This post is for the US readers.  The upcoming general election is incredibly important.  The two parties have very different views of the direction the US should go.  This election will be a critical step in determining our future.  Elections are about more than one issue; they are about determining which philosophy of government will take us into the future.  Every vote matters, so please go vote.  Look at the candidate’s values and plans, and pick the one that best aligns with your values.  Sometimes your vote will be “against” one candidate by voting for an opponent that is a better choice (even if not “perfect”), and that’s okay too.  Voting is a privilege, a right, and a duty.  Don’t take that right for granted.  Women were not allowed to vote until 1920, after decades of struggle.  Some other groups of Americans were not able to vote for decades after that. 

The President determines who will be appointed to the Supreme Court, and who will be appointed to the Cabinet posts.  As long as they don’t violate laws, these Cabinet leaders have a profound effect on the priorities and policies in their departments. 
Congress determines which programs and agencies will have funding increases and which will have decreases.  Congress passes laws that have significant impact on the nation. 
The environmental protection laws passed by Congress in the 1970s and 1980s had a profound impact on pollution, hazardous waste, and protection of endangered species.  Congress can also help or impede a President’s agenda.

State and local elections are just as important.  The elected officials in your state, county, or town make and enforce laws that affect your immediate surroundings.  We have seen many instances over the last few years of states enacting very different laws from each other, so your state legislature has a big effect on your life. 

Now go study the candidates and issues (don’t rely on social media sound bites or television commercials – many of these are strongly biased or even false).  Look at what the candidates themselves are saying and check news sources associated with both sides.  AND THEN GO VOTE!!!

One of my long-time readers relocated from a very small rural community to a very large metropolitan area.  She commented that the difference really illustrated for her how small actions by a very large number of people add up.  This applies to both sides of sustainability – helping the earth or contributing to negative impacts.  Your actions DO matter, even if it seems to you that the actions are too small to make a difference.  Here are some illustrations. 

• Imagine a very large city with millions of homes, apartments, and businesses.  Each of these spaces is likely to have either heating in the winter, air conditioning in the summer, or both.  For our example, assume all of the thermostats are set at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius).  Now imagine the potential energy savings if each of those spaces set the thermostat at 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) in the winter and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius) in the summer.  Per the University of Utah website, “if everyone in the US changed their thermostat by one degree Fahrenheit, it would reduce annual carbon emissions by 7.2 teragrams.”  I don’t know how they defined “everyone” to make this calculation. 
• Now imagine the streets in this city at rush hour.  Long lines of cars clog the streets, each putting out extra carbon emissions because the commute time is lengthened with so many cars creeping slowly toward their destination.  Imagine some drivers changing the time of their commute, so that they make the drive during a less congested time of day and so use less gas (and save a lot of time).  Imagine other drivers using public transportation or finding someone for a carpool.  Eventually, the clogged streets will be less crowded, and everyone else will be able to commute more efficiently.  Carbon emissions and other toxic air pollutants will be reduced in this city. 
• Imagine that the metropolitan area has 5 million people.  Now imagine that each of those people toss one single-use plastic fork onto a pile that will be taken to the landfill.  Five million plastic forks will make a very large pile.    
  

Sometimes a little investigation will show you a place or activity that is consuming extra resources, and you can then find a way to fix that.  The best example is water leaks.  If your water bill suddenly goes up, you likely have a water leak.  In addition to wasting water, some water leaks can also lead to rot inside walls or under floors, requiring expensive repairs.  Some additional thoughts:

• I noticed that my t-shirts tended to get small holes in the front near my waist.  I finally figured out the cause.  My t-shirt is between my seat belt and my jeans when I am in the car and it rubs little holes.  Now I can keep my shirt outside the seatbelt and my shirts last longer.
• A sudden increase in your electric bill could mean a short circuit or appliance that needs repair.  Call an electrician to investigate. 
• A quick soil test might tell you what minerals and amendments will help your garden be more productive.  If you are planting a native habitat area, do your research on what the plants need to grow well. 
  

In the broad sense, using the right “tool” for the job can help with sustainability.  Here are some thoughts:

• Save the heavy-duty cleaning chemicals for nasty jobs where nothing else will accomplish the job.  Use less-toxic cleaning chemicals, a homemade spray of vinegar and water, or just a clean reusable wet cloth.
• Choosing the appropriate hand or power tools is not only safer but can reduce waste and re-dos from damage to your project by using an inappropriate tool. 
• A cheap low-quality tool can make it harder to do the job and is more likely to break or wear out quickly. 
• Instead of grabbing a random can of paint at the store, learn about the best type of paint for what you are painting so that it will last longer before needing a new coat of paint.  Choose low VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and good quality brushes and rollers that can be washed and reused.