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How to Earn Points with Weekly Actions Towards Sustainability

2 points: Ate Meat-Free for 2 Days This Week

Earn 2 points by making two days a week meat-free. If you already have removed meat from your diet you automatically get 2 points. If you would normally eat beef, chicken, pork, or fish, choose a plant-based protein instead.

Why: Meat production has many negative environmental impacts.

Facts:

• It takes 600 gallons of water to make one quarter-pound burger (to feed the cows, grow the grain and grind up the meat).
• Livestock contribute to global warming from methane and water pollution.

Resources: Environmental vegetarianism,  How to get enough protein, Comparison chart of the protein content in animal and plant foods.

2 points: Reduced the amount of energy used for laundry

Earn 2 points if you wash no laundry OR earn 1 point for doing one action below or up to 2 points for doing two of the following actions: 

• Hang at least 50% of laundry to dry instead of using the dryer
• Wash laundry in warm or cold (not hot) water
• Wash full loads

Why: Laundry is one of the largest energy and water users in the home.  Full loads reduce water use.  Most of the energy for doing laundry used in heating the water and the air used to dry your clothes.

Facts: 

• Air drying instead of using the dryer will reduce carbon dioxide output by up to 700 lbs. and your energy bill by up to $75 annually.
• Full loads use less water per article of clothing than semi-full loads.
• Hot water is unnecessary to get clean clothes.

2 points: Used reusable bags

Earn 2 points if you use a reusable bag for at least one shopping trip this week. Buy a cloth bag from a thrift store, grocery store, or online. To develop the habit, put the reusable bags where you will see them or write yourself a reminder on your grocery list.

Why: Disposable bags are wasteful and unnecessary.  Using your own bag instead of a new plastic or paper bag reduces carbon dioxide emissions, energy consumption, litter and pollution. Paper vs Plastic, Environmental Effects of Plastic Bags

Facts:

• Americans annually consume 14 billion plastic bags which requires around 12 million barrels of oil to produce.
• Americans also use 10 billion paper bags which requires 14 million trees per year to make.
• Plastic bags account for an estimated 100,000 deaths of marine animals.
  

2 points: Minimize packaging

Earn 2 points by purchasing at least one item that has less packaging than another similar product.

• Select fruits that are not packaged in molded plastic containers.
• Look for single layers and materials in packaging, for example, choose a plain paperboard box instead of molded plastic.
• Buy the largest size that is practical (but don't buy huge quantities if your risk some of the product being wasted by spoilage).

Why: Most packaging is used for a short time before being discarded. A lot of packaging isn't necessary for the safety or safe handling of products.

Facts: 

• Less packaging could reduce your garbage by about 10% and your carbon dioxide output by up to 1,200 pounds per year.
• About 9% of the cost of a box of cereal is for the cereal — the other 91% of the cost is for the package and advertising.