By Sara Goddard
November 5, 2021
Source: Green That Life
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Make 2022 a Green New Year: 30 Easy and Effective New Year’s Resolution Ideas
It’s that time of year for taking stock of the past year while also planning ahead for the new one. As you think about your new year’s resolutions for 2022, why not make some – or all – green, for a Green New Year! A Green New Year at Home Don’t forget to take your reusable bags for your shopping trip!Get a Home Energy Audit Start your green new year with a home energy audit. It’s an excellent way to understand the full scope of your home’s energy footprint so you can determine ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home and prioritize energy-saving home improvements. To get you started, the Department of Energy provides comprehensive guides on resources for professional and do-it-yourself home energy audits.
DIY Energy Savings Projects Did you know that the average family spends almost $2,000 each year on their home energy bills? Keep that money in your wallet by undertaking some simple home energy savings projects. The Department of Energy offers easy, step-by-step instructions to tons of home energy efficiency improvements that will save you both energy and money.
Go Meatless (Mondays, and More)! Here’s a simple resolution with a positive environmental impact: eat less meat! One of the chief contributors to climate change is meat production. Resource-intensive animal-based foods carry a higher carbon footprint than plant-based foods and account for approximately one-quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Start with Meatless Mondays, but try to make this year the one where you significantly reduce your meat consumption. Try substituting meat with nutritious, local, organically grown plants including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes.
Minimize the Food Waste: Eat Your Leftovers! Food waste isn’t just wasteful. It’s also an enormous contributor to climate change. Instead of throwing away uneaten food, store, freeze, or re-purpose food for future meals.
Try Air-Drying Clothes Clothes dryers are one of the most energy-intensive appliances in your home. This year, save some money and air-dry your clothes, either inside or out. You’ll also reduce your household carbon footprint!
Ditch the Disposables Make it a green new year at home by pledging to ditch your use of single-use disposable items: plastic straws, styrofoam and plastic containers, coffee cups, coffee pods, plastic water bottles, disposable snack bags, and/or plastic checkout bags … the list is, sadly, endless!
Start with a couple to eliminate and then add a few more to your waste-reduction resolution. You have the power to make a world of difference for this planet!
Ditch the Toxic Chemical Cleaners Keep your cleaning green by eliminating, or at least minimizing the use of cleaning products with toxic ingredients that are harmful to you, your loved ones, and the planet.
Reuse, Repair, Repurpose Instead of Buying New One of the most impactful ways to make 2021 a green new year is to reuse, repair, and repurpose what you already own before making new purchases. It’s also a terrific way to keep expenses to a minimum.
Before you toss unwanted items in the garbage, donate or sell them. Check out Green That Life’s guide for tips on how and where to donate and sell used items.
Recycle, but Recycle Right Although recycling has its problems, when done right, it can be an effective tool for repurposing unwanted plastic, metal, and other materials. Before you recycle any item make sure you’re recycling properly in order to avoid wish-cycling and contamination of recyclables.
A Green New Year on the Go
Bike more, drive less! Leave the Car at Home
When possible, leave the car at home and walk or bike to your destination. You’ll get some exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and reduce your carbon footprint in the process. You’ll also save money on gas bills.
When it’s safe and healthy to do so, take public transportation. You’ll save the aggravation of traffic jams and fuel expense. The planet will thank you for reduced car emissions!
Make Longer Trips Sustainable
I bet when life returns to normal and it’s safe to move freely, most of us will be itching to travel. I know I will! Instead of automatically hopping on a plane — which places a heavy carbon footprint on your trip — consider traveling by train or car-pooling. Another option is to vacation closer to home with a staycation.
If air travel is a must, make the trip more climate-friendly by purchasing a carbon offset to lessen the greenhouse gas impact of your flight.
If You’re Driving, Make it an Electric Vehicle
Make it a green new year with an electric vehicle purchase.In the market for a new car? Make it an electric one! Many states, including New York, offer a number of rebates for EV purchases and incentives for EV owners. For more information on environmentally-friendly vehicles, see the EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide.
Don’t Idle! Turn Off Your Car Engine
Here’s an easy resolution for a green new year: don’t idle and pollute the air! Turn off your car when parked.
Bring Your Own Bag and Other Reusables Keep your reusable bags by the door or in your car so you don’t forget to bring them with you on your next shopping trip.
Bring Your Own Lunch Whether it’s for school or work, try bringing lunch from home, even if it’s just a few times a week. You can make lunch eco-friendly by bringing reusable lunch supplies and make planet-friendly food choices. You’ll also save money!
Which ways do you like to be creative / DIY? How can you creatively impact climate change? Which patterns will you use to save money? What other ways can you save during a recession?
Share your answers with the community by posting them below. Share the wealth of information with your friends or family by sharing this article with 3 people today. As always you are the best part of what we do. Keep sharing.
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