Tips for Taking Climate Action

Join a Neighborhood Association, gardening club, or volunteer program with a sustainability focus.

If you live in an apartment building, check out suggestions from the National Apartment Association outlining sustainable practices for rental housing. Advocate for the ones relevant to your building!

Start a block-level sustainability project like a tool library, native plant swap, carpool group, or community compost hub. The City of Boise provides resources, grants, and toolkits to help residents organize.

Start a neighborhood challenge by picking a theme that matters to your neighborhood—like reducing household waste, biking instead of driving, or planting drought-tolerant gardens. Set a timeline, share resources, and encourage everyone to track their progress. EnergyStar has resources for starting a competition related to energy to help you get started!

Take a trip to The WaterShed, Boise’s Climate and Water Science Center, and share what you learn with your friends and family.

Identify areas where your workplace or school can improve its sustainable practices, whether it’s through transport and mobility needs or waste reduction. Climate Voice has a guide for employees to encourage their employers to improve their sustainability choices.

High school students can apply to join the Youth Climate Action Council where they can lead local sustainability efforts.

Support zoning and development that allows mixed-use neighborhoods and affordable housing near public transit. Attend public meetings like zoning and planning commissions, share feedback on city plans, and talk with neighbors about the benefits of compact, walkable communities. Every voice helps shape a city where climate-friendly choices are the easiest ones to make.

Low on at-home garden space? Join a community garden! Explore City of Boise Community Gardens and Treasure Valley Community Gardens to find a plot near you.

Head out to the Boise Farmer’s Market or West Bench Farmer’s Market and see what goodies await. Remember, you can use your SNAP/EBT for “double-up” benefits at the market. To see what’s in season and for recipe information, check out Idaho Preferred!

Support local and regional planning efforts that prioritize farmland conservation and organizations like the Land Trust of the Treasure Valley. Speak up at city and county meetings, share your views with elected officials, and back policies like agricultural zoning, conservation easements, and smart growth.

What’s more local than your home garden? Find a sunny spot in your yard and prepare the soil with compost to grow vegetables, herbs and greens. Get started on your food-growing journey with a class at BUGS, helpful tips from The Idaho Botanical Garden and the planting guide from the National Gardening Association.

Support local farmers by subscribing to Community Supported Agriculture. When you subscribe, you purchase a “share” of a farm’s harvest at the start of the season. In return, you’ll receive regular deliveries or pick-ups of fresh, seasonal food straight from Idaho producers.

Visit local green spaces, read signs, learn from field guides or join a guided walk to learn about the plants and animals that share our city. Boise Parks and Recreation and Bogus Basin have a variety of classes and events to choose from.

Support urban biodiversity by adding pollinator plants to your landscaping or join the City’s Master Naturalist program.

Follow trail etiquette to keep Boise's beautiful natural resources accessible for generations to come: Stay on designated trails, don’t hike when it’s muddy, pack out all trash and avoid disturbing plants and wildlife. Support conservation programs like the Idaho Conservation League to advocate for the protection of Boise’s open spaces.

Pick a shade tree to plant at home using the Treasure Valley Tree Selection Guide. For additional resources and opportunities for planting trees in the region, check out the Treasure Valley Canopy Network!

Explore the Back-to-School Low Waste Guide to find tips and tricks for packing a lunchbox.

Donate electronic items to local organizations like Computers for Kids or The Reuseum instead of throwing them away.

Keep a food scrap stash in your freezer to limit odors. As it fills up, place the contents in your green-lid compost cart for weekly pick-up.

Check out the EPA’s guidance for starting a home composting system.

Invite some friends over to swap clothes, combine forces for a garage sale, or exchange household items! Check out our suggestions for neighborhood activation.

Give old items new life — turn jars into storage, t-shirts into rags, or pallets into garden beds. If something’s broken, visit a repair café or try to fix it yourself with iFixit resources.

Shop at local businesses recognized for their climate-conscious efforts. The City of Boise gives Curb It Awards to businesses that excel at waste reduction and the Boise Farmer’s Market or source food locally.

Search “thrift store” on Google Maps, and voila, you’ll see so many options! In Boise, we’re lucky to have secondhand stores for everything, from craft supplies, sporting goods, books and appliances.

Explore Idaho Power’s 30 Ways to Save Energy Guide.

Advocate for community solar by talking with your neighbors, homeowners’ association or workplace about the benefits of renewable resources and community solar. Share feedback with Idaho Power and the City of Boise about the importance of expanding community solar programs and support local and state policies that fund or incentivize shared solar projects.

Save energy in the kitchen by matching your pan size to the burner, keeping lids on, and batch cooking. Pressure cookers, toaster ovens, and microwaves all use less energy than a full-size oven.

Take advantage of Idaho Power’s Heating & Cooling Efficiency Program to get cash incentives for installing air-source and ductless heat pumps in existing homes. Explore the U.S. Department of Energy Heat Pump Systems page to learn more.

Sign up for a Home Energy Audit through Idaho Power to get professional advice on how to save energy at home.

Pick up surge-protecting power strips from the hardware store or even secondhand to plug in your TV, gaming systems, computer or kitchen devices. By flipping the switch, you can turn off your electronics completely.

Installing a smart thermostat is easier than you’d think! See if you qualify for a smart thermostat rebate with Idaho Power to help cover the cost.

Explore Idaho Power’s guide to going solar. You can finance solar through loans, leases, or power purchase agreements to lower upfront costs. Pairing solar panels with battery storage can also help you keep the lights on during outages and store excess energy for use in the evenings.

Purchase weatherstripping kits at a local hardware store. Most products are simple peel-and-stick or press-in, so you can easily install them on your own. Explore Weatherization Assistance programs through El-Ada to get assistance in covering the cost of weatherstripping.

Learn how to fix your leaky faucet and save some water.

A rain barrel stores runoff from your roof that you can use to irrigate plants during Boise’s dry summer. Place a rain barrel under a downspout on a sloped section of your roof. Make sure it has a screen to keep out debris and mosquitoes and connect a spigot for easy access—check out the Conservation Foundation’s instructions for installing a rain barrel. During winter and spring, your garden soil absorbs rainfall, reducing the need for extra watering. Then, in summer, use the water from your barrel to keep plants hydrated without tapping into household water.

To save water and money on your water bills, install water-efficient fixtures. The EPA has more information about WaterSense faucets.

Water your plants in the morning or early evening to keep them healthy and so you don't have to water your plants as frequently. Check out more tips for saving water from the Ada Soil & Water Conservation District.

ACHD's Commuteride helps you plan a sustainable commute and offers incentives for tracking alternative transportation.

Ride your bike safely all year long by adding fenders, lights and reflective gear for dark, snowy or wet conditions. Layer clothing for warmth and rain protection, and plan routes on the Greenbelt, bike lanes, or quieter streets. Local bike shops like Boise Bicycle Project offer winter gear and maintenance tips.

Take a break from driving! Find a bus route that works for you using Google Maps or the Valley Regional Transit website. ACHD also provides resources that make it easier to bike around Boise.

Write to local leaders and participate in public community meetings and events about bus and transit infrastructure in the city. Use the bus whenever you can to demonstrate demand and share your experience with your community to spread the word about bus riding.

When it’s time for your household to invest in a new car or even new lawn equipment, consider going electric. The U.S Department of Energy has information about EVs for folks in apartments and other multifamily housing.

Join conversations at City Council meetings, neighborhood associations or regional planning forums to voice your support for improved bike infrastructure. Write to Valley Regional Transit and the Ada County Highway District to highlight gaps like missing sidewalks and unsafe bike connections.

Take advantage of fare incentives and reduced student rates for public transit. Make your route part of your regular routine!