JULIA BACKA

I will try paddling, camping, biking or another outdoor recreational activity

I will sign up to receive local Air Quality Alerts via EnviroFlash email notification

I will replace my lawn with a drought-tolerant landscape and save the water, money, and time I used to spend cutting the grass.

I will not buy anything except items required for health and safety.

I will adopt a diet free of refined sugars, which eliminates sweetened beverages, candy, and processed foods.

I will donate unneeded materials to craft shops or places like the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse.

I will power down my computer and monitor when not using it for more than 2 hours, saving up to (1.1) lbs of CO2 per day that I do this.

I will work from home 4 day(s) to avoid my commute's carbon output.

If buying a plane ticket, I will also buy a carbon offset.

I will maintain a record of all my purchases.

I will find out where to recycle the recyclable items that I can't put in my curbside bin.

I will adopt a 'Needs Vs. Wants' approach and only buy things I need.

I will use the Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant finder to choose a Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant when I dine out.

I will create a rain garden or bioswale, or use rain barrels to collect water for outdoor watering needs.

I will research whether solar panels are a reasonable option for my parents' house and find out what's necessary for my parents' to have them installed.