A Green New Year

Have you made your New Year’s Resolutions yet? Consider the environment and your consumption habits when outlining your goals for the New Year. Here are some useful tips for you to help make 2013 a greener year!

1. Metro, bike, or walk to work
2. Recycle paper at the office and at home
3. Buy recycled products whenever possible
4. Borrow book s from the library or consider purchasing an e-reader
5. Shut off lights anytime you leave the room
6. Switch all of your light bulbs to CFLs
7. Avoid energy vampires by using power strips and timers
8. Invest in ENERGY-STAR qualified products for your home
9. Improve your yard’s sustainability with a rain garden or rain barrel
10. Only use reusable shopping bags
11. Avoid bottled water at all costs and invest in a reusable water bottle instead
12. Bring your lunch to work or school in reusable containers
13. Buy organic, local food from a farmer’s market or CSA program
14. Buy fair trade certified products whenever possible
15. Compost food scraps and biodegradable waste
16. Participate in Meatless Mondays
17. Clean with environmentally-friendly cleaning products
18.  Line dry clothing instead of wasting energy with a dryer
19. Wash clothing on the cold water setting
20. Come to Arlington’s Special Event…the Energy Journey Game!

By: Ali Minarcik