Easy Green New Year Resolutions

‘New Year Resolution - Think Green’ – often repeated mantra.

But hey! no harm in repeating something that will benefit all of us. And these very doable green resolutions that we will find easy to stick to and we will not slip into our old convenient eco-unfriendly ways. Remember, big things often have small beginnings and so let’s go waste-free at the individual level and do our bit to support the UN resolution to stop plastic from entering the ocean. So for the eco-slackers, here are some easy Green New Year resolutions.  These simple resolutions will help you save money, cut your carbon footprints and decrease your home waste.

1.  Use Reusables for these everyday activities

• Stop buying bottled water Use a simple filtering pitcher at home and when on the go use reusable bottle made of glass, aluminium or recycled plastic. You’ll not only save the earth but money for bottled water on your shopping list
• Take it along an insulated travel mug of your home-made coffee instead of buying coffee from cardboard ups and carrying sleeves.
• Use reusables such as shopping bags (so as not to forget, keep them handy in your bag or car boot), drinking cups and razors.
   Remember: if you do need to use disposables, go for the 100% biodegradable ones such as Element products.
• Cut back on paper towels and wipes. Use cotton cloth and fabric napkins at home and drop them in the wash and reuse.

2. Reduce Energy Usage

• Eliminate Phantom Power
  Unplug the charger for your cell phone, mp3 player, e-reader, or iPad — but if you really can't be bothered, then use power strips to turn off all your appliances at once; invest in chargers that stop drawing current  when the device's battery is full.
  Put your television, DVD player, game system, and stereo on a timer so they automatically shut off overnight.
  Unplug all appliances when not in use
• Replace your light bulbs
  Replacing your light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights which last longer than traditional bulbs, cut your energy use by as much as 80 percent.
• Utilize the natural light coming into your home during the daytime. If you can’t keep the lights off completely, utilize dimmer switches to avoid wasting energy.  .

3. Buy local and organic produce to support your local farmers and communities and cut down on your carbon footprint. Use your local CSA program do the hard part for you by putting together a box of their best produce each week — and, if you're really feeling lazy, have it delivered right to your door so you get fresh, local fruits and vegetables without giving up your lazy coffee-and-crossword weekend mornings.
4. Use a bike for short trips to the nearby convenience store for your bread or milk, after dinner snack at your favourite spot, etc. Ride your bike for trips shorter than 2 miles and you could cut your carbon footprint significantly, save money on gasoline and car maintenance, and increase your fitness level — all at the same time.
5. Become a weekend vegetarian
   Cutting meat out of your diet just two days a week can decrease your carbon footprint by about 1/3 of a ton. And since doubling a recipe rarely adds any time to your prep work, you can make extras to eat throughout the week (and trim your carbon footprint even more).