2018 is just around the corner. Popular resolutions for the New Year always seem to include things like improving health, traveling more, spending less money, and so on. But one resolution that isn’t as popular but could collectively have a major impact is committing to living a cleaner and greener life.
Here are ten changes we all could make in order make this resolution a reality:
First, replace all conventional light bulbs with LED light bulbs in your home. You will curb your energy consumption and save money in the process.
Second, go paperless. Call your bill providers and opt-in for paperless billing.
Third, make sure there are no leaking faucets or running toilets in your home. Thousands of gallons of water are wasted annually per household as a result of deferred maintenance.
Fourth, shop using reusable shopping bags. Disposable plastic shopping bags account for a truly shameful amount of plastic pollution globally.
Fifth, put a thrift store on your radar. You can often find great clothes to recycle at a fraction of the cost.
Sixth, buy local. Buying locally supports the local economy and dramatically cuts down on the carbon emissions associated with shipping.
Seventh, power your phone down or switch it into airplane mode while charging. This saves time (as the phone charges more quickly) and also saves electricity.
Eighth, eat less meat. Animal agriculture releases a tremendous amount of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.
Ninth, keep your hands off the thermostat. Set it and forget it. Fluctuating the thermostat wastes lots of energy.
And tenth, eco-gift wrap everything. Old newspapers and magazines make great wrapping paper.
Together, let’s be resolute in making 2018 cleaner and greener.
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Web Links
Hack Your Carbon Footprint: Top 10 Eco-Friendly Life Hacks
Photo, posted August 9, 2008, courtesy of Maarten van Damme via Flickr.
‘New Year’s Resolutions’ from Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
Dec. 29 suggestions for new year’s resolutions included “set and forget” the thermostat, because supposedly it wastes money to change the temperature. We set the thermostat to a much colder temperature at night and have it go up during the day. Surely you aren’t claiming that this wastes energy! While it’s true that the furnace is on a lot as the morning temperature is being raised, the energy used is much less than what would be lost to the cold environment in keeping the temperature high during cold nights. Many listeners will be confused, and perhaps led in the wrong direction, by this particular recommendation.