How to Celebrate World Environment Day in Oakton & Fairfax County, VA

June 5^th is World Environment Day (WED), a day of environmental action and awareness run by the United Nations Environmental Programme since 1972. While the theme changes yearly, the core message remains constant: to empower people to make changes in their communities that have a positive impact on the planet.

This year, the focus is on climate change and how it affects everyone, especially small islands. The theme “Raise Your Voice, Not the Sea Level” is geared toward protecting small islands that are more vulnerable to natural disasters, climate change, and rising sea levels. WED asks you to recognize that we all depend on a clean, safe environment, and are connected by the same common goal.

So how can you be a vehicle for change in your own community? Here are 5 ideas:

1. Look for ways to reduce your family’s carbon footprint. Perhaps you can commit to taking public transportation or walking/biking to work once a week, or even once a month. Or maybe you can persuade your employer to
2. encourage and facilitate a “work from home” program.
   You can avoid wasting valuable resources at home and at work by powering off electrical devices and appliances. Also consider upgrading your dated appliances or central air conditioning system to Energy Star rated models that not only use less energy, but will cut down on your monthly utility bills.
   
3. Take steps to live a more sustainable lifestyle by thinking twice before buying something. Ask yourself if you really need it, or if it’s something you can buy used or borrow. And don’t forget to look for minimally packaged, locally made items.
   
4. Purge plastics from you home. Start by committing to ditch the plastic water bottles and opt for a reusable glass or stainless steel bottle. Use reusable shopping bags, and consider investing in reusable lunch sacks and sandwich bags over disposable.
   
5. Eat local. Plant a vegetable garden, support local farmers by shopping at farmer’s markets, and choose organic, responsibly sourced food whenever possible.

At Your 1 Plumber, we are dedicated to green plumbing in particular, and green living overall.  As such, we offer you numerous ways to help reduce your carbon footprint, including whole-house water filtration, low-flush toilets, low-flow faucets, and more.  Before you commit to your next plumbing project, why not check with us to see if there’s a greener way to accomplish the same – or perhaps an even better – end result.