We all need to buy things from time to time. Whether it's clothes, electronics, furniture, linens, books, or toys for our pleading children, the greenest and most climate-friendly option when you're in the market is to buy used.

Assuming you're a typical consumer of goods, about 3 tons of global warming pollutants are emitted by your household due to goods you buy. This is largely because it takes energy to make and move most things, and in most places today energy means greenhouse gas emissions. If you can buy some of those things used, you could be reducing your entire household climate footprint by 5 to 10%. If every household in America bought a few more things used, that could add up to as much as 300 million tons of CO2 per year avoided, or about the same as avoiding gasoline use and fuel production emissions for 45 million cars. Plus, used items are usually cheaper than new, so you save yourself money too.

So, what does it mean to buy used? We're not just talking about wandering the neighborhood for garage sale bargains. Buying used includes:

  • Using online tools like Craig's List, freecycle, Ebay (though many items on Ebay are NOT used).
  • Buying from antique stores.
  • Buying specialty items like bikes, golf clubs, or sewing machines from other members of community groups that are involved in those activities. Many local clubs and groups have email lists and bulletin boards for buying and selling goods.
  • Buying at flea markets, swap meets, second-hand stores, consignment stores, and charity-based thrift stores.
  • Buying through your church or school events.
  • Buying at scrap yards (great for hard-to-find auto parts).

Try buying a few items and see how it works for you. If it does, it will likely change you as a consumer. It can temper the narcotic of instant gratification and converts say it often makes shopping more about discovery. It may actually raise your standards as many products made 20 years ago are sturdier than what you can get today. If the thrift shop bug bites you, you may quickly realize how many things can wait and that some items you don't need at all.

How far can you go? At the Alliance for Climate Protection office, nearly all the furniture is second hand.

Want to explore used shopping? Here are some tips for beginners.

    1. Don't think of the product you need; think of the problem you're trying to solve. Instead of looking for a clothes hamper, think about a space for storing dirty clothes. The solutions you find might surprise you, and may also give your home and wardrobe some unique style touches.

    2. Explore the yellow pages. Need something particular, like office equipment or sporting goods? Many resale stores specialize in different items, but they're often not on the main drag through town. These proprietors often know the strengths and weaknesses of entire classes of products, so they are great resources.

    3. Explore your networks. The web has created new resale markets through places like freecycle and Craig's list, but you can create powerful informal networks as well. Whether you've got a couch or need one, let your community know... have a clothes swap party. If having your own recording studio in the spare bedroom didn't work out, reach out to your local garage bands to see if they could use your stuff. For quality goods that you just want to get rid of quickly without going through a sale, put them on your curb with a visible FREE sign a few days before trash day. Many neighborhoods have developed informal free-cycling networks like this.

    4. Don't fool yourself; buying used is still consumerism. A common thrift-store mistake is to buy too much just because it's cheap. The low prices also confuse children. Before entering a resale situation with your kids, repeat this mantra: "We don't buy something just to buy something."

    5. Give and you shall receive. Clear your closets regularly. Or, if you find a better widget than the one you had, sell or donate the old one while it's still useable.

    6. For things that plug in: buying used can backfire in terms of climate impact if you buy inefficient versions of products like refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, TVs, computers, microwaves, etc. Consider whether you can tell anything about the efficiency of the item when you're looking at it. If it has the original packaging, look for an ENERGY STAR label. If you can't tell, it might be better to pass on the opportunity and buy new. You'll save a lot of money on energy bills in the long run. Plus, you might miss out on a utility rebate for a new efficient product.

    7. Quality still counts. An item surviving donation and making it back into circulation is a sign of durability, but don't be a sucker. Shoddy people will donate trash to thrift stores and lazy clerks will stock it.