Gasoline:  A 90 percent reduction would be 50 gallons PER PERSON, PER YEAR.

1. 
   

2. 
   

3. Run errands only when Matt is already in town with the car (for work).
   

4. Consolidate errands into one trip per week.
   

5. Stay home on days off, except for Sunday (when bulk wine and eggs are available 5 miles away).
   

6. Buy cover for pickup bed to increase mileage.
   

7. Check tire pressure regularly.
   

8. Rent fuel-efficient car for necessary travel.
   

9. Bike or walk whenever possible.
   

10. Work from home as much as possible.
    

11. Carpool.
    

12. Drive 55 mph (saves 10% gas over 65 mph).
    

Electricity:  A 90% reduction would mean using 90 kwh PER HOUSEHOLD PER MONTH.

1. 
   

2. 
   

3. Give away microwave on Freecycle.
   

4. Replace fridge with tiny, low-energy fridge (large fridge given away on Freecycle).
   

5. Remove window A/C.
   

6. Turn off wall heaters from the electric box (permanently).
   

7. Turn off computer monitor whenever we step away from the computer.
   

8. Stop watching television except on special nights when we rent a dvd. Turn off at power strip when not using.
   

9. Replace all light bulbs with CFLs.
   

10. Turn off lights when not in use.
    

11. Disable exterior motion-detector light.
    

12. Shower in warm water, not hot.
    

13. Wash clothing in cold water.
    

14. Hang clothes to dry.
    

15. Lower water heater temp.
    

16. Turn off computer at power strip at night.
    

17. Use laptop while working at home as much as possible.
    

18. Use toaster oven in place of regular oven when possible.
    

19. Stow tv in the garage for the month of March.
    

Heating and Cooking Energy.

Note:  We cook with electric, and we have electric wall heaters, which fall under “Electricity.”

1. Join Crunchy Chicken’s Challenge: we aren’t using heat until below 50 degrees day and night.
   

2. On cold days, bring animals into office and close door for the body heat effect (+10 degrees!).
   

Garbage.  A 90% reduction would mean .45 lbs of garbage and .45 lbs of recycling PER PERSON, PER DAY. 

1. 
   

2. Use returnable/refillable bottles for milk.
   

3. Use refillable bottles for wine.
   

4. No more take-out food (occasionally we may “splurge”, but must be wrapped only in recyclable foil).
   

5. Buy staples sold in bulk and/or reusable containers.
   

6. Cancel delivery of New York Times (ouch).
   

7. Cancel un-needed magazine subscriptions.
   

8. Remove ourselves from bulk mail lists.
   

9. Grow as much of our own food as possible (cuts down on packaging).
   

10. Use recycled batteries.
    

11. Recycle printer cartridges.
    

12. Use refillable pens and pencils.
    

13. Use Diva Cup.
    

14. Use pure jojoba oil as moisturizer (a little goes a long way).
    

15. Give away what we no longer need - to friends, thrift stores, charities, or our local dump (which has a reusables section for furniture and appliances).
    

16. Compost, incorporating paper into the pile.
    

17. Reuse everything we can.
    

18. Use re-usable water bottles, coffee cups, sandwich wraps & lunch containers
    

19. Make our own cheese and yoghurt.  (To reduce packaging.)

Water. A 90% reduction would mean 10 gallons PER PERSON, PER DAY.

1. 
   

2. 
   

3. Replace showerhead with low-flow showerhead.
   

4. Reduce shower time; shower 1-2 times per week.
   

5. Never use dishwasher; keep faucet at a low flow when hand washing the dishes.
   

6. When washing vegetables, catch water and use to water plants.
   

7. Buy low-flow washing machine; wash clothes only when dirty.
   

8. Mellow when yellow (sometimes).
   

Consumer Goods.  (Eg, gifts, toys, music, books, tools, household goods, cosmetics, toiletries, paper goods, etc…) A 90% cut would be 1,000 dollars PER HOUSEHOLD, PER YEAR. 

Note:  Used goods are deemed to have an energy cost of 10% of their actual purchase price. Goods that were donated or would otherwise be thrown out are deemed to be unlimited, with no carbon cost.

1. 
   

2. Buy creative gifts at thrift stores (eg, shop for unique picture frames for a couple who was recently married, find fun kids toys or unusual vases this way, too.)
   

3. Purchase used First Edition books as gifts.
   

4. Buy own clothing in thrift stores.
   

5. Sign up for local Freecycle notices (though we haven’t found anything we need yet).
   

6. Patch up holes in clothing to get more wear out of them.
   

7. Save clothes that we’ve “outgrown” or are too big - we never know when we might lose or gain weight.
   

8. Buy used furniture, household items, books.
   

9. Reuse & repurpose items we already have.
   

10. Read books from the local library.
    

11. Cancel Netflix subscription and rent videos from library.
    

12. 
    

Food.

1. a.Food you grow, or which is produced *LOCALLY AND ORGANICALLY*. (Local =100 miles.) This includes all produce, grains, beans, meats, dairy products, soap.  A 90% reduction would involve this being AT LEAST 70% of your diet, year round.
   

2. 
   

3. Build a four-season organic garden.
   

4. Purchase local organic, sustainable eggs, cheese, yoghurt & milk.
   

5. Purchase garlic, onions, etc. from local farmers market.
   

6. Grow own garlic for year-round eating.
   

7. Make our own bread.
   

8. Make cheese and yoghurt.
   

9. 
   

2. b.*DRY, BULK* goods, transported from longer distances. (Eg, *whole, unprocessed* beans, grains, and small light things like tea, coffee, spices (fair trade and sustainably grown *ONLY*), or locally produced animal products partly raised on unprocessed but non-local grains, and locally produced wet products like oils, recycled toilet paper, purchased garden seeds and other light, dry items..) Purchased in bulk, with minimal packaging.  This should be no more than 25% of your total food.
   

3. 
   

4. Buy fair trade, organic, shade grown, locally roasted coffee.
   

5. Buy fair trade, organic bulk spices, grains, and sugar.
   

6. Buy recycled toilet paper with the most sheets per roll.
   

7. Purchase garden seeds from open-pollinated, organic, sustainable sources whenever possible.
   

8. 
   

3. c.Wet goods - conventionally grown meat, fruits, vegetables, juices, oils, milk, processed foods, regular shampoo, dish soap, etc.…No more than 5% of food in this form.
   

4. 
   

5. Use pure jojoba oil as moisturizer (a little goes a long way), bought in bulk.
   

6. Don’t eat processed foods.
   

7. Use beauty products composed of simple ingredients (mostly organic) with no fragrances.
   

8. Use pure glycerine soap made from vegetable oils.
   

9. Make cleaning products from local ingredients.
   

10. Make shampoo from garden ingredients.
    

Gasoline:  A 90 percent reduction would be 50 gallons PER PERSON, PER YEAR.

1. Purchase a moped or more environmentally-friendly car for Matt’s commute.
   

2. Grow more of our own food and make more of our own toiletries to minimize the need for errand-running.
   

3. Travel long distances by train whenever possible, including for Melinda’s documentary work.
   

4. Reduce long-distance travel.
   

Electricity:  A 90% reduction would mean using 90 kwh PER HOUSEHOLD PER MONTH.

1. Sun dry as a way of preserving.
   

2. Purchase on-demand water heater.
   

3. Purchase non-electric alarm clock.
   

Water. A 90% reduction would mean 10 gallons PER PERSON, PER DAY.

1. 
   

2. Flush with greywater.
   

3. Capture rainwater.
   

4. Buy a compost toilet.
   

Consumer Goods.  (Eg, gifts, toys, music, books, tools, household goods, cosmetics, toiletries, paper goods, etc…) A 90% cut would be 1,000 dollars PER HOUSEHOLD, PER YEAR. 

Note:  Used goods are deemed to have an energy cost of 10% of their actual purchase price. Goods that were donated or would otherwise be thrown out are deemed to be unlimited, with no carbon cost.

1. 
   

2. Create gifts (vs buying them).

Food.

1. a.Food you grow, or which is produced *LOCALLY AND ORGANICALLY*. (Local =100 miles.) This includes all produce, grains, beans, meats, dairy products, soap.  A 90% reduction would involve this being AT LEAST 70% of your diet, year round.
   

2. 
   

3. Grow own grains, peanuts, and legumes.
   

4. Grow own onions for year-round eating.
   

5. 
   

2. b.*DRY, BULK* goods, transported from longer distances. (Eg, *whole, unprocessed* beans, grains, and small light things like tea, coffee, spices (fair trade and sustainably grown *ONLY*), or locally produced animal products partly raised on unprocessed but non-local grains, and locally produced wet products like oils, recycled toilet paper, purchased garden seeds and other light, dry items..) Purchased in bulk, with minimal packaging.  This should be no more than 25% of your total food.
   

3. 
   

4. Grow our own peanuts for peanut butter.
   

5. Try growing tea and coffee.
   

6. Save our own seed.
   

7. 
   

3. c.Wet goods - conventionally grown meat, fruits, vegetables, juices, oils, milk, processed foods, regular shampoo, dish soap, etc.…No more than 5% of food in this form.
   

4. 
   

5. Make soap from local ingredients.
   

6. Make vinegar from local wine, grow mustard to make own mustard.

Gasoline:  A 90 percent reduction would be 50 gallons PER PERSON, PER YEAR.

1. 
   

2. Dec-Jan, 2008:  0% reduction
   

3. Nov, 2007:  0% reduction
   

Electricity:  A 90% reduction would mean using 90 kwh PER HOUSEHOLD PER MONTH.

1. 
   

2. Dec-Jan, 2008:  86% reduction
   

3. Nov, 2007:  90% reduction
   

Heating and Cooking Energy.

Note:  We cook with electric, and we have electric wall heaters, which fall under “Electricity.”

1. 
   

2. Dec-Jan, 2008: 100% reduction
   

3. Nov, 2007:  100% reduction
   

4. 
   

Garbage.  A 90% reduction would mean .45 lbs of garbage and .45 lbs of recycling PER PERSON, PER DAY.

1. 
   

2. Dec-Jan, 2008: 97% reduction
   

3. Nov, 2007:  78% reduction
   

Water. A 90% reduction would mean 10 gallons PER PERSON, PER DAY.

1. 
   

2. Dec-Jan, 2008: 90% reduction
   

3. Nov, 2007:  80% reduction
   

4. 
   

Consumer Goods.  (Eg, gifts, toys, music, books, tools, household goods, cosmetics, toiletries, paper goods, etc…) A 90% cut would be 1,000 dollars PER HOUSEHOLD, PER YEAR. 

1. 
   

2. Dec-Jan, 2008: 95% reduction
   

3. Nov, 2007:  unknown
   

4. 
   

Food.

1. a.Food you grow, or which is produced *LOCALLY AND ORGANICALLY*. (Local =100 miles.)
   

2. 
   

3. Dec-Jan, 2008: 90%
   

4. Nov, 2007:  85%
   

5. 
   

2. b.*DRY, BULK*.
   

3. 
   

4. Dec-Jan, 2008: 10%
   

5. Nov, 2007:  10%
   

6. 
   

3. c.Conventional/wet goods.
   

4. 
   

5. Dec-Jan, 2008: 0%
   

6. Nov, 2007:  5%

1. Costs of Sustainable Living Part 2:  Resourceful, Frugal, and Mindful
   

2. Shelf Shocked: The Cost of Food
   

3. Simple, Non-Toxic, Frugal Cleaning
   

4. When Work Gets In The Way of Simplifying
   

5. Manufactured Landscapes: Reduce, Reduce, Reduce
   

6. Top Ten Books About Sustainable Living
   

7. On Becoming Resourceful
   

8. Money We Saved Growing Our Own Tomatoes
   

9. Simplifying While Living in a Technological World
   

10. Cutting Food Costs in 4 Easy Ways
    

11. Resolution #2: Stop Buying Stuff
    

12. Resolution #1: Gifts Thoughtful of the Planet
    

13. The Costs of Sustainable Living - Part 1
    

14. The Price of Bread
    

15. Finding Home
    

16. Incongruous Lifestyles
    

17. Me & The Weight of the World
    

18. A Day in the Life:  Pecking Away at my Consumption
    

19. Our Steps Toward Sustainability
    

20. 90% Reduction