According to the World Health Organization, 13 million deaths annually and nearly a quarter of all disease worldwide – including 33 percent of illnesses in children under age five – are due to environmental causes that could be avoided or prevented. Doing your part to take care of the environment helps you protect yourself and others from the climate’s effects on health. Health issues such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease, and stroke can be aggravated by an unhealthy environment.

Production, processing, packaging, and transportation of food is highly dependent on the use of fossil fuels and chemical fertilizers. These can greatly harm our health and the health of the environment.

CDC envisions a food system that provides healthy, sustainable choices, minimizes environmental impacts, and serves as a model for the broader public health community. As a consumer, you have power to make a difference by considering the impact of your choices. Opting for local, healthy, environmentally responsible food helps promote both personal health and overall health of the community.

Sustainable food systems operate in a cycle of sustainable production and support. Farmers can make their food more sustainable by limiting pesticide use and treating their animals humanely and responsibly. Consumers can select food produced close to home and reduce the impact of our food system on the environment by lessening the distance food travels from farm to table.

• Choose foods that:
  • Do not harm the environment.
  • Support and preserve rural communities.
  • Are healthy and nutritious.
  • Respect farm animals.
  • Provide farmers with fair wages.
  • Are free of added toxins.
  • Are grown locally.
  • Do not harm the health of farm workers.

Pollutants released by vehicles greatly increase air pollution levels and have been linked to adverse health effects, including premature mortality, cardiac symptoms, exacerbation of asthma symptoms, and diminished lung function. To minimize the damaging impact of our current transportation choices, try adopting more sustainable methods of travel.

CDC campuses use the alternative commute options featured below, as well as onsite electric vehicle charging program for staff to shift to sustainable transportation in compliance with Executive Order 13693.

• Alternative commute options include:
  • Walking and bicycling.
  • Public transportation.
  • Carpools.
  • Vanpools.
  • Telework and alternate work schedules.

Sustainable homes are not only better for the planet, but offer opportunity for great cost savings.

• Tips for saving energy:
  • Make sure your home is well-insulated to conserve energy and spend less on heat and air conditioning.
  • Use a programmable thermostat to time your heat and air conditioning for when you are in your home. These can shut off while you are away, saving both energy and money.
  • Weatherproof your home. Caulk, seal, or weather strip outside openings to prevent air leaks.
  • Conserve water by installing aerating and low-flow faucets and showerheads. Coose garden plants that don’t have a high demand for water.
  • Looking for a major upgrade? Tankless and on-demand water heaters can save up to 30% of energy compared to standard natural gas tank heaters.

There are many stages in a product’s life cycle, and each one can negatively affect the environment. Before making a purchase, consider the full impact of the product’s material, manufacturing method, and usage.

To convert raw (or recycled) materials into a product, elements are processed, shaped, and manipulated. These steps consume energy and deplete nonrenewable natural resources. For example, plastic products are made from petroleum, a finite resource.

Transportation of products (including food) using fuel burning vehicles releases carbon emissions and contributes to particle pollution. This lessens air quality and can impact personal health.

Additionally, many products affect the environment throughout their useful life. Using these items responsibly can reduce their environmental impact. Any equipment with a plug requires electricity to operate. To prevent wasting energy, turn equipment off when not in use.

At the end of a product’s useful life, consider what parts may be reused and how to dispose of the product or its components responsibly. Plastics, glass, paper, and other materials may be recycled. Many manufacturers will take products at the end of their lifecycle. Check with vendors in your area for specifics on disposal practices.

• Green purchase checklist:
  • Contains 30% or greater post-consumer recycled content (paper).
  • Made of biobased content.
  • Is environmentally preferable, energy efficient, and/or water efficient.
  • Has minimal life cycle costs.
  • Has minimal risk of toxic/hazardous chemicals.
  • Is durable or has a long product life.
  • Is necessary.

Electronics impact the environment and human health. Fabricating and shipping electronics use water and energy, and often create industrial waste.

The disposal of electronics results in a massive amount of waste going into landfills. Toxins, commonly found in electronics, can leak into the soil or release into the air through burning.

To prevent toxic leakage from electronics, look for e-waste recycling programs in your community. Specialized centers can safely dispose of these products and may be able to recycle some of the material. Many manufacturers will also take old products to recycle their parts.

Only through management over the entire life cycle of electronics can we mitigate the negative effects on our soil, water, air, and health.

• Check for special programs in your area to recycle:
  • Batteries.
  • Old laptops or phones.
  • Printers, keyboards, and other computer accessories.
  • Televisions.
  • Wires and plugs.

Water efficiency is the smart use of our water resources through water-saving technologies and simple steps we can all take around the house. Using water efficiently will help ensure reliable water supplies today and for future generations. Best of all, everyone can play their part in preserving our nation's water resources. With the simple steps and informational tools below, you'll find that it's easier than ever.

Save Indoors

Maybe you've purchased some WaterSense labeled products and started down the road to savings, but don't stop there. There are lots of things you can do in your own home to reduce water use and get more from less. Just follow our simple tips below to get started!

Fix a leak:

Small household leaks can add up to gallons of water lost every day. That's why WaterSense reminds Americans to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems each year in March during Fix a Leak Week.

In the bathroom—where over half of all water use inside a home takes place:

• Turn off the tap while shaving or brushing teeth.
• Showers use less water than baths, as long as you keep an eye on how long you've been lathering up.
• If you’re dreaming of a Better Bathroom, get ready for your mini-makeover.
• Calculate how much you can save with WaterSense labeled products in the bathroom!

In the kitchen—whip up a batch of big water savings:

• Plug up the sink or use a wash basin if washing dishes by hand.
• Use a dishwasher—and when you do, make sure it's fully loaded!
• Scrape your plate instead of rinsing it before loading it into the dishwasher.
• Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the water is cool.
• Thaw in the refrigerator overnight rather than using a running tap of hot water.
• Add food wastes to your compost pile instead of using the garbage disposal.

In the laundry room—where you can be clean AND green:

• Wash only full loads of laundry or use the appropriate water level or load size selection on the washing machine.
• To save money on your energy bills, set your washing machine to use cold water rather than hot or warm water.

Save Outdoors

Of the estimated 29 billion gallons of water used daily by households in the US, nearly 9 billion gallons, or 30 percent, is devoted to outdoor water use. In the hot summer months, or in dry climates, a household's outdoor water use can be as high as 70 percent.

In the yard—be beautiful and efficient:

• Create a water-smart landscape that is both beautiful and efficient to give your home the curb appeal you desire.
• Timing is everything! Knowing when and how much to water allows you to keep a healthy landscape.
• Anytime is a good time for a Sprinkler Spruce-Up to check that your system is in proper working order.
• Upgrade to a WaterSense labeled controller if you have an in-ground irrigation system.
• Find a certified irrigation professionals to install, maintain, or audit your irrigation system to ensure it is watering at peak efficiency.
• Take a look at the Landscape Photo Gallery for inspirational examples of beautiful, water-smart landscapes from across the country.

Other outdoor uses—drop that hose and keep it covered:

• Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and steps rather than hosing off.
• Wash the car with water from a bucket, or consider using a commercial car wash that recycles water.
• If you have a pool, use a cover to reduce evaporation when the pool is not being used. And check out the Jump into Pool Water Efficiency guide.

Drop it when it’s hot:

• Take action during the hot summer months when water use increases to curb water waste. Get the facts on water use when it’s hot.
• If a drought is declared in your area, go the extra mile to save water.

Save Energy

It takes a lot of energy to deliver and treat the water you use every day for bathing, shaving, cooking, and cleaning. Homes with electric water heaters, for example, spend one-quarter of their electric bill just to heat water. As an example, letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours.

On average, the annual energy used to deliver and treat water for only 10 households could power a refrigerator for more than two years. In some areas of the country, that estimate is very low. Heating water for showering, bathing, shaving, cooking, and cleaning also requires a considerable amount of energy. Homes with electric water heaters, for example, spend one-fourth of their total electric bills.

One of the simplest ways to save both water and energy is to install water-efficient products. WaterSense labeled products not only save water, but can help reduce your energy bills. Installing WaterSense labeled faucet aerators in your bathrooms, for example, costs just a few dollars but could save you enough electricity to dry your hair every day for a year!

You can choose from thousands of models of WaterSense labeled plumbing products. What’s more, you can be sure the products will not only save resources, but will perform well. All WaterSense labeled products are tested and independently certified to ensure they meet EPA’s criteria for both efficiency and performance.

WaterSense labeled homes offer more savings compared to a traditional home. In addition to WaterSense labeled plumbing fixtures, these new homes include ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers and clothes washers, if those appliances are installed when the home is built. Take a look at another infographic on how WaterSense labeled homes save water and energy.

With pervasive droughts, and high energy prices across the country, nearly everyone is looking for ways to conserve resources and cut costs. The good news is that by using a little "water sense" we can all save water, energy, and money. Start saving both water and energy! Look for WaterSense labeled products and ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances that use water.

Did You Know?

It also takes water to create energy. Vast amounts of water are used to cool the power plants that generate electricity. In fact, it takes 3,000 to 6,000 gallons of water to power a 60-watt incandescent bulb for 12 hours per day over the course of a year!

Look for the Label and Save

The average family spends $1,100 per year in water costs, but can save $350 from retrofitting with WaterSense labeled fixtures and ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances. A full-sized ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer uses 13 gallons of water per load, compared to the 23 gallons used by a standard machine. That's more than 3,000 gallons of water, per year! Also, when we use water more efficiently, we reduce the need for costly investments in water treatment and delivery systems.

The WaterSense label will help you identify high-efficiency products, homes, and programs. These water efficient options provide the same performance and quality you've come to expect, but with the added benefit of water savings. WaterSense labeled products are backed by independent third party certification and meet EPA's specifications for water efficiency and performance. So, when you use WaterSense labeled products in your home or business, you can be confident you'll be saving water without sacrifice.

• Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Cut down on what you throw away. Follow the three "R's" to conserve natural resources and landfill space.
• Volunteer. Volunteer for cleanups in your community. You can get involved in protecting your watershed, too.
• Educate. When you further your own education, you can help others understand the importance and value of our natural resources.
• Conserve water. The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater that eventually end up in the ocean.
• Choose sustainable. Learn how to make smart seafood choices at www.fishwatch.gov.
• Shop wisely. Buy less plastic and bring a reusable shopping bag.
• Use long-lasting light bulbs. Energy efficient light bulbs reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Also flip the light switch off when you leave the room!
• Plant a tree. Trees provide food and oxygen. They help save energy, clean the air, and help combat climate change.
• Don't send chemicals into our waterways. Choose non-toxic chemicals in the home and office.
• Bike more. Drive less.