How can I make my personal purchases more sustainable?

Here are some ideas you should consider:

• Don't buy bottled water. The state of Connecticut puts millions of dollars into maintaining healthy tap water, and bottled water requires transportation energy (sometimes all the way from Fiji!) and energy to create the bottle (not to mention that plastic bottles are petroleum-based products and help perpetuate our foreign oil dependence). Fill a bottle you've already used with tap water.
• Whenever you buy a new appliance, look for the Energy Star label. This indicates that the product will consume less energy over its lifetime than most comparable products.
• Buy products made from recycled materials. Weshop sells Green Forest and Seventh Generation brand tissues, paper towels and toilet paper, which come from 100% recycled paper.
• Buy used books instead of new ones. If the bookstore is out of used books, try to buy your books from other students, or online. Or better yet, borrow books from the library!
• When you do purchase items, consider their ability to be repaired, as opposed to some brands for which that may not be possible.

When taking into account your carbon footprint in regards to your food consumption, consider these suggestions:

• Buy food produced locally to reduce the impact of shipping foodstuffs around the world. Try to avoid buying food that is only grown in faraway places (mangoes, bananas, etc.).
• Eating vegetables and grains use far less energy than an equivalent amount of meat. Eating lower down the food chain saves energy and is better for your heart.
• Buy large containers of food products (e.g. yogurt, juice, canned fruit) instead of buying several small ones.
• Fast food restaurants are extremely wasteful of energy in food production as well as in packaging materials. It is more energy efficient to stay home and eat.
• Use the proper size pot or pan for preparing the meal and make sure to use a lid wherever possible.
• If you are using an oven, try to prepare more than one item at a time in order to save energy. Better yet, use a microwave, which uses a fraction of the energy.
• Do not leave the door of the refrigerator or freezer open more than necessary to make your selection. Keep the freezer section as full as possible for maximum efficiency.

Useful Links:
Green Shopping Tips (Earth 911)
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPA)
The New American Dream
Worldwise WiseGuide

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