5 Eco-Friendly Tips for 2008

Many New Year's resolutions (you know... exercise more, lose weight, save money, eat healthier...) tend to go by the wayside after only a few short weeks. I've been reading lately about how the best way to stick to resolutions is to set goals that are realistic and attainable. In the same way, it is important now more then ever that we set green goals for ourselves that we can stick to. It's not only our health and well-being that's at stake, but that of the planet.
1. Avoid waste at the supermarket by taking your own bags with you when you shop anywhere. Some stores, like Trader Joe's, offer incentives, like a raffle for shopping coupons, if you use your own bags. If you do forget, at least find multiple uses for the bags you do bring home from the supermarket, like storage for items at home, use in your car, etc.
2. Print less paper: try to only print when you really need to, and use recycled paper whenever possible, being sure to reuse your own scrap paper if the quality doesn't need to be perfect. You'll save trees in the process, as well as money buying supplies like toner and cartridges!
3. Walk as much as possible: Bike, run, or walk to do your errands or to get to work, as much as possible, or use mass transit when you can. You'll save on gas, obviously, as well as carbon emissions and pollution, not to mention the cost of filling your tank all the time.
4. Be organic at home. Much has been written about the hazards of chlorine and other harsh chemicals, and there is really no need to use them when items like white vinegar, lemon, and baking soda work just as well. I have been using baking soda all year to freshen the sink and kitchen counters. I also use a combination of baking soda and lemon to freshen my wooden cutting board, and I don't have to worry about chemicals interacting with my food. Also, what kind of shower curtain do you have? If it's the plastic PVC kind, you'll want to switch to linen, organic cotton, or hemp. If you've ever noticed the smell of a new shower curtain, that's the PVC gases being released, and recent studies have shown that these can cause brain damage as well as damage to hormone function. Oh, and be sure to replace your incandescent bulbs (which are going to be phased out in a few years anyway) with CFLs, which are much more energy efficient and cost-effective.
5. Go unplugged...unplug appliances when you are not using them, including lamps, cell phone chargers, toasters, etc. Many people don't know that items such as these burn energy even when not in use, merely by being plugged in. Make sure to connect appliances to a power strip, so you can easily turn them all on or off at once. Help lower your carbon footprint.

Do you have more tips? Let us know and we'll post a running list....And Happy "eco" New Year!