People are acting both globally and locally to meet the challenges of climate change. Both system and individual changes can help ensure a healthier natural world for generations. Below are ideas on how you can choose to engage with your community to reduce your climate impact. 

At your home or business 

• Do an energy audit of your home and/or rental properties. 
• Install energy conservation measures in your home and/or your rental properties. Learn more at The Switch is On Washington. 
• Consider becoming a Home Energy Score Certified Assessor. 
• If you own a business, reach out to PSE for a Small Business Energy Assessment. 
• If you own a business with buildings, complete energy conservation upgrades to the building such as LED lighting. 
• Consider solar for your home, rental property, or business. You can do this independently or through a group purchase program like Olympia Community Solar’s Solarize program. 
• Change out natural gas appliances for electric alternatives in your home, rental property, and/or business. There are lots of incentives, rebates, and programs to support you doing this. Learn more from The Switch is On Washington.
• If you own property, consider building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to support affordable housing. Learn about permits.  
• If you live in multifamily housing, talk to your property manager or landlord about installing EV charging using incentives provided by PSE.

Getting around town (transportation) 

• Prioritize walking, biking, or rolling to local neighborhood businesses rather than driving to locations further away. 
• Walk and bike whenever you can. It is both healthier and better for the environment. 
• Take Intercity Transit.
• Talk to others about transit options and your experience.
• Consider volunteering as a bus buddy.
• If you have school-aged children, consider having them walk or bike to school (or walk/bike with them to school).   
• Speak up at local government meetings and participate in surveys about your experience walking and biking around town. What is working? Where are improvements needed?
• If you drive a car, consider an electric vehicle (EV) for your next vehicle.
• If you drive a car (no matter if it is gas or EV), keep the tires inflated. This is helpful for fuel efficiency and also reducing the amount of tire wear that contributes to harmful runoff into salmon streams, rivers, and air. 
• If you drive an EV, talk to others about your experience.
• Telework if you can. 
• Support local governments buying electric vehicles and building electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
• Volunteer for Intercity Transit’s Walk N Roll program.
• Support and advocate for walkable neighborhoods in your local jurisdiction. 

Water conservation 

• Let your lawn go dormant in the summer or convert some or all of your lawn to drought-tolerant plants. Landscape irrigation is the largest use of water locally.  
• Conserve water at home and work. Take advantage of water conservation incentives available through our water utility and/or LOTT Clean Water Alliance.

 Buying stuff 

• Think about environmental or social impacts before making purchases.   
• Repurpose or buy secondhand when possible. 
• Avoid single use plastics as much as you can. Refill reusable containers from the bulk sections of grocery stores. 
• Support local businesses like restaurants, markets, healthcare offices, etc.
• Consider the social responsibility, economic and climate impacts of your banking and investment choices. 

Food and agriculture

• Waste less food. 
• Compost. You can do this in your backyard, your home, or via your waste hauler’s yard waste/compost service.
• Check out the Thurston Master Recycler Composter Program. It's for everyone from beginner to expert. 
• Try a plant-based diet or increase the proportion of plants in your diet. It's better for you and for the planet. 
• Support local farms/agricultural producers when you can. 
• If you farm, garden, or homestead, manage the nutrients that are produced or used on your property. 

Environment includes other people 

• Talk with your friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors about climate change and what you’ve done to lessen your impact. People are more likely to act if they know others are also acting. 
• Learn more about climate change. Attend events and workshops held by local governments, research/educational institutions, community-based organizations, etc. Vet your personal research to ensure you’re learning from qualified individuals.  
• Consider reading books (or organizing a book club) from the Olympia Climate Reads list. 
• While climate change is a distressing reality, relying on friends and community to take action can build your own personal resilience and sense of hope.  
• Organize your friends, family, or neighbors to take collective action on a climate solution. 
• Help others make ends meet; support others when you can. 
• Support zoning and code changes that allow more housing types which make housing more affordable for all incomes. 
• Say "Yes, in my backyard" when developments are proposed in your neighborhood that increase housing availability like duplexes, multiplexes, or apartments. 
• Volunteer with or donate to organizations that serve vulnerable populations.  
• Get to know your neighbors.  
• Let others know if you’ve identified needs/programs that would make our communities more resilient.  

Ecosystems 

• If you own property, plant some trees where they’re appropriate. Carefully consider any tree removal. 
• Engage with Tumwater’s tree related policies and plans.  
• Support the preservation of prairie ecosystems. If you own property that is or was prairie, consider investing some time and energy into restoring the prairie.  
• Get involved with organizations doing ecosystem/habitat/species restoration work, such as Thurston County Stream Team. 

Advocate

• Try out doing your own Climate Venn Diagram to find out what climate action is perfectly suited for you as a unique individual with skills, networks, and your own personal passions. Send us your Climate Venn.  
• Stay engaged with the Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative and read their annual reports.  
• Celebrate success and give accolades publicly when you think local governments or organizations are doing good work. 
• Voice your concerns to local governments when you feel they’ve overlooked or ignored something important for climate action or climate justice.  
• Engage with state legislators to voice your support or concern for bills and budgets. 
• Vote in every election you’re able to. 

Want to learn more? Contact Tumwater Sustainability Manager Alyssa Jones Wood.