How Sustainable are We Being as a Family?

By Jason Samuel

Sustainability is important. But how can we practice it in our daily lives?

Here are some practical questions we can ask ourselves, and maybe a few new-to-you ways your family can be sustainable this year.

Are we RRR-ing?

The three R’s stand for Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. While recycling is important, it’s much better to use less and reuse. Well, sure, but how? Children, with their toys and clothes, are one of the easiest ways to reduce and reuse. Create or join a clothing swap at school, or use “buy nothing” groups on social media platforms. If you are looking to discard something from your home, don’t just throw it away. Ask if this could have value to someone else. Recently, I wanted to clear a space taken up by an old wooden ladder. I thought it wasn’t safe enough to use as a work ladder anymore, but it had a cool look. I posted it on my area’s free and for sale page, and someone picked it up that day. They were planning on painting it and turning it into a plant ladder. Relief, another item saved from the landfill!

How can we use less plastic through eating?

Food and food preparation use a tremendous number of single-use plastics. Purchasing a variety of inexpensive reusable bags can make a noticeably positive impact. In my blog post from 2022, I outline multiple ways to reduce the use of plastic and keep it out of our oceans. Using one reusable silicone bag to save food and pack snacks can stop hundreds of zip-style bags from heading the landfill. Using materials in your kitchen that are sustainable, like bamboo, or 100% recycled, like aluminum, is another way to reduce plastic. For more ideas and to see items that my family likes, Click here.

How can we burn less?

The best way to lower your carbon footprint is lower the amount of fossil fuel you use. This is an area that may need investing in and everyone in the family to consciously work on. My family invested in heat pump technology to both heat and cool our home, which has dramatically reduced the amount of natural gas we use. How dramatic is it? Well, this past January, we can count on one hand how many times we turned on the natural gas heat. Not how many days mind you… but how many times the heater actually turned on. While we used more electricity, we also decided to source our power from a provider that uses almost entirely renewable power generation, such as solar and wind.  For more details about our decision to change our home heating habits click here.

We also think about this when traveling. While flying is fast and convenient, the amount of carbon per seat a jet engine releases in measured in tons over what a car emits. We as a family make the choice to drive when we can. We’ll often drive instead of jumping on a flight. That means packing the car and setting off for a long drive, sometimes 7 or 8 hours, instead of taking an hour or two flight. While our car does contribute to greenhouse gasses, it is less than booking a seat on an airplane. The unexpected benefits are getting to see more parts of the country and getting a different appreciation for nature.

How can we get out there more?

How much time do you spend in nature? Do you hike or camp as a family? Do you regularly get out into the woods, garden, or on the water? Making a commitment to spend time in nature can make us more aware of our effect on nature. The more attention we pay to our effect, the better we care for and protect nature. My family hikes at least once a month. We also spend time gardening and paddling on the Hudson River. With a little planning, it’s easy to make sure you connect with nature at least once a month. It’s great to put these things on the calendar. While you’re at it, pencil in one of our monthly guided family hikes.

Now that you know my family has taken steps to be more mindful about our impact and connection to nature, how will yours? I hope you share what your family does and join us on one our hikes!