What We Can Do
Things we can do to be sustainable
Sustainability by Design was the title of Mike Davis’ talk that our Clara Barton Guild sponsored on April 1, 2024. Mike is chairman of Attleboro’s new Sustainability Commission. We learned that sustainability means we should consume only what we can replenish, but also that environmental sustainability is the same as economic sustainability. This is important because we are seeing more weather extremes, including recent floods in the Attleboro area. It costs up to 20 times more to repair damage from these impacts than it does to mitigate or adapt to the climate changes already underway.
See the list below of what individuals can do to be environmentally and economically sustainable
The work of mitigation and resilience is not only the responsibility of our government. Mike Davis provided a list of what we all can do.
These steps are particularly important to younger generations, as illustrated in an Attleboro High School video, entitled “What if.” This is why we can be proud of Attleboro’s new commission.
So, what will the Sustainability Commission do? It will make recommendations to the mayor and city council according to its six core pillars:
- Sustainable growth
- Water security
- Waste reduction
- Conservation
- Renewable energy
- Education and participation
But they will need help. Volunteers are needed to work on each pillar: to research, make a case for specific projects, to help find funding, and to educate the public on why the project is needed. Then we will all need to speak up to city leaders to support these actions. The commission can’t do this work without us. For more information or to volunteer, go to the City of Attleboro webpage.
Here’s what we can do as individuals
- Don’t litter.
- Take shorter showers.
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and use it for rinsing.
- Use refillable water bottles.
- Use cold or warm water instead of hot when cleaning laundry.
- Use cold water whenever possible.
- Wash full loads of laundry and dishes.
- Wash clothes less often.
- Clean dryer filters at each cycle.
- Use reusable shopping bags.
- Avoid single-use plastics (bottles, bags, utensils, straws, etc.).
- Eliminate or at least reduce lawn pesticides.
- Close drapes and blinds at night in the winter and as a sunblock in the summer.
- Post unused items for free on community websites rather than discarding them in the trash.
- Reduce or eliminate lawn fertilizer.
- Reduce car trips by walking, biking, using public transportation
- Request ‘no water’ at a restaurant (many restaurants give water automatically).
- Arrange furniture to promote maximum airflow around vents.
- Use stairs instead of elevators.
- Purchase products that use and promote sustainable practices.
- Replace force air furnace filters every two months during the heating/cooling season.
- Compost or place post-Halloween pumpkins in the woods to feed wildlife
- Recycle/Reuse/Repurpose materials whenever possible.
- Bring your own container to the restaurant for leftovers.
- Take a hike.
- Safely Dispose of Hazardous Waste
- Avoid making paper copies when digital copies will do.
- Unplug unneeded devices when traveling (TV, charger, router, clock, printer, coffee maker, microwave, etc.).
- Give away perishable food before traveling.
- Choose consolidated shipping for online purchases.
- Replace direct mail with email or social media.
- Switch to online bill payments.
- Switch to digital print for newspapers and magazines.
- Help spread the word on environmental actions.
- Eat less meat.
- Donate wearable clothes.
- Install Energy Star appliances.
