In My Home, Departamento, Loft, Space, Casa, Flat
1.
DO
TRY
I will recycle as much of my household garbage as I can.
Recycling In's and Out's so that I can learn about all the materials that are acceptable in my curbside or apartment collection program.
2.
DO
TRY
I will donate unwanted but usable items to charitable organizations rather than throwing them away.
3.
DO
TRY
I will turn down my thermostat by
Bonus: for every degree I turn it down, I will save at least
1% on my heating bill.
4.
DO
TRY
I will give my home an Energy Audit.
Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audit Guide .
5.
DO
TRY
I will learn more about health risks from pollutants in my home.
Master Home Environmentalist program.
6.
DO
TRY
I will
wash
full loads of
clothes and dishes.
Bonus:
running the clothes washer and
dishwasher when fully loaded saves
hot water and the energy it takes to
heat it.
7a.
DO
TRY
I will check my toilet for leaks by putting ten drops of food coloring in the toilet tank and waiting about ten minutes to see if color appears in the bowl. I will call Seattle Public Utilities at
206.684.5849 for more information on how to detect leaks. If I cannot fix the leak, I will call a plumber.
7b.
DO
TRY
If I find my
toilet leaking or in need of repairs,
I will consider a replacement toilet
with a 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf)
fixture.
Bonus: I
will save approximately 2 gallons of
water for each flush resulting in
annual savings of $26 - $155 in
utility costs depending on my
household size.
In My Yard,
Jardin, Garden, Planter Box, Patio,
Patch
8.
DO
TRY
I will compost my food and/or yard waste and grasscycle my lawn clippings.
Bonus: finished compost and mulch return nutrients to the soil and help soil retain moisture. Please send me more information on
Yard
Waste Composting
.
9.
DO
TRY
I will plant
roses or native thorny plants below
my windows and/or fences to deter
burglars from entering my home. I
will call the
Naturescaping
Program at
206.764.3410 x130
for more suggestions on plants to
use.
10.
DO
TRY
I will plant
flowers that attract birds and
beneficial insects.
Naturescaping
Program , and how to create a
"naturescape" in my yard.
11.
DO
TRY
I will water my lawn and garden only during the coolest part of the day. Watering in the early morning is the ideal time because it reduces the amount of water lost to evaporation. Evening hours are my second best choice.
12.
DO
TRY
I will use a
soaker hose or other efficient
irrigation system. I will call
Seattle Public Utilities at
206.684.5849
for more information about efficient
lawn watering.
13.
DO
TRY
I will plant
some drought resistant plants.
Water Wise brochures
about low water plants.
14.
DO
TRY
During the
summer when I water regularly, I will
use a water timer on my outdoor
faucet.
Water
Conservation and the Northwest Lawn
Brochure.
15.
DO
TRY
I will make my
lawn more environmentally friendly.
Natural Lawn Care
for Western Washington
brochure.
16.
DO
TRY
I will replace
some of my lawn with low maintenance
ground covers. I will call the
Naturescaping
Program at
206.764.3410 x130
for suggestions on plants to use.
Out Shopping,
De Compras, Filling the Larder
17.
DO
TRY
I
will learn about energy efficient
features in major appliances and
consider efficiency as well as size
and color when choosing a new
appliance.
18.
DO
TRY
I
will avoid buying products with
excessive packaging.
19.
DO
TRY
I
will take reusable bags with me when
I go shopping. Reusing bags cuts down
on waste and saves money. Many
grocery stores offer cash back to
customers who reuse bags.
20.
DO
TRY
I
will rent, borrow or buy used
merchandise instead of buying new,
when practical. This saves space in
my home and helps cut down on
wasteful merchandise.
Use It Again, Seattle
, a directory of repair, rental and used goods businesses in Seattle, is available online. Internet access is available free at the main Seattle Public Library and branches.
21.
DO
TRY
I
will carry a reusable mug for buying
coffee and tea away from home. Over 1
million coffee cups are thrown away
in Seattle each week! Some coffee
shops will give a discount when you
bring your own mug.
22.
DO
TRY
When I need a new electric water heater, I will buy an energy-efficient tank.
23.
DO
TRY
I
will buy 2 compact fluorescent lights
and install them on my porch and/or
in my home.
LightWise
bulbs are available at most home
centers and hardware stores for about
$10.
In My
Neighborhood, Comunidad, Stomping
Ground
24.
DO
TRY
I will pick up litter as I see it in my
neighborhood.
25.
DO
TRY
I
will participate in Block Watch
and/or call 911 to report suspicious
activity or crimes I witness. I can
call
206.684.7555 to find out
if there is a Block Watch on my
block.
26.
DO
TRY
I
will assist a neighbor with at least
one item on this pledge.
27.
DO
TRY
I will scoop up after my pet.
Bonus:
flushing pet wastes down the toilet
or putting bagged pet wastes in the
garbage keeps local streams and Puget
Sound cleaner.
28.
DO
TRY
I
will become a
Friend of Recycling
volunteer.
29.
DO
TRY
I
will volunteer to help plant and care
for city trees.
30.
DO
TRY
I
will participate in graffiti removal
projects in my neighborhood.
31.
DO
TRY
I
will participate in community art
projects in my neighborhood.
