The new year is just around the corner, and though it feels like I just got through celebrating 2008, I know I must look ahead and plan for 2009. New Years’ Resolutions are already popping into my head and my mind is buzzing with how I’ll implement them. Above all, I just know that I am going green this new year.
What is going green you may ask? Well, it’s being as environmentally conscious as possible, it’s treading lightly on Mother Earth, it’s being conscious of how we must conserve our natural resources as we go through our daily lives. To me, that’s the definition of going green and there are an infinite number of tips for going green in 2009.
Going green at home
1. Save and re-use as many plastic bags as possible; I’m talking mainly about those little sandwich bags. You can wash them out and use them over and over. You can also re-use plastic veggie bags from your grocery store.
2. Recycle everything. Bottles, jars, cans, newspapers, books, clothes-the list is endless. Use your imagination; our grandparents grew up with the “waste not, want not” mantra and it makes a lot of sense.
3. Unplug appliances when you’re not using them. I learned that appliances use 40% of their electricity even after they’re unplugged.
In the great outdoors
4. Construct your own rain barrel and use the rain water that runs off your roof to water your yard and plants.
5. When fall comes around and your yard is covered with leaves, don’t rake and bag them, leave them on the ground to protect your lawn, or compost them.
6. Adjust your lawn mower so that it doesn’t cut your grass too low to the ground, this keeps your grass from having to be watered so often.
Compost everything
7. Don’t waste kitchen scraps when a compost pile is so easy to start. Into it you’ll put all kitchen waste and when you go to empty it after a few weeks, it’s already started to decompose and will eventually make great houseplant or garden food.
8. Buy just one solar panel and hang it in a window-you’ll be surprised how much energy it will generate; you may not have to plug any of your appliances into their electrical outlets-you could go totally solar in one room of your house.
Going green at the office
9. Reuse copy paper and recycle toner cartridges and cell phones.
10. With even cars going green, you should consider buying a hybrid; just think of all the gas you’ll save.
There are thousands of ways to go green, and lots of examples of how going green saves you money; just use your imagination and I’m sure you can come up with things to do that will secure you a place in the green revolution.
