Lifestyle

You don't have to leave the grid to live more sustainably. Take Sustain Dane’s Seven Days of Lifestyle Changes Challenge:

Sunday:
Grow and eat your own food. Willy Street Coop provides detailed instructions about canning food the necessary tools. Also, check out our blog for new recipes.

Monday:
Ditch the plastic! Plastic products account for one-third of America’s landfills, and plastic bags are the most common type of ocean and lake litter, literally choking scores of fish each year. There are easy alternatives: Pick up a cloth bag for your shopping excursions. Or, keep an eye out for one of Sustain Dane’s free, re-useable coffee mugs and stop using disposable plastic lids.

Tuesday:
Become a bike commuter. One-quarter of greenhouse gases come from daily car commuters. Switching to bike commuting is easy: In spring 2011, Sustain Dane will release free coupons usable to purchase $100 worth of items (helmet, lock, rain fenders, maps, etc.) to help you become a bike commuter; redeemable at local bike stores.

Wednesday:
Conserve! Turn off the stove five minutes before the food will be ready (residual heat cooking); turn off the water while in the act of brushing teeth; reuse the water from cleaning fruits/vegetables to water plants; take short showers (cold showers are also helpful); use a power strip for appliances and turn it off when not using the appliances; use energy efficient light bulbs.

Thursday:
Curb your consumerism. Reusing reduces the amount of waste generated. And reusing reduces the amount of energy and resources necessary to produce new items. Borrow or rent items that you may only use a few times (i.e., power tools). Maintain your belongings so that you don’t need to toss them as quickly.

Friday:
Eat locally! Choose restaurants that source their food from local farms. Not only does getting your dinner from local farms reduce carbon footprints (by reducing how far food must travel from production to plate), but it supports the local economy. Find what foods are in season, and other sources for local food information.

Saturday:
Round out the week by getting involved in your community and joining an environmental cause. A list of on-going, worthwhile causes are available at ThePetitionSite.com.