Living Sustainably

Earths continents covered in grass with a recycle logo in the background

Explore the path to sustainable living with our guide on making eco-friendly choices in your community, home, work, and on the roads.

From supporting local businesses to reducing your carbon footprint, discover practical tips for a greener lifestyle.

In your community

  • Shop locally- purchase from locally owned businesses. The Farmer’s Market is the perfect place to find food, gifts, and more.
  • Use reusable bags at the grocery store.
  • Get involved- participate in community cleanup events, beautification efforts, and more put on by Keep Grand Prairie Beautiful and Clean Prairie.

At home

  • When replacing household appliances, consider energy-efficient models. Look for products with an Energy Star label. These products are certified to help save energy. Find any appliance you need on the Energy Star website.
  • Conserve water! Take shorter showers, turn off the water when brushing your teeth, and reference the city’s guidelines when watering your lawn.
  • Dispose of household hazardous waste and prescription drugs properly! The city has a household hazardous waste program and a medication disposal program where residents can dispose of their items for free. Find more information on the City’s Household Hazardous Waste program and the City’s Medication Disposal Program on their respective pages.
  • Use less plastic. Swap those plastic water bottles for a reusable one. Instead of using Ziploc bags for lunch, find an alternative option like beeswax wraps or bags. If you are throwing away plastic, check to see if it can be recycled.
  • Turn off lights and reduce AC use when possible. During the summer, set your thermostat at a higher temperature when you’re not home. During the winter, set it at a lower temperature. Close your blinds and curtains during the summer to keep the heat out and keep them open during the winter to let the heat in. Following these tips will help you save energy while reducing your carbon footprint. Test your energy efficiency knowledge with the Department of Energy.

In your yard

  • Pickup after your pets. Pet waste can end up in our streams, rivers, and lakes which leads to harmful bacteria and nutrients polluting our waters.
  • Start composting. Limit food waste by creating a compost in your backyard. Compost leftover food scraps such as fruits and vegetables, grass clippings, nutshells, eggshells, and more! Visit the Natural Resources Defense Council to learn more about what you can compost. If you’re interested in becoming a master composter, the city offers classes in the spring each year.
  • Plant native plants. Native plants are plants that occur naturally in an area without having been introduced by humans. These form the most sustainable habitat. Native plants in Texas require less water and tend to be more resistant to heat. Find a list of suitable plants native to North Texas here: https://www.wildflower.org/collections/collection.php?collection=TX_northcentral or visit https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/ to find out more about environmentally friendly landscaping
  • Plant for pollinators. Plant for pollinators by using a wide variety of native plants and plant in clumps rather than single plants. Try not to use pesticides or find the least-toxic option. Pesticides ward off bees and other important pollinators. Use this planting guide to help you get started.
  • Find more lawn and gardening tips with Texas Smart Scape.

At work

  • Bring your lunch to work. Instead of running out to grab a bite to eat, take your lunch to the office. This helps prevent ozone pollution and saves you on gas!
  • Turn off your computer before leaving for the day. This will not only lower the electric bill but reduce the overall carbon footprint of your company. If possible, do the same with printers and copiers.
  • Add plants. Not only do they help reduce stress and look nice, but they also help purify the air. Good office plants for beginners include snake plants, spider plants, and pothos.
  • Install automatic timers and dimmers. This is a great way to reduce energy consumption and cost.

On the roads:

  • Carpool when possible. Carpooling reduces ozone pollution, traffic, and headaches.
  • Consider an electric or hybrid vehicle when purchasing a new vehicle. Electric and hybrid vehicles are a great for reducing ozone emissions.
  • Wash your car at commercial car washes instead of at home. It is better to get your car washed at a commercial car wash because they drain water through the sewage system where it gets treated and filtered before being used again. When you wash your car at home, dirt, oil, and soap washes straight into the storm drains where it is released into our streams and lakes. Less water is also used in commercial car washes compared to washing your car at home.
  • Reduce idling. Reducing your idling time in your car reduces pollution, conserves energy, and saves money. Idling wastes gas, releases carbon dioxide into the air thus increasing ozone pollution and puts unnecessary wear on the engine.

For the Kids

Learn more conservation tips at Take Care of Texas.

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