To reduce your ecological footprint
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……………….