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At Home Sustainability Office Guide

Sustainability doesn’t stop when we leave campus. We have ideas and resources for greening your home. 

Decreasing Waste

Recycling plastic is a far cry from perfect so a reusable water bottle and coffee cup and remembering those bags when you head into the store are the way to go.  

Eliminating plastic can feel overwhelming with so much packaging on nearly everything. Start by cutting out one thing and then add another. You might start with limiting online purchases to just once a week or even just once a month. 

Composting uneaten food prevents food waste from ending up in our landfills and producing greenhouse gas emissions. You can purchase an inexpensive indoor compost bin or make your own backyard bin. If you do not have a yard, find out if your community or neighborhood in DC has a compost drop-off and consider freezing your scraps in the meantime.

Making lunch at home can save you money and greenhouse gas emissions. Consider this: dairy products and meat have large environmental footprints, while many food items in your local grocery store may have been shipped from far away farms and factories. Can you purchase locally grown and produced food instead (ex: from a farmers’ market)? Can you try eating meals without meat at least one day per week?

Supporting Wellness

Try setting up your work area near a window. Having access to natural light can increase your productivity and brighten your mood. Plus, using natural light instead of artificial lights and lamps can save energy and money on your electric bill.

Add this to the end of what is already there: “Remember to dust and vacuum (look for vacuums with HEPA filters) regularly and wipe or remove your shoes when you come inside to decrease dust too.” 

Common houseplants might help filter indoor air and viewing nature inside can improve our health and mood. 

 

Studies have shown that going outside for a short break has a wide variety of benefits. Taking a walk, attending a virtual exercise class, or simply stretching at your desk can help your body feel energized and refreshed.

Many common household cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that can negatively impact indoor air quality. Instead, use green cleaning products that are certified by third party organizations like EPA Safer Choice or Green Seal. Only use harsher disinfectants when and where you really need to and avoid aerosol sprays. You can also make your own green cleaning products using simple, non-toxic ingredients like baking soda and vinegar.

Saving Energy

Walking, biking, and public transportation are all great options to reduce our travel footprint locally. For longer trips, the Environmental Defense Fund offers some great tips like prioritizing trains over planes. Check out AU's transportation offerings to help reduce your local travel impact.

Even if you’re at home during the day, you can still employ energy-saving techniques for heating and cooling. Take advantage of mild days during the fall and winter to turn down your heat, and mild days during the spring and summer to turn down your air conditioner. The Department of Energy estimates savings of about 1 percent for each degree of thermostat adjustment per 8 hours.

An energy audit is the perfect way to identify where your opportunities lie and begin a plan. You can check with your local utility for energy audit resources or start with a DIY audit. 

You’ve done an energy audit and you’re reading for more? Rewiring American has resources to support you as you go electric. They have resources for both homeowners and renters. 

Green the Outside

Containers, raised bed, or in-ground options can all be great ways to start growing your own food or cultivating some flowers. Soil testing can help set you up for success too.

Organic gardening ( https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native/Habitat-Essentials/Organic-Gardening-Practices) is healthier for people, local wildlife and local water ways. Runoff from our lawns ultimately flows to the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Foundations provides recommendations for eco-friendly landscape management (link: https://www.cbf.org/join-us/more-things-you-can-do/in-your-yard/index.html) including reducing lawn space and leaving grass clippings on the lawn for free fertilizer. 

Traditional lawn equipment releases a substantial amount of pollution and the operators breathe in the particulate matter and other pollutants. Electric lawn equipment is cleaner and so much quieter. 

Native species provide important habitat for ecosystem critical species like pollinators and birds. Native plants can fit into your landscaping and provide needed food and habitat.  

Once you start your outdoor journey, the National Wildlife Foundation offers “Certified Wildlife Habitat” recognition.  

 

Calculate Your Footprint

Take a few minutes to calculate your current impact on the environment with the Nature Conservancy’s Carbon Footprint Calculator.

 

CALCULATE YOUR FOOTPRINT

Explore Home Energy Savings Options

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides tax savings and rebates for energy saving projects. Visit your local utility companies' websites to learn about additional programs available where you live.

Explore the IRA

Stuck-At-Home Sustainability

View a recorded webinar from AU sustainability staff about how to make your home healthier and more sustainable. 

Access the Webinar