This is one New year's list worth considering. It's fun, it's easy and it feels good. Simple changes in daily routines followed throughout the year can make a difference. Below are 55 suggestions that are easy to do and can set you on the road to sustainable living. Some may even save money as well as helping the environment.
1. Give up juice boxes and individually wrapped snacks.
2. Use stainless steel drink containers.
3. Lower the thermostat by one degree.
4. Use reusable cloth sandwich and snack bags.
5. Choose fragrance-free products.
6. Clean the lint filter in your dryer after every load so that it uses less energy.
7. Reuse your clean bath towels to reduce laundry.
8. Recycle every can, bottle and piece of paper.
9. Unplug seldom used appliances.
10. Wash clothes with cold water instead of hot.
11. Turn off lights, computers and other appliances when not in use.
12. Learn about alternatives to household cleaning items that do not use hazardous chemicals, such as lemon, baking soda and vinegar.
13. Cut clutter.
14. Baby wipes can contain parabens, propylene glycol and up to 600 different chemicals. Use organic cotton or bamboo wipes, or washcloths.
15. Simplify your skin care regime.
16. Return your organic waste to the earth - compost.
17. Replace old windows with energy efficient ones.
18. Buy organic produce.
19. Use an electric lawn- mower instead of a gas-powered one.
20. Hang clothes on the line to dry.
21. Leave grass clippings on the yard-they decompose and return nutrients to the soil.
22. Buy organic clothing.
23. Create a wildlife habitat in your yard.
24. Water grass early in the morning.
25. Get involved in a "green" initiative in your community.
26. Refuse toxic synthetic chemicals in your bath and beauty products.
27. Run your dishwasher full.
28. Support green businesses.
29. Think about what you pour down the sink.
30. Go vegetarian at least twice a week.
31. Buy only what you need.
32. Harvest rainwater.
33. Find the time to volunteer.
34. Use a ceramic or stainless steel coffee mug instead of a disposable cup.
35. Switch to e-billing to reduce your mail.
36. Recycle printer cartridges.
37. Borrow from the library instead of buying books and videos.
38. Buy local.
39. Buy in bulk to reduce packaging.
40. Always buy recycled toilet paper.
41. Recycle old cell phones.
42. Walk or ride your bike instead of driving, whenever possible.
43. Pack your lunch for work.
44. Don't wash dishes with the water running continuously.
45. Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes.
46. Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water.
47. Don't throw out items that could be given away or donated.
48. Reuse items like bags and containers when possible.
49. Refuse plastic bottled water.
50. Use reusable containers to store food instead of aluminum foil and cling wrap.
51. Shop with a canvas bag instead of using paper and plastic bags.
52. Grow your own food.
53. Reuse shipping materials.
54. Smile often.
55. Share what you have learned and pass it on to others!
Thanks to our friend Kristina at GreenCollection.ca for allowing us to borrow from her list.
All the best for 2010!
