Banu Ganesan

I will create or support a sharing economy with family, friends, and neighbors.

Whether it's by donating or volunteering, I will research the benefits of low-income solar and find out how I can support low-income solar initiatives in my area.

I will upgrade the windows or weatherstripping in my home or office to reduce air leaks and save on energy costs.

I will replace inefficient heating and cooling units with energy saving units.

I will use an energy meter to monitor my energy use and identify opportunities to save power.

I will install an alternative energy system, such as solar electric systems or solar water heaters.

I will replace manual thermostats with programmable ones.

I will switch to washing my clothes in cold water, saving up to 1,600 lbs of CO2 over the course of the next year.

I will complete an online energy audit of my home, office, or dorm room and identify my next steps for saving energy.

I will sign up for my utility company's clean/renewable energy option.

I will replace 2 incandescent lightbulb(s) with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, saving up to $14 per fixture per year.

Organizations have a responsibility to make sustainable business decisions. To understand how to improve sustainable practices, it’s important to start with understanding the current impact. I will share the Tradewater Business Carbon Calculator with my organization.

I will calculate the carbon emissions associated with my household and consider how different lifestyle choices could reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.

Individual actions are important, but people and organizations working together can make a real impact. I will share a carbon calculator with a friend and invite them to calculate the carbon footprint of their household.

I will spend at least 5 minute(s) touring (virtually or in person) a local dump/transfer station, material recovery facility, and/or landfill to learn about our local waste and waste recovery streams.

I will start a recycling program at my workplace or school. If a recycling program exists, I will advocate for ways to improve and expand it.

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

I will collect all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

I will reduce the amount of paper mail that I receive by 3.4lbs (1.5kg) a month or 41lbs (18.6kg) a year by opting into paperless billing, ending unwanted subscriptions and opting out of junk mail.

I will spend 15 minutes learning about sustainable fashion and begin trying to practice it in my own life.

I will advocate for alternatives to single-use packaging at local grocery stores, markets, at work, or on campus to reduce pollution in the environment and in local communities.

Greenhouse gases found in old refrigerants are up to 10,900 times more potent than carbon dioxide. I will help eliminate these gases through the purchase of offset credits to ensure we all have a planet we can thrive on.

If at all possible, I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases.

Racial inequity is both a sustainability and justice problem. I will support businesses owned by people of color in my community whenever I shop.

I will carry all of my unrecyclable, non-compostable trash with me to raise my awareness of how much I send to the landfill.

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