Top New Year’s Green Resolutions
Now that we’re into the first full week of 2009, many people have already flaked on their “usual” New Year’s resolutions – you know, losing weight, eating healthier, quit smoking/drinking [vice of choice goes here]. How about making some resolutions that will not only help you, but help the environment, habitats and others around the world? Green, or environmental, resolutions can do just that. And, the best part is that they’re easy to stick with. Here are the top green resolutions I’ve found across the blogosphere. Mine include unplugging unused appliances, shutting off lights in rooms I’m not in and to drink less bottled water. Hopefully you’ll get a great idea from the following examples. If you’ve got a green resolution not on the list, please share!
Shop locally or at farmer’s markets. Shopping locally helps sustain local businesses, and it cuts down on car emissions because semis didn’t have to truck across the country to deliver fresh fruit and veggies (which are never as fresh as farmer’s markets).
Never buy another bottle of water. With the BPA scare pertaining to certain water bottles and baby’s bottles, everyone seems to be jumping on the aluminum water bottle bandwagon. And that’s a good thing. Sigg, Klean Kanteen and Nalgene. Buy a Brita filter to put on your kitchen tap, and you’ll probably even save hundreds by not buying bottles.
Start recycling. Grocery stores like Meijer now have recycling bins for plastic bags, and many communities have paper recycle bins at the closest school. Every little bit helps!
Buy recycled products. Recycled paper is the big one here. Many marketing and advertising departments are seeking out recycled brochures, pamphlets, even product packaging. It’s easy to buy business cards and the like that are now printed on recycled paper and use vegetable-based ink.
Shop online. Many people are more concerned about saving gas money rather than saving the environment, but still, people not driving around aimlessly to 5 or 6 stores is still gas emissions saved. It’s even better if you can buy from a local online shop so there isn’t as much shipping distance. PrintPlace, for instance, has 3 printing facilities across the U.S. so the chances of getting your order quicker and without a trucker’s long drive (meaning less pollution) are high.
Buy reusable shopping bags. I see more and more canvas shopping bags each time I go to the store.
Start a compost pile. Composting is a natural process of organic matter breaking down into a black, soil-like material that is excellent to feed plants with. Compost piles also keep organic material from gathering in landfills. Find out how to make a compost pile at Mother Earth News.
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