An important aspect of sustainability is the ability to use an item many times before it must be discarded.  Proper care and maintenance will extend the life of most items, while improper use and care can quickly damage an item or reduce its lifespan.  Many products come with an owner’s manual or use and care instructions.  Reading them will generally provide some good information that will help keep the item in good condition. If you have purchased a used item, it’s usually easy to find the instructions and manuals on the internet.  Some items require periodic preventive maintenance to keep them in good condition, while other items just need to be used as intended.  Improper use and maintenance can also result in safety issues.  Taking a few minutes to understand how to use and care for your item to extend its life is a good way to practice sustainability.  Here are some thoughts and examples:

• Understand the cleaning requirements for your item.  How often should it be cleaned?  What kinds of cleaners should be avoided so the item is not damaged?  Does it require maintenance after cleaning?
• Know what kind of rechargeable battery is in your item and how to take care of it.  Some types of batteries should periodically be completely discharged, while other types of batteries can be seriously damaged by complete discharge.  Items that are infrequently used may need to be periodically recharged between uses to maintain the battery in good condition. 
• Some items, such as cars and mechanical equipment, require periodic maintenance based on hours of use or miles driven.  Following the manufacturer’s recommendations will help you get longer life from your item. 
• Many items should be used within specific limits of temperature or other parameters.  For instance, many cookware items have temperature limits or cautions about large temperature swings (I once exploded a glass baking pan by pouring cold water into a hot pan).
• Proper storage of an item when not in use is also important.  Sun, moisture, temperature extremes, and dirt can damage your items.  Some items need periodic care during long-term storage.  

Sustainability is more effective when actions take place under the appropriate conditions for the action.  For example, the showy milkweed plant, which is essential for the monarch butterfly, is native to this area.  Because monarch populations are significantly declining, many people are planting milkweed.  I planted milkweed seeds several times with no success.  Then, on a walk in a natural area, I noticed that milkweed grows in moist soil near the edges of lakes and canals, not in dry clay soil such as is in my yard.  Understanding and developing the correct conditions necessary for success would have probably resulted in a group of healthy milkweed plants in my yard.  This is true for most actions – knowledge can save time and energy and increase the likelihood of success.  Before you start a sustainability project, do a little research.  Here are a few ideas to ponder.   

• Cooking and eating more sustainably is about more than just choosing sustainable foods and ingredients.  Match the size of the pot to the size of the stovetop element so you don’t waste energy heating the air around the pot.  If you have a toaster oven, use it for small batch baking rather than using the standard larger oven.  When using the oven, plan to cook more than one item while the oven is hot.  Choose a menu appropriate for the weather – don’t use the oven for several hours on a day when the air conditioner is also operating.    
• There are many ways to make a house more energy efficient.  Understanding your individual situation will help you know how to make the biggest difference for the money and resources you will have to spend.  For a house with poor insulation, insulating the attic might be the most impactful change.  For house with old, drafty windows, caulking windows and adding heavy curtains might be an easy way to reduce energy loss if you cannot replace the windows.  Using appliances more effectively (read the instruction manual if you have it) can reduce the energy used in your home. 
• If you are trying to create habitat for native creatures, study what meets their needs.  Many pollinators (bees, moths, butterflies, etc.), birds, and other creatures require native plants to thrive.  Non-native plants and creatures may become an invasive nuisance instead of enhancing habitat.  Some birds will eat seeds from a bird feeder, but many will not.  These birds may require a ground feeder or berries instead of seeds.