Do Less

Black and white image of woman in a t-shirt standing and smiling in front of a wooden door outside the Los Mulinos storefront in Auraria

Do less of what hurts the planet. Fighting climate change doesn’t have to be hard, sometimes it’s as easy as asking, “Is this hurting the planet? Is this hurting my community?” If so, simply do it less often. Like Los Molinos at Auraria, a family-run Mexican restaurant. They wanted to reduce waste, cut costs, and create a cozy atmosphere. So they joined Reuse Denver and switched to metal cutlery and stoneware plates and bowls. Not only have they reduced waste, they now save $4,726 a year simply by using less disposable service ware.

Get ideas on how to do less throughout your day. Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? 

On-the-go

  • Idle less. If you drive, turn off your engine when stopped for prolonged periods of time.
  • Skip the single-use service ware when ordering take out or delivery.
  • Drive less. Replace at least 1 car trip per week with an alternative mode of transportation.
  • Buy less stuff.
  • Practice Zero Waste Grocery habits.
  • Use fewer single-use travel items like mini shampoos, disposable razors, etc.
  • Waste less by shopping at a Zero Waste business or refill shop.
  • Buy less online to avoid emissions from shipping and packaging.
  • Reduce the number of cars per household.

 

At Home

  • Insulate your home’s attic space to waste less energy and lower your electric bill.
    • Find rebates here.
  • Install low-flow fixtures and dual-flush toilets to use less water.
  • Lower your water heater’s temperature to reduce energy use.
  • Turn off lights in empty rooms.
  • Unplug devices when not in use.
  • Turn off electronics instead of leaving them on standby.
  • Use less hot water (we hear cold plunging’s in!).
  • Wash laundry with cold water to save energy and prevent fading.
  • Use fewer single-use items like paper towels, plastic wrap, and bottled water.
  • Waste less food.
  • Lose the lawn.
  • Skip pesticides in your yard and garden that can harm pollinators and beneficial insects.
  • Use less gas by upgrading to an induction burner.

At Work

  • Cut back on your business’s food waste.
  • Use less paper by switching to digital processes (say no to printing).
  • Shut down your computer at night or turn off power strips.
  • Avoid disposable cups and single-use water bottles.
  • Use less plastic by switching to reusable service ware if you’re a restaurant with onsite dining.
Back to top