Chain Your Errands
As much or more than the environmental impact of the stuff you buy is the impact of how you buy it. The transportation sector accounts for 26 percent of total global warming emissions in the United States, and much of it comprised of the daily small trips we make to grab milk, drop off dry cleaning and swing by the post office. Reducing the miles you drive to go about your daily business can make a huge dent in your footprint.
For folks who live in a walkable neighborhood, take advantage of it! Walking or biking to the grocery store is carbon-free, and it is also a great way to get exercise. Investing in a small grocery cart or big backpack can make carrying your purchases home a breeze.
The millions of Americans living in neighborhoods where walking and biking aren’t options can also reduce their emissions with a little planning. Before you head out on your errands, think about all you need to do and where you’re going. Try to stack all your errands into a single trip rather than making multiple round trips from home. You can even take it a step further and plan your stops to chain the errands such that it reduces the amount of time on the road. Try to hit multiple stops in one strip mall so you can park once and walk between them.