ECOLOGICAL HOUSE MANAGEMENT CHECKLIST
Level 1
Some questions to help determine scale
 What is the area of the house’s grounds?

How many built structures are inside the grounds?

How many people reside within the grounds?

How many guests do you usually host in a month?

During the day, how many people come to work?

Particularly at weekends how many groups and how many people use the area?
Please use the scale below to assess the level of ecological practices within our houses and community:
0 – Never
1 – Seldom
2 – Sometimes
3 – Oftentimes
4 – Always
Energy, Water, & Waste
1.1 Energy saving practices: refrigerator
 Regular defrosting of the fridge.
 Keeping the door seals on the refrigerator in good condition and timely replacement of
loosened door seals as needed.
 Regular cleaning of the refrigerator and cabinets and timely disposal of moldy, spoiled or
stale foods.
 Providing plenty of ventilation space around the refrigerator.
 Locating the ref out of direct sunlight and away from other heat sources, e.g., oven.
 Use of efficient refrigerators.
 Minimize opening of refrigerator door.
1.2 Water conservation: Kitchen water do’s and don’ts
 Filling a container with water for washing or rinsing food (fruits or vegetables) or utensils
instead of letting the faucets run.
 Washing all the vegetables for a meal at the same time.
 Saving water used for washing food for recycling, e.g., for watering plants.
 Use of a brush, washcloth, or one’s hand to dislodge particles of dirt when washing
anything, rather than relying on the force of water to do the job.
1.3 Waste reduction
 Cutting food wastes through careful planning of the food for the expected number of
people eating and refraining from over-providing.
 Bringing your own reusable bag when buying house supplies.
 Choosing foods with less packaging to reduce waste.
 Refraining from using plastic or disposable cups, glasses, plates, spoons and forks during
special occasions.
 Using cloth napkins instead of paper for towels and napkins.
1.4 Use of locally grown and produced food
 Prioritizing the purchase of food from local farmers and producers.
 Buying organic or other sustainably produced foods.
 Diversifying meals by going meatless for just one meal a week or having vegetarian meals
on a daily, weekly, or other regularly scheduled basis.
1.5 Food composting
 Setting up a composting program for food wastes.
 Donating used cooking oil to interested groups for recycling.
1.6 Reuse of recyclable materials
 Adopting a recycling program for kitchen recyclables, e.g., bottles, cans, and cardboard.
Ecology Task Force Jesuit Conference Asia Pacific. This checklist is managed by Dominique Tyl SJ (domtyl@riccimac.org)
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ECOLOGICAL HOUSE MANAGEMENT CHECKLIST
Level 1
 Reuse of old shirts as rags.
1.7 Use of non-toxic cleaning materials
 Use of biodegradable, non-toxic and natural household cleaning products.
 Choosing cleaning products that offer a refill option.
Living room
2.1 Energy saving practices: light
 Use natural daylight as much as possible.
 Switching to energy saving light bulbs, e.g., replacing regular light bulbs with a compact
fluorescent lamp (CFL).
 Keeping bulbs/lamps clean at all times to maximize the light that they give (Dusty or dirty
globes and light shades can reduce light output by up to a half).
 Refraining from switching on and off the light frequently so as not to decrease the life of
the bulb.
 Switching off appliances (televisions, computer equipment and stereos) and gadgets
(cellphone charger) when not in use rather than putting them on stand-by mode.
 Choosing energy efficient gadgets/appliances.
 Use of rechargeable batteries (& battery charger).
 Plugging the appliances into power surge protector strips and turning the power off at the
strip when not in use.
2.2 Energy saving practices: air-conditioning
 Sealing the gaps under doors, closing the doors and windows tight when using airconditioner.
 Refraining from leaving the doors open longer than it takes to get in or out.
 Regularly cleaning or replacing dirty A/C filters to keep the A/C operating at peak efficiency.
 Use of fans rather than air conditioners during warm weather.
 Putting up shade for windows to prevent the sun from heating up the house during hot
weather.
 Using appropriate curtains or blinds that freely allow the air to pass through.
Office Room
3.1 Energy saving practices: computer use.
 Turn off computers and monitors when not in use.
 Choosing computers that minimize energy consumption (Desktops can consume up to 10
times more energy than laptops. Inkjets printers consume less energy than laser printers).
 Look for power management features on the computer to minimize energy use (e.g., a
feature that enables the computer to go into low-power mode when not in use).
 Printing only what is necessary.
 Printing one copy of memos and other documents and circulating the copy rather than
printing off a separate copy for everyone.
 Reusing printer paper waste.
 Emailing communications rather than faxing whenever possible to cut down on paper
waste.
3.2 Office: green practices
 Putting a waste paper recycling box near the printers.
 Reuse of envelopes, wrapping paper and other paper materials wherever possible.
 Adopting recycling strategy for items such as batteries, cell phones, computers, and printer
cartridges.
 Using "real" mugs, glasses – rather than disposables – during meetings.
Ecology Task Force Jesuit Conference Asia Pacific. This checklist is managed by Dominique Tyl SJ (domtyl@riccimac.org)
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ECOLOGICAL HOUSE MANAGEMENT CHECKLIST
Level 1
Bathroom and Laundry Room
4.1 Water efficiency: Bathroom do’s and don’ts.
 Installing water-saving devices on faucets and showerheads.
 Taking shorter showers.
 Turning off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
 Rinsing hand razors in a filled sink rather than under running water.
 Lower water consumption thru toilet flushing: replacing the old single-flush toilet with the
dual-flush toilets that are much more water-efficient.
 Prompt repair of leaks in faucets and toilets.
 Providing separate waste-baskets inside toilets and bathrooms for tissue and shampoo
containers and other non-biodegradable wastes.
4.2 Purchase of bathroom supplies
 Use eco-cleaning products.
 Purchasing shampoo and soaps in relatively larger quantities rather than in small packets.
4.3 Water saving: laundry
 Washing clothes in larger loads instead of several smaller loads.
 Saving and reuse of water used for rinsing clothes, such as for watering plants.
4.4 Energy-saving habits: laundry
 Running the laundry machine only when full.
 Use of a clothesline to dry clothes instead of a drier.
Gardening and Yard Maintenance
5.1 Water conservation: Yard water use dos and don’ts
 Watering only when necessary to conserve water.
 Irrigating the lawn slowly, deeply and infrequently.
 Sweeping sidewalks and driveways, instead of washing them down with the hose.
5.2 Water conservation: Garden use of water dos and don’ts
 Reducing evaporation losses from gardens by using organic mulch.
 Collecting water from roof gutters when it rains to use for garden watering, toilet flushing
and other uses.
 Watering during the early or late parts of the day to reduce water loss to evaporation.
 Regular inspection and fixing of leaks.
5.3 Solid waste management
 Clear positioning of marked bins for segregation of recyclable, compostable, nonbiodegradable wastes.
 Composting of yard wastes, grass clippings, vegetable peelings, organic wastes through
vermiculture or composting.
 Leaving grass clippings in gardens to serve as mulch and fertilizer.
 Minimize the use of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers.
5.4 Planting trees and gardening
 Planting appropriate tree species for desired services and conditions.
 Planting deep-rooted trees on open grounds to hold the soil.
 Maintain backyard vegetable gardens (or use of boxes, pots).
Transportation and Vehicle Maintenance
6.1 Energy saving habits: car use
 Keeping the tires adequately inflated to maximize gas mileage.
 Turning off the car engine instead of idling.
 Careful driving within the speed limit to avoid rapid acceleration as this can burn as much
as 50% more fuel.
Ecology Task Force Jesuit Conference Asia Pacific. This checklist is managed by Dominique Tyl SJ (domtyl@riccimac.org)
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ECOLOGICAL HOUSE MANAGEMENT CHECKLIST
Level 1

Minimizing vehicle loads as transporting excessive weight will increase the vehicle's fuel
consumption.
 Having the vehicle serviced regularly to keep the emission control systems operating at
peak efficiency.
 Keeping the engine properly maintained, air filter clean and the tires properly inflated as
these can give a 17% increase in fuel efficiency.
 Using a fuel-efficient car.
 Combining all errands to minimize the number of car trips.
6.2 Use of public transport
 Riding a bike or walking when going short distances.
 Using the mass transport system as much as possible.
7. General Considerations
7.1 Green purchasing
 Prioritizing the purchase of reusable or green-certified materials for house supplies, such as
recycled paper products, eco-friendly cleaning products, etc.
7.2 Natural lighting and ventilation
 Use of window tints, blinds, trees or trellises that help keep out heat from the sun.
 Use of appropriate curtain materials to let natural light and air in.
 Planting of trees and bushes along the west side of a building.
 Maintaining good air quality through: a) proper ventilation, b) use of ecological cleaners,
aerosols, paints, c) maintaining vents and filters, and d) watching for car and small engine
exhaust (garage).
7.3 Drainage management
 Increasing infiltration of runoff through.
 Applying thick mulch and planning a series of basins and swales that can absorb more
runoff.
 Installing biopori.
 Use of brick or crazy paving to allow ground absorption of water rather than concreting
entire grounds.
7.4 Disposal of toxic/hazardous materials
 Proper disposal of the following hazardous materials, such as paint, varnish, gasoline, brake
fluid, kerosene, bathroom cleaners, insect killers, moth crystals, compact fluorescent light
bulbs, batteries, etc.
7.5 House maintenance: termite and pest control
 Use of low toxic materials for termite treatments and pest control.
7.6 Overall house design
 Choosing light colors for roof and wall paints if located in warm climate and dark colors if
located in a cold climate.
 Maximizing natural light by painting internal & external walls in light colors to maximize the
light being reflected into the home.
 Exploring green design features for houses, like a rainwater catchment or grey water
recycling system.
 Installing safe wiring.
Total
1-102: needs much awareness; 103-204: greater commitment possible;
205-306: getting there; 307 and above: committed to contribute to care for our environment.
About the respondent
Name:
Community/Institution:
Ecology Task Force Jesuit Conference Asia Pacific. This checklist is managed by Dominique Tyl SJ (domtyl@riccimac.org)
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ECOLOGICAL HOUSE MANAGEMENT CHECKLIST
Level 1
Address:
Your suggestions, comments, and feedback are most welcome:
Ecology Task Force Jesuit Conference Asia Pacific. This checklist is managed by Dominique Tyl SJ (domtyl@riccimac.org)
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