Americans are consumers. Big time. We love stuff. Look around the room you’re in right now. Take a moment to realize how many items that you’ve accumulated over the years. Every single one took energy to make and transport (“embodied energy”) – they didn’t magically appear in the mall or on your doorstep in a brown cardboard box. Services, too, make up a big part of the American lifestyle. Everything from seeing a movie to getting a haircut to stopping at the bank (and, yes, having a Facebook account, or posting pictures on Flickr or Interest—even reading this Manual online) is part of this category of energy consumption.

In total, goods and services make up more than half of the nation’s energy use – and that’s just on average. Some people buy and use so much stuff that it adds up to 70% of their overall energy footprint and as a country, we’re the “1%” of world energy users.

There’s no denying that our addiction to stuff isn’t good for the planet. But we can all take small steps toward breaking this addiction. The great news is that buying less and reusing more isn’t just good for the Earth; it’s a good way to de-clutter and de-stress and get back to the (often intangible) things that really matter. Having less stuff means each item in your possession is more meaningful. Reusing an object or inheriting a piece of furniture or a bike from a friend or family member can be more special than buying new. Wearing a one-of-a-kind jacket you scored on EBay or at a vintage shop means you won’t see everyone else wearing it. And let’s not forget that gently used goods tend to be a lot less expensive than their never-been-used counterparts. There’s a lot to be gained from rethinking your shopping patterns and making more deliberate, energy-wise decisions.
 

Shopping Tips

• When possible, buy used. (Unless, of course, you’re replacing an outdated, energy hogging item, like an old washing machine, to make way for a newer, energy-saving model.) Studies show that buying a used item takes only 5-15% of the energy embodied in buying a new item. That’s a big difference, and there are lots of great places to shop for gently used goods both online and in person. Don’t worry if you have to have it shipped; it takes 7 to 10 times more energy to manufacture a new product than to transport an old one from its previous owner to you.
• Consign or donate things you no longer want. On a similar note, don’t leave your old unwanted stuff out by the curb for trash pickup. If it ends up in a landfill, it’ll be a total waste. If it’s in decent shape, consign it or donate it to a charity organization that will resell it and use the profits for their good work.

• Moo-ve away from stuff made from cows. Animals emit greenhouse gases; so livestock-based goods are particularly high in CO2 emissions. In other words, a pair of leather shoes will leave a much larger carbon footprint (pun intended) than a pair made from another material.
• Recycle. This is a familiar call to action, because it works! Recycling can save energy, although not as much as reusing items. You can save 2400 pounds of CO2 each year by just recycling ½ of your household waste. Our mantra, every little bit helps.
• Less packaging. Enough said!