Written by Lili Pita, Energy Specialist, OEEC

With 2025 right around the corner, New Years resolutions are top of mind for many. There’s no better time to look at your habits and see what changes could be made to reduce your environmental footprint while potentially saving money! 

Here are 7 ways to be more sustainable in 2025 and beyond:
 

1. Join the circular economy: Buy Nothing is a movement that encourages people to share and reuse those items within their local community instead of buying, or trash unwanted or unneeded items. Do a quick internet search or ask your neighbors on Nextdoor to find your neighborhood’s group.  By joining your local group, you’re able to participate in the circular economy, reduce waste, and build a community.
    
2. Buy intentionally: This can seem like a no-brainer but when it is necessary to make a purchase (after checking with your Buy Nothing group!), take a pause and consider if there are more sustainable alternatives to your purchase. Rather than buying more single-use plastic snack bags, consider buying reusable silicone snack bags. Before buying a shirt from a fast-fashion store, head to your local thrift store. If you often eat on-the-go, buy metal or bamboo utensils rather than using single-use plastic ones. 
3. Make your home more energy efficient: Make 2025 the year you weatherize your home! Fairfax County residents can borrow thermal imaging cameras from your local Fairfax County Public Library. The camera will identify hot and cold spots, showing where improvements could be made. Improvements could be small-, medium-, or large-scale projects and could result in energy and cost savings! 
   
   Pro Tip: For smaller projects, your favorite library branch also offers the Conserve Energy Kit, which includes tools and consumables to do the job!
    
4. Properly heat and cool: If you have a programmable thermostat, be sure to set it to run only when you’re home, as well as on energy saving modes when you’re away for extended periods of time. When you want to give your HVAC unit a break, turn on your ceiling fans but check that it’s in the proper setting for the season. For cooler months, your fan should spin clockwise to pull warm air down from the ceiling; for warmer months, your fan should spin counterclockwise to create a wind chill effect. Visit our Home Energy page for more tips!
    
5. Cook efficiently: When cooking at home, you can save energy by keeping a few things in mind. Be sure to pick the right size pot or pan for the burner and use lids. If you need to cook something in an oven, consider using an air fryer or toaster oven to reduce energy consumption. When cooking frozen food, properly thaw foods prior to cooking to reduce cooking time. 
    
6. Upgrade laundry day: There are tons of ways to reduce your environmental footprint when doing your laundry. When it comes to washing, you can save energy and money by washing your clothes in cold water. Also consider swapping your detergent for plastic-free pods. When it’s time to dry your clothes, consider letting clothes air dry – not only will you save on energy, but your clothes may also last longer! If using a dryer, invest in wool balls to reduce drying time and soften clothes.  And be sure to clean your lint trips to improve dryer operation and reduce your risk of fire!
    
7. Be smart online:  In this day and age, it’s impossible to not spend time on the internet. To reduce energy consumption while browsing, you can reduce unnecessary tabs in your browser, download content instead of streaming, reduce your monitor brightness, and consider adjusting your video quality to lower settings

Welcome the New Year in a more environmentally friendly manner by implementing some (or all!) of these resolutions! 

Ready to take more action? Join the Sustain Fairfax movement and help us work toward a greener, healthier future in Fairfax County.