38 Small Sustainable Habits

Sustainability isn't just about the big things, like what vehicle you buy, it's also the small choices we make every day. Here's a quick list of 38 habits that are easy and have many benefits. Choose one, or a few, to try out each week and see which you like.

These items are almost all explained in more detail on either the Sustainable Actions List or Sustainability Challenges.

Don't let your car idle unnecessarily
If you're going to be sitting idle for more than 30 seconds or a minute, shut off the engine - it's wasting your money and emitting CO2 for no reason
Shut off electronics completely when not in use
Unplug them or shut off the power bar

Take reusable bags to stores
It's easy, and they don't break like plastic bags. More info
Buy media (music, movies, books) digitally
Just don't forget to back it up

Recycle everything you can
What can be recycled varies by location, but find out what you can. More info
Fly less often
Trains, buses, or even a full car are more fuel-efficient than a plane ride

Compost everything you can
If you have your own composter, you'll get great lawn/garden fertilizer for free. More info
Set your computers to sleep when not used
An idle computer wastes about 100 watts, which is quite a bit. More info

Take shorter showers
Shorter, or "sailor showers", where you shut off the water while lathering up. More info
Take care of your stuff and replace less often
Not just big items like cars, this can work for things like coffee makers too

Walk or bike when possible
Not only is it great exercise, but a 30-minute walk has been shown to have as much mood-enhancing effect as anti-depressants. More info
Take your own travel mug to the coffee shop
It's easy and keeps your drink warmer for longer. More info

Plan ahead to reduce trips in the car
Visit stores that are close together on the same trip
Borrow instead of buy
It's an easy thought before buying anything: "Can I borrow this instead?" More info

Take public transit when possible
Typically much less stressful than driving. More info
Use rechargeable batteries
They're more expensive, but considering how many times they can be used, they pay off quickly

Carpool with friends when going out
It's more fun
Don't throw out as much food by planning ahead
Over 30% of our food is thrown out, on average. This can easily be avoided with a little planning

Turn down the water heater when you won't be home for more than a day or two
There's no point heating water when no one is using it. More info

Set your programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature when you're usually not home
If no one is home during the day, set the heat a few degrees lower or the A/C a few degrees higher. More info
Use less water by reducing waste and choosing low-use appliances
Low-flow toilets, efficient dishwashers and clothes washers, are all great ideas

Keep your cars tires properly inflated
Under-inflated tires reduce fuel efficicncy
Choose products that use less packaging
Not only is less packing more sustainable, it's less annoying too

Wash clothes in cold water
Most modern washers do well with cold water when using a cold-water detergent. More info
Use the "cottage rule" for toilets
"If it's yellow, let it mellow"

Eat less meat
Meat is over 10 times more land-intensive to produce than vegetables, so try not eating meat at every meal. More info
Choose less water-intense grass/plants for outside the house
So many parts of the world don't have enough fresh water to drink, and we pour so much onto our lawns

Hang up some or all of a load of wash inside or outside to reduce dryer use
It's easier on your clothes too. More Info
Watch your electricity bill to understand usage
It's great to be aware of how your efforts are reducing consumption, or noticing when something has increased it. More info

Buy CF bulbs rather than the old incandescent type
They're more expensive but considering how much less energy they use and how much longer they last, they save a lot of money. More Info
Run appliances during off-peak hours
Most dishwashers can be set to run at a specified time, or after a delay, and electricity is less expensive at night
Buy local when possible
There's debate on how the transport costs compare, between one transport truck coming from far away versus thousands of people driving their cars out to a local farm, but a farmers market should be better. More info
Close curtains to help keep your home cool
Nothing heats up a room in the summer like direct sunlight, so if you won't be home anyways, close the curtains
Use rain water for your plants
It's free water and more sustainable
Use cloth napkins instead of paper
They're much nicer to use. More info
Use stairs instead of elevators
A little exercise is always a good thing!
Reduce junk mail
Reduce waste and annoyance. More info
Switch to digital bills instead of mailed
For most people, paper bills are thrown out anyways