Daily Choices

We sometimes get stuck thinking about the big ticket green projects – solar panels, rain gardens, EVs, etc. – that we forget how our day-to-day actions can also impact the environment.

Follow your daily routine for a week and write down a list of the simplest changes you can make using the list below– reusable bag, coffee mug, switching cleaning products – and pick one of them.  You’re more likely to integrate a green action into your routine if you try to keep it simple and focused. After you changed that one behavior and made it a regular part of your life, then you can move on to the next.  You’ll be surprised what you can save and accomplish.

Daily Choices Projects

Make you own mosquito trap (Ovitrap) for 50 cents!

Hold the pesticide sprays! How To Make Your Own 50-cent Pesticide-Free Mosquito “Ovitrap”!  This project can be downloaded here: Ovitrap Directions Did you know that most of those sprays being done by mosquito companies not only can harm you, kids. and pets, but that they actually kill all the beneficial insects in your yard? We’re View Project

Raised Garden Beds for Your Yard

Are you exploring the idea of getting rid of your lawn, and growing perennials or vegetables? Imagine this: you can be dressed for work or play, and come home and just pull a few weeds or harvest a few tomatoes, and never get your shoes or pants dirty! Gardening in raised beds is easy, and View Project

Compost Food and Yard Trim

All of your non-meat food waste and much of your lawn waste, can be turned into rich compost for your lawn and garden. It’s easy to do and saves money on fertilizers and other amendments. View Project

Mosquito Prevention Starts at Home

Jackrabbit starts, accelerating toward stop lights, going a little (sometimes a lot) over the speed limit — we all do it sometimes, and these actions take a real toll on gas mileage. View Project

Gift Differently

Gifting green means thinking about the impact to the environment of what we buy, as well as, how we buy our gifts. View Project

Clean Your Coils, Ducts & Filters

A little light cleaning goes a long way to keep your systems running smoothly and efficiently. View Project

BYOB: Bring Your Own Bag

We all know it’s better to use reusable bags than ask for paper or plastic. In fact, Montgomery County has a 5 cent tax on disposable bags, because of how damaging they are to the environment. View Project

Stop the Junk Mail and Use Paperless Billing

How much of the mail in your mailbox do you really want to look at, and how much goes straight to the recycling bin? The average American receives 41 pounds of junk mail every year. View Project

Use Water Filters and Reusable Bottles

A 2012 study found that on average, bottled water costs about $1.22/gallon nationwide and 300x the cost of a gallon of tap water. View Project

Know Your Water Use

Every drop counts! Whether you’re on public water or have your own well, the benefits of conserving water add up. View Project

Conduct a Home Waste Audit

The first step towards making positive environmental changes is to first understand what you are currently contributing to the waste stream.  Create a baseline – a one-week snapshot of what you consume, what you throw away, and what gets recycled. View Project

Telecommute One Day a Week…or More!

Washington, DC is consistently ranked as one of the top ten worst cities for traffic.  This is one good reason to leave the car parked one day a week or more if possible! View Project

Choose Green Cleaning Products

Have you taken a deep look at cleaning products in your home? If you read the labels, we bet they range from bleach, to products that are flammable or lead to indoor air pollution. View Project

Shop a Farmers Market, Join a CSA

Farm-fresh food, smiling faces, a sunny sky (hopefully!) — what better way to stock up for your week’s meals? View Project

Meatless Mondays

The concept isn’t a new one. It became popular during World War I and II when the U.S. Food Administration urged families to reduce consumption of meat to aid the war effort. View Project