated with tertiary treated water
- Reuse envelopes, wrapping paper, the front of gift cards (as postcards) and other paper materials you receive wherever possible.
- After the fridge and the washer, the dryer uses the most energy. A clothesline in the sunshine is a zero-emission alternative.
- Avoid products that are packaged for single use (i.e. drinks, candy, cat and dog food, take away, etc). Instead, try to buy in bulk and transfer the products to your own reusable containers.
- While shopping, if you only buy a few products skip the shopping bag. For larger purchases, bring your own eco-friendly bags.
- Start a compost pile with yard trimmings and food scraps
- Set specific energy reduction goals-for electricity, gas, waste and water consumed in your daily activities, for instance, commit to set target goals per month i.e.20% less than what you are currently consuming.
- Low Flow Toilets: One of the best ways to avoid wasting water is to switch to low flow or dual flush toilets Flush your toilet only every other time or when it has solid waste.
- Never release balloons outdoors. They frequently find their way to open water (even from 100's of miles away) and can harm or kill turtles, whales, and other marine mammals.
- Pack-it-Out: If you are travelling and no recycle bins are available, pack your recyclables home with you whenever possible.
- More cars mean more pollution, more congestion, and more traffic deaths, and transportation is the fastest-growing contributor to the greenhouse gases causing climate change. Find a car-free routine, and use it to your advantage, like burn on calories and achieve your fitness target—or something else you couldn’t do while driving.
