Lean principles are about reducing waste, in all forms. In a household, as in a plant, reducing waste means saving money.
So what types of waste can we look to reduce?
Utilities- utilities are some of the easiest areas to see the impact of waste reduction. Reducing your usage has a direct correlation to your bill.
electricity/gas
- think about devices that are left on when not in use. Lights, computers, etc. Turn them off when you leave the room.
- set your heat/cool temperatures and time appropriately. The house can be cooler at night and when no one is home.
- efficient appliances are an investment, but should help save money in the long run. Same goes for good double paned windows.
Water
- do not leave the water running while brushing your teeth or prepping for the shower.
- there are a lot of good low usage toilets out on the market now
Trash - as I hear of companies driving to zero waste, I have become more conscious of my own household waste. A majority of the waste in our house is packaging. Plastic bags and baggies as well as individual portioned containers. I have been trying to buy in bulk and split snacks and yogurt into reusable containers.
Recycling - obviously a better option than trash, but it is still waste and requires sorting and processing.
Extra stuff - only buy what you really need and use. Extra stuff is not only a waste of time, but clutters up your living space. Think about simplifying your living spaces (like 5S).
Time - this is the area that is sometimes hard to identify what the waste is and how to reduce it.
First step is identifying your priorities for your time (family, work, personal growth).
Then identify what to say "no" to.
When you realize you have been sucked into a time wasting activity (Facebook, net surfing, etc), try to replace it with something more important (to do list or interacting with real people/family).
Here's to new earth friendly habits!
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