Small, everyday choices add up. This guide offers practical ideas for living more sustainably around town, at home, in the yard, at work and on the road.
Whether you start by buying from local merchants or by trimming your carbon footprint, each step helps make Fredville a greener place to live.
Around town
- Buy local. Spending money at locally owned businesses keeps dollars in the community, and the Farmers Market is a great source of food, gifts and more.
- Carry reusable bags when you go grocery shopping.
- Pitch in. Join cleanups, beautification projects and other volunteer events organized by Clean Fredville and Keep Fredville Beautiful.
At home
- When an appliance needs replacing, choose an energy-efficient model. Products carrying the ENERGY STAR label are certified to use less energy.
- Save water. Shorten your showers, turn off the tap while you brush, and follow the city's lawn watering guidelines.
- Get rid of household hazardous waste and old medications the right way. Residents can drop off these items at no charge through the city's Household Hazardous Waste program and Medication Disposal Program.
- Cut back on plastic. Trade single-use water bottles for a refillable one, pack lunches in beeswax wraps or washable containers instead of disposable zipper bags, and check whether plastic can be recycled before you toss it.
- Turn off lights and ease up on air conditioning. In summer, raise the thermostat when nobody is home, and in winter, lower it. Draw blinds and curtains on hot days to block heat, and open them on cold days to let the sun warm the house. These habits save energy and shrink your carbon footprint. Federal energy agencies offer online quizzes if you want to test your energy-saving know-how.
In the yard
- Clean up after your pets. Pet waste washes into creeks, rivers and lakes, where its bacteria and nutrients pollute the water.
- Try composting. A backyard compost pile turns fruit and vegetable scraps, grass clippings, nutshells, eggshells and more into rich soil while keeping food out of the landfill. If you want to become a master composter, the city holds a composter class every spring.
- Choose native plants. Native species grow naturally in a region without human introduction and create the most sustainable habitat. In Texas, natives generally need less water and handle heat better. Regional native plant societies and university extension services publish plant lists for North Texas and guides to earth-friendly landscaping.
- Plant for pollinators. Use a broad mix of native plants and group them in clusters rather than scattering single plants. Avoid pesticides when you can, or pick the least-toxic product, because pesticides drive away bees and other pollinators.
- Look to regional water-wise landscaping programs for more lawn and garden ideas.
At work
- Pack a lunch. Eating in instead of driving out for a meal helps cut ozone pollution and saves gas money.
- Shut down your computer at the end of the day. It lowers the power bill and your company's carbon footprint. Do the same with printers and copiers when you can.
- Bring in some greenery. Plants ease stress, brighten a workspace and help clean the air. Snake plants, spider plants and pothos are easy choices for beginners.
- Put lights on timers and dimmers to cut energy use and costs.
On the road
- Share rides when you can. Carpooling means less ozone pollution, less traffic and less stress.
- Shopping for a new car? Look at electric and hybrid models, which help reduce ozone-forming emissions.
- Use a commercial car wash rather than washing at home. Car washes send their water into the sanitary sewer, where it is treated and cleaned before reuse, and they use less water overall. At home, dirt, oil and soap run straight into storm drains and on into local creeks and lakes.
- Avoid idling. Idling burns fuel, puts carbon dioxide into the air, adds to ozone pollution and wears on the engine, so turning the engine off saves money and energy.
For kids
- Children's science websites and the library offer fun, age-appropriate introductions to what sustainability means.
Find more conservation ideas on the water conservation and reduce, reuse, recycle pages.
Fredville is a demonstration city built by Talk to Fred. Names, numbers and details on this page are sample content.