Top Green New Years Resolutions

Among the top resolutions every year are to lose weight, quit smoking and live a healthier lifestyle. Well, you can do all of that AND live a greener life at the same time. Here’s how.

1) Lose weight. Go local and fresh. Eliminate packaged, processedfoods from your diet and replace them with fresh local veggies, fruit and staples… and take the green lifestyle road. Walk to the nearest grocery store instead of drive, and watch the pounds fall off.

2) Quit smoking. Save the planet… and yourself. Cigarette smoke contains carbon dioxide and methane – releasing about 2.6 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide in the air every year, and 5.2 billion kilograms of methane every year.

3) Live healthier. You don’t need an expensive gym club membership or another gimmicky exercise machine gathering dust under your bed. Just get out and walk. Walkers have less incidence of cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other killer diseases. They live longer and get mental health and spiritual benefits.

And, they don’t produce as much greenhouse gas because they aren’t driving everywhere. And while you’re at it, here are some ideas to help further reduce your carbon footprint.

4) Reduce your energy consumption. Unplug electronic equipment when you’re not using it. Turn off the lights. Use programmable

thermostats. Invest in energy monitors so that you’ll know how much you are consuming. Just being aware will make you more mindful to trim the excesses. Lower the heat and wear an extra sweater – you can cut your consumption and bills by 10%.

5) Cut the clutter. Tape a note inside your mailbox asking for no unaddressed mail or flyers. Less junk mail. Less paper. Less landfill.

6) Digitize your home. Go paperless and file documents electronically.

7) Host a ‘Green’ New Years Party. Rent party-ware instead of using disposable paper plates, napkins and plastic cups. Sample somemorganic wines. Buy locally made snacks. That’s just good, green fun.