Climate Action Playbooks
Dive Deep. Take Control. Have Fun.
Focus on and honor who and where you are -- today.
Follow a logical structure that guides you through the year -- one season, one topic at a time.
Follow a logical structure that guides you through the year -- one season, one topic at a time.
Here's what's magical about these books:
they invite you to experience the convergence of creativity and climate action;
they help you find your energy truth and in the process, make you feel powerful;
they inspire joy and new ways of being.
Welcome.
they invite you to experience the convergence of creativity and climate action;
they help you find your energy truth and in the process, make you feel powerful;
they inspire joy and new ways of being.
Welcome.
Kitchen Conservation Playbook
January & February
January & February
One of my first tries at homemade pizza!
An invitation to explore the dynamic relationship between what we eat, how we cook, and our overall personal energy consumption. Volume 1 of the Climate Action at Home playbooks focuses on food and the kitchen because cooking is universal, essential and in our control.
Activities: The activities focus on the foods you love and then invite you to plan a feast for people you love.
Why care? According to Project Drawdown, reducing food waste and eating less meat are the third and fourth most important things we can do to reduce our energy consumption and personal climate impact.
Also, we begin with the kitchen, because it provides a perfect place to consider all the other ways we use resources in our lives: how we do the dishes impacts water consumption, how we use our refrigerators, freezers and stoves impacts electricity consumption, and how we cook impacts electricity or gas consumption.
Activities: The activities focus on the foods you love and then invite you to plan a feast for people you love.
Why care? According to Project Drawdown, reducing food waste and eating less meat are the third and fourth most important things we can do to reduce our energy consumption and personal climate impact.
Also, we begin with the kitchen, because it provides a perfect place to consider all the other ways we use resources in our lives: how we do the dishes impacts water consumption, how we use our refrigerators, freezers and stoves impacts electricity consumption, and how we cook impacts electricity or gas consumption.
Energy at Home Playbook
March & April
March & April
Where we live, it can be cold in winter and very hot in summer.
An invitation to pay attention to details about your home by establishing your 'baseline.' Treat climate action the same way you manage your fitness and finances: Before you do anything, what is your status quo? It's impossible to measure progress if we don't know where we started. Also, it is essential to explore your story about your home and why you care about it.
Activities: The activities focus on the qualities you love about your home and the raw data you need to understand your home's energy 'footprint.'
We know that Americans consume 26% of the world's energy and that 18% of total emissions comes from operating our homes. Not only that, heating and cooling account for 56% of the energy use in a typical home. Ok. These are the big facts. What's your story?
Activities: The activities focus on the qualities you love about your home and the raw data you need to understand your home's energy 'footprint.'
We know that Americans consume 26% of the world's energy and that 18% of total emissions comes from operating our homes. Not only that, heating and cooling account for 56% of the energy use in a typical home. Ok. These are the big facts. What's your story?
Experience the Convergence of Creativity & Climate Action
Here’s the deal. I’m all about the convergence of creativity and climate action. As a photographer, I spend my life thinking about light, perspective and the framing of content. After more than a decade of trying to live within the planet’s means and experimenting with hundreds of different climate action resources, I have been frustrated with how others frame the content. There are many lists but few ways to measure your success based on your unique circumstances and point of view. Here's how it works:
1. Pay Attention
2. Establish Baselines
3. Practice Habits
4. Reflect on Progress
5. Repeat.
2. Establish Baselines
3. Practice Habits
4. Reflect on Progress
5. Repeat.
Notice #1: Pay Attention. In other words, be mindful. That's not something we often hear about in the rush to save the planet. And #4: Reflect on Progress. Again, reflections and expressions of gratitude for showing up are not always part of the climate conversation. These practices are essential, though, if we are going to find joy in the process and experience new ways of being.
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Hint: Use the tools you already have.
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Clothing Conversations Playbook
May & June
May & June
Even Lily Pulitzer clothing hangs on the line.
Focus on yet another universal aspect of our lives. We all wear clothes (well, most of us do) most of the time. We also buy them, wash them, dry them, build places to store them, and so much more.
Activities: The activities focus on the clothes you currently have (and love) and on how you actually do your laundry. It's amazing what I learned when I went through these exercises!
The apparel industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions caused by the production, manufacturing and transportation of billions of garments each year. And, who knew that if every US household washed 80% of their laundry in cold water, we would produce 50 million fewer tons of carbon each year? When focusing on your clothes you will also pay attention to water use.
What I find most interesting about laundry and clothes is that they offer a unique invitation to transform a chore into a creative climate action. Caring differently for the clothes you love allows you time to celebrate the stories embedded in each piece as well as an invitation to celebrate how you choose to be in the world.
Activities: The activities focus on the clothes you currently have (and love) and on how you actually do your laundry. It's amazing what I learned when I went through these exercises!
The apparel industry accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions caused by the production, manufacturing and transportation of billions of garments each year. And, who knew that if every US household washed 80% of their laundry in cold water, we would produce 50 million fewer tons of carbon each year? When focusing on your clothes you will also pay attention to water use.
What I find most interesting about laundry and clothes is that they offer a unique invitation to transform a chore into a creative climate action. Caring differently for the clothes you love allows you time to celebrate the stories embedded in each piece as well as an invitation to celebrate how you choose to be in the world.
Yard Adventures Playbook
July & August
July & August
Each year we take over a little bit more of the lawn.
Pay attention to the land upon which your home sits. It turns out, how you care for your lawn impacts not just the energy you use, but also your ability to be resilient in the face of unpredictable weather. Observing how water flows and light shines in your yard and around home helps you plan for a more diverse landscape, which birds, bees and butterflies (the pollinators that ensure a healthy food supply for us) need to survive.
Activities: Yard Adventures include everything from paying attention to a single tree and watching water flow during a rain storm to mapping your yard and thinking about how you might increase its biodiversity. This is the place where creativity and climate action converge with gusto.
Why care? According to the EPA, garden equipment gasoline engines produce up to 5% of the nation's air pollution and over 17 million gallons of fuel, mostly gasoline, is spilled each year refueling lawn equipment. And who knew that there are 63,000 square miles of lawn in the US, an area the size of Texas, and that turn grass is now the largest single 'crop' grown in the US. It seems that if the pollinators need more diverse habitats to survive, we have opportunities to make a difference right in our own back yards.
For me, the garden provides 'aha' moments all the time. And who didn't want to create a private Eden that benefits the planet as well?
Activities: Yard Adventures include everything from paying attention to a single tree and watching water flow during a rain storm to mapping your yard and thinking about how you might increase its biodiversity. This is the place where creativity and climate action converge with gusto.
Why care? According to the EPA, garden equipment gasoline engines produce up to 5% of the nation's air pollution and over 17 million gallons of fuel, mostly gasoline, is spilled each year refueling lawn equipment. And who knew that there are 63,000 square miles of lawn in the US, an area the size of Texas, and that turn grass is now the largest single 'crop' grown in the US. It seems that if the pollinators need more diverse habitats to survive, we have opportunities to make a difference right in our own back yards.
For me, the garden provides 'aha' moments all the time. And who didn't want to create a private Eden that benefits the planet as well?
Feel Powerful. Know Your Truth
What’s so cool is that even with all the contradictions in our lives — and there are many — facing our own truths with honesty and directness invites creativity. There are those ‘who knew?’ and ‘aha’ moments all the time, even if you’ve been doing this for years. The goal is to ‘practice’ climate action in the same way you practice anything else, whether it’s yoga or your tennis game. And as with these activities, it’s more fun when you are in a group. When you purchase a playbook, you will automatically be added to an e-mail list (for this and only this). Each week you will receive an encouraging e-mail from me that may include links I think might be of interest or invitations to join others in national eco challenges.
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Observation: Who knew compost could captivate?
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Traveling Tales Playbook
September & October
September & October
It turns out I've flown over 200,000 miles in my lifetime!
In Traveling Tales, you will explore your connection to place. As the new school year begins and children return to their classes, we look closely at the places we call home - - our neighborhoods, town and other destinations that lure us away from home.
Activities: Record your miles traveled walking, biking, driving and flying. Honor the places you love.
Since transportation accounts for 27% of US greenhouse gas emissions, paying attention to how and why we fly is yet another way we can take climate action at home. In the process, you will examine your connections to the people and places that give you joy and hopefully uncover new ways of being together and apart.
I have come to understand that while I head into the first museum I find in a new city, I have actually not visited all the various and sundry art galleries in my own community. What gives? Creativity and expression flourish right around me and I haven't taken full advantage of what is right next door...
Activities: Record your miles traveled walking, biking, driving and flying. Honor the places you love.
Since transportation accounts for 27% of US greenhouse gas emissions, paying attention to how and why we fly is yet another way we can take climate action at home. In the process, you will examine your connections to the people and places that give you joy and hopefully uncover new ways of being together and apart.
I have come to understand that while I head into the first museum I find in a new city, I have actually not visited all the various and sundry art galleries in my own community. What gives? Creativity and expression flourish right around me and I haven't taken full advantage of what is right next door...
Object Observations Playbook
November & December
November & December
Rufus & George have stories to share.
During the holiday season the Object Observations Playbook invites you to pay attention to what you love most. I use the term 'micro-drama' to celebrate those moments that appear small, but contain connections and stories beyond themselves. In this season of family gatherings and celebrations, you explore objects in your life - - not just your clothes, but all the rest.
Activities: Inventory all the stuff in your house, pay attention to what you love most, and then re-imagine what and how you share what you have with others.
Along the way, you will examine issues of waste and consumption - - issues that need no explanation if you have read this far. As your year of Climate Action at Home Playbooks draws to a close, reflect on what it will take for you to live within the planet's means while always honoring the people, places and possessions you love most.
Often, there are magical connections. When I pay close attention to the things I care about most, they usually lead me to the people I care about most. How cool is that?
Activities: Inventory all the stuff in your house, pay attention to what you love most, and then re-imagine what and how you share what you have with others.
Along the way, you will examine issues of waste and consumption - - issues that need no explanation if you have read this far. As your year of Climate Action at Home Playbooks draws to a close, reflect on what it will take for you to live within the planet's means while always honoring the people, places and possessions you love most.
Often, there are magical connections. When I pay close attention to the things I care about most, they usually lead me to the people I care about most. How cool is that?
Here's How they Work
Strategy:
Treat climate action
the same way you manage your
fitness and finances: Before you do anything,
establish your status quo. What is
your story and why do
you care about
it?
Treat climate action
the same way you manage your
fitness and finances: Before you do anything,
establish your status quo. What is
your story and why do
you care about
it?
Along the way,
work with whatever tools
you have at hand and remember that even
when the river runs dry, there are
natural forms & structures
there to guide you.
