Sustainable Cleveland :: Involvement Levels :: At Home

At Home

  

Local Food

  • Buy local by supporting farmers’ markets and restaurants that serve local food
  • Join a community garden in your neighborhood

Energy Efficiency

  • Install a programmable thermostat and program it
  • Install CFLs (but be aware of clean-up and disposal methods)
  • Install low-flow showerheads

Advanced and Renewable Energy

  • Be an advocate for policy that supports advanced and renewable energy. Write your representatives and vote in support of legislation that incentivizes advanced and renewable energy.
  • Heat your water with the sun. Solar heaters, or solar thermal systems, provide environmentally friendly heat for household water and heating.
  • Support green power by enrolling in the Eco-Advantage Electricity Plan 

Zero Waste

  • The average American household receives more than 500 pieces of advertising mail each year. Reduce unwanted mail by registering with the Direct Marketing Associaion’s Mail Preference Service.
  • Prevent food waste and compost organics
  • Recycle paper, plastics and metal through a curbside or drop off recyling program

Clean Water

  • A rain barrel is a form of stormwater management that collects rainwater by diverting some of the water from your downspout into the barrel. The collected water can be used for various purposes, such as watering gardens/lawns or washing your car. Up to 40% of summer water use is for irrigation, so the use of rain barrels is an important contribution to water efficiency
  • Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste properly to avoid polluting Lake Erie, the source of our drinking water and the habitat to many species of plant and animal species. The Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District has partnered with the 59 communities in the county to offer local, more frequent collection events for disposal of household hazardous wastes (HHW).
  • Convert your toilet into a low-flush toilet for free.

Sustainable Mobility

  • Reduce the miles you travel by car by consolidating errands, walking, taking transit or riding a bicycle.
  • Challenge yourself to have one car-free day each week.
  • Carpool to work or school.

For more ways to reduce your environmental impact at home, visit our resources page.