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From the American Society of Interior Designers
Special thatnks to Sharlyn Underwood, ASID, LEED, AP for her work in compiling this list.
1. Buy products with no packaging or packaging you can reuse or recycle. Buy in bulk to avoid excess packaging.
2. Use materials with high post-consumer recycled content.
3. Bring your own bags to the market.
4. Use reusable glass or metal containers for water. Do not purchase plastic bottles water.
5. Forego disposable plates, napkins and flatware, and use linens from organic, sustainable and fair trade resources.
6. Switch to reusable coffee filters and supply your home and office with fair trade, organic coffees and teas. www.transfairusa.org
7. Wash and reuse plastic sandwich, snack and storage bags.
8. Bring your own mug or thermos to your favorite coffee spot.
9. Bring lunch to work in reusable containers.
10. Lease or build your home or office in urban areas where daily needs are easily accessible by walking, biking or public transportation.
11. Take advantage of all square footage and install a green roof. www.greenroofs.org
12. Capture rainwater to water your plants.
13. Install low-flow dual flushing toilets and waterless urinals.
14. Use low-flow sink faucets and showerheads.
15. Turn off the lights when you leave the room.
16. Shut off your computer and monitor when you’re not using it.
17. Set the thermostat at 78 degrees in the summer and 65 degrees in the winter.
18. Change air filters regularly.
19. Get a professional energy audit done at home and at your business.
20. Know your local salvage yards and antique shops. Use them instead of new.
21. Don’t always but new, someone’s trash may be your treasure – and vice-versa. www.freecycle.org
22. Get off junk mail lists. www.directmail.com/directory/mail_preference/
23. Sign up for online banking to stop receiving paper statements.
24. Set up a recycling center at home and the office. Recycle glass, paper, newspaper, metals and cardboard. www.earth911.org/recycling/start-recycling-program/
25. Set up a compost bin at home. www.epa.gov/compost/
26. Turn off the dishwashers drying cycle.
27. Use green cleaning products.
28. Use public transportation, walk or bike – especially to appointments and to run errands. www.publictransportation.org
29. Cluster many errands into one trip.
30. Drive a hybrid car.
31. Check the air pressure in your tires to optimize fuel efficiency.
32. Dress sustainable – wear organically grown fibers and fair-trade produced clothing.
33. Skip the elevator and use the stairs.
34. Save single-sided paper for notes and children’s sketch paper.
35. Send cards and notes on recycled paper, or send e-cards.
36. Get a library card and borrow books.
37. Donate old magazines to your doctor, dentist, veterinarian or real estate agent for their lobbies.
38. Recycle all carpet
39. Find a green dry cleaner and bring your own garment bag www.greenearthcleaning.com
40. Do not litter
41. Offset your energy use at home and the office by purchasing green power www.green-e.org
42. Go carbon neutral www.davidsuzuki.org/climate_change/what_you_can_do/carbon_neutral.asp
43. Subscribe to Building Green Suite. www.buildinggreen.com
44. Buy or rent a house or office that is already built and/or in a green-certified building.
45. Create spaces that have views to the outside. Take advantage of daylight. Add a skylight.
46. Use smaller more efficient spaces. Maximize vertical space whenever possible.
47. Create green standards for each of your projects.
48. Request that your manufacturers use less packaging.
49. Know, tour and support your local manufacturers.
50. Support local and sustainable forestry practices. www.fsc.org
51. Use rapidly renewable materials like bamboo, strawboard, linoleum and wool carpet.
52. Reuse and reupholster furniture
53. Donate outdated samples to a local design school, or to an elementary school, church or nursery school for their arts and crafts projects.
54. Take your clients to locally owned restaurants.
55. Teach school children about what you are doing to make homes and businesses greener, and what they can so in their own families.
56. Purchase responsibly from fair-trade and/or local resources for all products.
57. Use Energy Star rated appliances. www.energystar.gov
58. Install ceiling fans to improve circulation of heat and cool-air.
59. Use radiant heat. www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/radiant_heating
60. Use low- or zero-volatile organic compound (VOC) paints. www.greenseal.org/certification/standards/paints.cfm
61. Use low-VOC adhesives and sealants.
62. Purchase Greenguard Air Quality-certified furniture. www.greenguard.org
63. Purchase upholstered furnishing free of PBDE (polybromide diethylene). www.thegreenguide.com/doc/108/pbdesum
64. Purchase products from local resources (i.e., within a 500-mile radius of the products end use).
65. Use LED or fluorescent lighting.
66. Use day lighting and occupancy sensors.
67. Use live indoor plants and keep a green plant maintenance program.
68. Use only non-toxic materials.
69. Use Energy Star-qualified double-pane windows for better insulation. www.energystar.gov
70. Use tankless water heaters. www.tanklesswaterheatersguide.com
71. Use urea- and formaldehyde-free composite wood.
72. Use Remanufactured furniture.
73. Use entryway systems that will capture dirt before it enters the office or home.
74. Use operable windows.
75. Use carpet and padding that meets the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label testing. www.carpet-rug.org/commercial-customers/green-building-and-the-enviroment
76. Fill product libraries with green options.
77. Provide incentives for your employees to carpool, walk, bike or take public transportation to work. Most major transit systems offer employee discount programs.
78. Install a bike rack at your office and provide a place for employees to shower. www.bikeleague.org
79. Have a non-smoking facility.
80. Buy recycled office products including paper, toilet paper and envelopes. www.seventhgeneration.com
81. Provide a paper recycling bin at each employee’s desk and a few throughout the office.
82. Print letterhead, business cards and marketing material on post-consumer recycled paper. www.thegreenoffice.com
83. Buy a printer that prints on both sides of the paper.
84. Invest in, and provide socially responsible investments for your employees.
85. Read a book about the sustainability movement. www.asid.org/knowledge/sustainable+books
86. Volunteer your time at local conservations agencies.
87. Take a walk on your local trail system. Learn about the local flora and fauna.
88. Visit a horse-logged forest and revel in its beauty. www.community.roanoke.com/healingharvestforestfoundation
89. Set up a warm bin and share the experience with kids.
90. Plant an herb garden or grow a tomato plant.
91. Insist on native plants suited to the local climate for all landscaping.
92. Buy locally grown or organic flowers at home and at the office. www.organicbouquet.com
93. Join a community supported agriculture program. www.localharvest.com
94. Eat locally grown food. Encourage restaurants and caterers to use local and organic foods.
95. Eat seafood that is safely and sustainably produced and harvested. www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp
96. Ask restaurants near your home and office to use recyclable or compostable “to go” containers instead of Styrofoam.
97. Know, visit and support your local artists.
98. Select hotels with green or eco-lodging programs. www.greenhotels.com
99. Consider an eco-tourism vacation to learn about new people and their cultures. www.ecotourism.org
100. Offset carbon emissions from travel with Trees for Travel or other similar programs. www.treesfortravel.org
101. Check out the numerous resources on the ASID Sustainable Design Web site. www.asid.org/green
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