How Sustainability at Home Goes Beyond

Educators have done their job, reaching far and wide to teach the importance of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and at this point, most Americans know they should turn off the faucet when they brush their teeth. While changes at home can’t solve the many environmental crises we face today, they can sure help — especially when they are combined with policy action at the state and federal level. Take for example, food waste. The statistics are staggering. Thirty-one percent of the available food supply at the retail and consumer levels in 2010 went uneaten (see USDA PDF here). That’s a lot of money down the drain, and it has a big impact on the environment too, since much of that food ends up in landfills, where it off-gases methane, a potent contributor to global warming. Through this series sponsored by Whirlpool Corporation, we’ll explore how initiatives like curbside compost pick-up, rebates on compost bins, and efficient appliances can help families reduce their impact without breaking the bank.