Iran Smith

Put paper towels, compostable dishware and food/organics in the compost bin — the trees and worms will adore you.

Break down cardboard boxes for recycling — it saves cost and space; plus hauling air is such a waste.

The biggest environmental impact of single use—energy, sourcing materials, carbon emissions—come before they even get to you! Choosing reusable reduces the environmental footprint, from production to disposal.

I will calculate the carbon footprint of my household.

I will commute by bike 15 miles each day and avoid sending up to (___) lbs of CO2 into Earth's atmosphere.

Don't let water run when washing dishes, brushing teeth, etc.

I will pick up at least 6 of these items. These are important actions for quality and maintaining clean waterways.

Toilets or faucets constantly flushing or sound like they are always running? Soggy spots on a dry day? Sprinkler running while it's raining or in the heat of the day? Don't be shy, report these leaks to facilities!

Using the linked resource, conduct an easy waste audit of your area to identify waste to reduce waste.

I will work with colleagues to establish a shutdown procedure in our work area.

I will complete an online energy audit of my home and identify my next steps for saving energy.

Learn through Energy Star how sealing air leaks around your home and adding insulation can help your home be more comfortable and energy efficient.

At home, I will adjust my thermostat down 2 degrees from usual when I use the heat, and up 2 degrees when I use air conditioning. At work (authorized employees only).

I will naturally heat and cool my house or office by opening or closing my windows, curtains, and blinds, and by using fans.

I will power down my computer and monitor when not using it for more than 2 hours, saving up to 1.1 lbs of CO2 per day that I do this. I will learn about and update the power saving settings on my computer to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emission.

I will disable screensaver and will put the computer to sleep instead, saving up to 28% more energy.

I will replace 15 incandescent lightbulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

I will install a smart strip at my home office and plug in all of my electronics.

I will keep lights, electronics, and appliances turned off when not using them.