Protecting the climate on a regular basis doesn’t have to take a lot of time. It’s just a matter of fitting some easy changes in your life, which can take less than 10 minutes! So even busy people can make a big difference. Small actions save energy and money, reduce waste, lower pollution, protect the climate, and inspire others.
For example, at home, you can replace old incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs and turn off lights in unused rooms, which lowers your electric bill. To save even more electricity, unplug electronics you rarely use and close blinds on hot days to reduce cooling needs.
Save on your gas bill by reducing consumption in a variety of ways, such as lowering your thermostat by one or two degrees in the winter, turning down your water heater temperature slightly, taking shorter showers, and washing laundry in cold water.
Reduce waste by composting and recycling, switching to electronic billing, calling catalog companies to request they remove you from their mailing list to reduce junk mail, keeping reusable bags by the front door so you remember to take them on shopping trips, and using dishcloths instead of paper towels and cloth napkins instead of paper napkins.
In the kitchen, try planning at least one plant-based meal for the week, such as bean tacos or chili. Avoiding beef and lamb is especially helpful as cows and sheep burn up methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Eat or freeze leftovers so they don’t go to waste. Avoid using paper plates, plastic utensils, and disposable straws. Choose local or seasonal produce.
When you are out and about, bring a reusable mug for takeout coffee and fill a reusable bottle instead of taking bottled water.
There are a lot of things you can do to use less gasoline, and they don’t take much time. Combine multiple errands into one trip. Bike or walk to a nearby destination. Try taking a bus or a ferry once this week instead of driving. If you are going somewhere to meet others, consider carpooling. Turn off your gas-powered vehicle instead of idling while waiting for one of our drawbridges to come back down. Clean out excess stuff from the back of your vehicle. The less stuff you haul, the better gas mileage you’ll get.
In your yard, there are more fairly quick things you can do. If you have about 20 minutes, plant a tree or a few vegetable plants. Water plants early in the morning and use mulch around them to reduce evaporation. Sweep outside instead of using a blower. Spend 10 minutes each day pulling weeds instead of using harsh chemicals.
Buying less new stuff helps the climate and saves money, too. Mend clothes instead of replacing them, or use super glue to fix something. Borrow an item from a neighbor instead of buying a new one, and return the favor with a tool of your own. For example, our neighbor borrows our large ladder and extended fruit picker, and they’ve lent me their wagon and collapsible table. Consider buying used items at one of our many thrift and antique shops in town, instead of buying new.
You can inspire others and get involved in the environmental community as well. Share a climate tip with a friend and encourage them to try one climate-friendly habit. Support a local environmental organization like Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA), 100K Trees for Humanity, or the REAP Climate Center. You can easily email your state and local government representatives about upcoming climate related legislation by downloading and using the Climate Action Now app on your smart phone. I do this every morning—it takes just five or 10 minutes to send about 15 emails.
Climate action doesn’t always require big investments or dramatic lifestyle changes. Often it starts with a few quiet minutes and one simple choice. And when enough people make those choices together, small actions become powerful change.
Joyce Mercado is the author of Save the Planet in Your Spare Time: A Climate Protection Handbook for the Busy Person, a member of Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA), and President of the Rotary Club of Alameda. Her columns are collected at alamedapost.com/Joyce-Mercado. She can be reached at [email protected].
