Learn About Reducing

Read
- Read through 2-3 Reduce blog posts and learn how to reduce as part of an overall transformation.
  - e.g. Cycling: Reducing gas consumption and increasing fun!
  - e.g. Unplugging
  - e.g. Towards a More Conscious Consumer
- Visit 2-3 websites from our Resources list, and learn more about reducing locally.
  - e.g. Ride the City – Interactive Bike Map
  - e.g. Sustainable Food Center Farmers Market
  - e.g. Austin Energy Green Choice Program
Connect
- Watch and listen to experts and community members share their views about and experiences with sustainability:
  - e.g. Farmers Market Vendors – On the importance of shopping locally
  - e.g. Mary, Urban Cyclist – On cycling in Austin
- Reach out to the #greenliving Twitter community to connect with experts, ask questions, or find other pertinent resources.
Take Action
- Create or take part in a ‘reducing’ challenge on our Facebook Challenges page.
  - e.g. Bike or take public transportation to work one day this week.
  - e.g. While you’re in the neighborhood, lump those errands into the fewest number of trips by car. This might mean planning ahead before you head out.
  - e.g. Participate in meatless Mondays.
  - e.g. Enable others to partake in meatless days by hosting or organizing a potluck.
  - e.g. Go shopping at a local farmers’ market.
- Share your reduction plan(s) at work in an appropriate manner.
  - e.g. If you’re a teacher, make it part of current events, a mini-lesson, a show-and-tell theme, an outdoor excursion, community action project, student reduction plans measured in charts, etc.
  - e.g. Arrange a car pool or cycling group to the office.
  - e.g. Suggest a tie-free, casual dress day to keep the thermostat closer to 80 degrees. Often, those who wish to opt into the causal dress may make a donation to a sustainable cause in order to participate.
  - e.g. Give the holiday/birthday gift of reusable mugs and cups to that coworker is can always be spotted with a disposable drink.
- Complete goal setting journal
Reflect
- Follow up on your ‘reducing’ challenge by describing how it went on our Facebook Challenges page.
- Complete Journal 1.
- Start up a conversation with someone if you, like us, find that your lifestyle is more conducive to reducing than to recycling or reusing. Why is that?