101 Things You Can Do

Food

51

Keep your fridge & freezer maintained – replace bad seals

1

Grow your own food

52

Get rid our your second fridge if you can

2

Eat seasonal food

53

Replace washers on dripping taps

3

Avoid food miles, buy local and when possible organic

54

Boil only as much water as you’ll use when making a cup of tea

4

Support Farmers Markets, local farmers and growers

55

Save energy when boiling water by putting a lid on the pot

5

Buy unpackaged fruit and vegetables

56

Avoid pre-heating your oven when possible  (e.g. re-heating food)

6

Avoid highly processed foods

57

Use only hand pump spray cans

7

Buy food without additives or preservatives

58

Burn only dry firewood

8

Take your own basket or cloth bag to carry shopping

59

Find out where the goods you buy come from, support local

9

Avoid purchases which are over-packaged

60

Reject outdoor patio heaters

10

Buy bulk and use your own containers

61

Ensure your hot water boiler has a lagging jacket

11

Purchase goods in re-usable containers

62

Install a solar hot water heater

12

Volunteer to start a community garden

63

Use double burner wood burners

13

Support the return of milk bottles

64

Re-use paper and envelopes

14

Make your own jams, pickles and baby food

65

Avoid bleached and coloured tissues & toilet paper

15

Breast feed your baby

66

Phone first and avoid wasted shopping trips

16

Buy free-range eggs, avoid factory farmed produce

67

Save trees - re-use printer paper, print on the other side or make notepads

17

Give surplus food away to others

68

Make photocopies double-sided

Household

69

Wash only full loads of laundry

18

Use the smallest and most energy efficient appliances you can

70

Use warm & cold settings in washing machine rather than hot

19

Make your kitchen a glad-wrap & alu-foil free zone

71

Use eco-bulbs for your lights

20

Do not use insinkerators (garbage disposers)

72

If you leave a room turn the lights and appliances off

21

Compost your food scraps and green waste

73

Use a hot water bottle instead of an electric blanket

22

Have a worm farm at home, or do Bokashi composting

74

Change your heated waterbed to a mattress

23

Recycle paper, cardboard, plastics, cans and glass

Transport

24

Use non-toxic, plant-based soaps and detergents

75

Inflate tyres to correct pressure & save fuel

25

Disregard fashion trends, buy for longevity

76

Conserve petrol by walking and cycling

26

Avoid one-use products like paper towels

77

Car pool when possible

27

Avoid Styrofoam cups, plates and packaging

78

Keep your car correctly tuned

28

Avoid disposable cups, plates & utensils unless made from renewables like potato starch

79

Drive the smallest and most fuel efficient car you can

29

Use cloth nappies

80

Drive economically

39

Recycle clothes and shoes

81

Use public transport

31

Support op shops

General

32

Avoid clothes dryers - hang your clothes on the line to dry

82

Plant trees

33

Ensure your home is well insulated

83

Volunteer to maintain parks & beaches

34

Turn down your hot water heater

84

Support conservation programmes

35

Take shorter showers, save water

85

Explore and learn about your bio-region

36

Change showerheads to low-flow

86

Practice preventative health care

37

Take showers rather than baths

87

Oppose nuclear power

38

Turn off water when brushing teeth

88

Support ecologically sound products

39

Keep blinds and curtains closed on cold nights

89

Avoid toxic materials in your home

40

Use rechargeable batteries

90

Don’t waste

41

Turn off lights when not in use

91

Teach children ecological wisdom & sustainability

42

Learn where energy for your home comes from

92

Become involved in community projects

43

Learn where your sewage goes

93

Be an active voter

44

Discover your water catchment and work to protect it

94

Attend Council meetings

45

Turn appliances off at the wall when not in use (incl. TV, computers & printers) - avoid standby

95

Vote for people who understand and promote sustainability

46

Unplug rechargeable devices when not in use

96

Watch less TV and increase creative learning

47

Mend and repair rather than discard and replace

97

Take responsibility for your actions

48

Install dual flush toilets

98

Think globally – act locally

49

Use non-toxic pest control

99

Copy this and share it with others

50

Match pot sizes to hob (ring) sizes on your stove

100

Discuss and compare notes with your friends on reducing your ecological footprint

101

Start your own list……………….