How Your Daily Activities Help Create a Greener Community
By Wesley Yee
July, 2025
Significant lifestyle adjustments are not usually necessary for sustainability. Sometimes it begins
with the little things, like deciding to work from home once a week, walking to get coffee, or
carrying a reusable water bottle. Even though these routine choices might not seem like much,
they have the power to significantly alter a community when they are repeated.
Small Activities, Big Results
Your daily schedule influences the environmental impact you have from the time you leave the
house until you go to bed. These four easy practices contribute to the development of a more
sustainable community:
- Bring a reusable bottle: While remaining hydrated, cut down on single-use waste.
- Walk: If the trip is less than 1 km, think about walking rather than driving.
- Shop locally: Support your local family-owned farmers markets and independent grocery
stores, which minimize packaging.
- Try sustainable commuting options: Carpool, take local transit, or bike to and from work
when possible.
- If at all possible, work from home. Even a day a week can save emissions and travel.
If you're thinking about trying carpooling but don’t know where to start, the SmartCommute.ca App
can help you connect with others nearby who share similar routes and schedules.
Why Should You?
Individuals can have a significant collective impact when they make environmentally mindful
decisions. The air is better when there is less traffic. Cleaner parks and streets result from less
rubbish. Additionally, purchasing locally reduces shipping emissions and boosts the local
economy.
Sustainability isn't just about the earth - it's about improving our connected community to benefit
us and our future generations.