Community Wildlife Habitat Project
Sweetwater in the Foothills • Tucson, Arizona

NEWS - ARTICLES

Think GREEN

The National Wildlife Federation also promotes sustainability for communities. What can you do to lessen your impact on the environment and to work toward not using more resources than what can be renewed?

Here are some things to consider:
• turn up the A/C thermostat in summer - when it's 105 outside, 78-80 degrees can be comfortable inside. Every degree you can turn up the temperature in summer cuts energy use and saves you dollars!
• turn off ceiling and other portable fans if no one is in the room.
• switch to compact flourescent light bulbs.
• use a drying rack or two to dry your clothes outside; the clothes dryer is a real energy hog! Read Deb Harrison's experience with her drying rack - wonderfully written!
• plan and combine errands so that you take the most efficient route and perhaps eliminate some short car trips.
• rethink single use bottled water. A lot of these bottles are not recycled and end up along roadsides and in landfills. And it takes a lot of energy to produce them initially. Try getting a reusable bottle and refilling it instead.
• have your groceries delivered. Safeway does this free or for a nominal charge depending on your grocery purchase. One refrigerated delivery truck can replace many cars making that trip back and forth to the grocery store, not to mention that you can use that hour plus you'd be grocery shopping to do something else!

Want to know more about sustainability?

US Environmental Protection Agency

Sustainability Institute

Sustainable Communities Network