Sustainable at Home

It all comes down to you. Every person can make positive changes to save resources for future generations. Here you’ll find tools to help you at home or in the community.

BUY LESS

Experts tell us that we’d need four more planets like Earth if everyone on the planet used as much stuff as we Americans do!

Watch The Story of Stuff to learn more.

Check out the City of Richland’s Green Living page for tips on green cleaning products, recycling information and more.

One measurement of impact is called carbon footprint.

Check out these carbon calculators and see how much CO2 you’re putting into the atmosphere each year!  The average U.S. resident contributes 150 tons per year.

WA State Dept. of Ecology Carbon Footprint Pledge

CarbonFootprint.com this compiles data from around the world for a comprehensive tool.
RE-USE & RECYCLE
The obvious choices for re-use are Goodwill, St. Vincent dePaul, Columbia Industries, and similar programs with retail outlets.

But do you know about Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore?

Or ‘shop from home on Craigs List, Free Cycle or locally managed 2Good2toss.
Anyone can ‘shop’ only Benton County residents may list items – Franklin County residents, ask your commissioners to sign up!

YARD CARE

The Mid-Columbia only gets 7-10 inches of rain per year. That’s less than Los Angeles! It’s time to re-think our landscaping to work with the climate. You’ll save money (if you’re on city water) resources and time in the process.

A variety of WaterWise landscaping materials are posted by WSU Spokane Extension.

Grow vegetables in your front yard!  Food gardens use less water than turf.  Not sure how it would look, consider this, if it’s good enough for the White House, it’s good enough for your house!

Post your green home tips below!

DID YOU KNOW?

Tribal members measure fish carcasses, from CRITFC website

Salmon and steelhead are  major economic and cultural resources, important to Native Americans AND our coastal fishermen, and local recreational outfitters.  The Yakima River is the source for Kennewick Irrigation District, Columbia Irrigation District and Kiona Irrigation District water.  When the river is low, temperatures sometimes reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit.  Salmonids become physically stressed at temperatures above 68, and are happiest in water about 58 degrees. That water that so many of us get very cheaply would be better in the river late fall and early summer when the fish return to spawn.