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| Green Resolutions for the New Year 2019 | | | Dr. Pragya Khanna | 12/31/2018 8:29:56 PM |
| First of all wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year 2019. A New Year's Resolution is a pledge that an individual takes for improving or developing or reforming a habit, often a lifestyle change to help improve the life. The name comes from the fact that these promises or commitments usually come into effect on New Year's Day and continue until fulfilled or discarded. A resolution can improve our way of life or career or personal life or whatever we wish to do in the days to come. Most of you must have decided the RESOLUTIONS for this New Year.
In this era when a healthy life style has become a buzzword and while all of us are keen on achieving the same, let's not forget the planet's health.
The condition of our planet's health necessitates urgent attention and action. Global warming and greenhouse gas emissions may be main issues for the governments to act, but some trivial changes in lifestyle or effortless alterations in daily routines if followed throughout the year can really make a difference. That's all it takes for each one of us to do our bit for environment management for our own health and for the health of our future generations.
As part of Earth's life we have the responsibility to act against the dangers being faced by earth and share it with others. It is also our responsibility to help the Government, educational institutions and other organizations to prepare and execute remedial measures. These would contribute at least one easy step which can set us on the road to sustainable living.
One simple way to make an active New Year resolution includes recycling more. There are more and more items that can be recycled these days. Find the recycling centers in your community to determine what items they will take.
Making a resolution to compost your food scraps and kitchen wastes saves garbage space, eliminates certain pollution, and creates a rich product used in gardens and potted plants. Select a small container to put your compost materials in for transfer to a larger bin outside where the "wastes" are allowed to break down. All types of fruits, vegetables and their peelings can be composted. Never compost meat and dairy products. Also, don't ignore the chance to compost your yard wastes too! There are many good compost resources to help you get started.
Joining an environmental organization is a great resolution to take action and become better informed of environmental issues affecting our lives. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people will provide you support to continue and it is fun! Many local nature centers have Friends Groups or lead service projects that are cause-worthy. In addition there are numerous national environmental organizations that accept members. Look at each agency's goals to determine the right one for you.
Transportation has a big effect on the environment. Your New Year's resolution can do a lot to reduce the impact that transportation has. Make sure your current vehicle's engine is tuned-up and has tires inflated properly. This improves mileage and keeps your vehicle working longer. Consolidate your trips and carpool to save fuel, wear and tear, and carbon emissions. Take advantage of using the bus system where available. If possible, consider trading a larger vehicle for a more fuel efficient one. You will like the cost saving in fuel!
Eco-efforts around the home are resolutions that conserve energy, reduce emissions and save money. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with high-efficient CFL bulbs will use less electricity and lower your bill. Plus, CFL bulbs last seven times longer than incandescent bulbs! Another option is LED lights which are even more efficient than CFL bulbs! Household cleaners can be toxic and harmful to the environment. Consider eco-friendly cleansers or homemade cleaners with home available ingredients. Using less fertilizer and herbicide in your yard will stop unwanted chemicals from entering storm sewers and ultimately nearby lakes and rivers.
We can and will make lots of resolutions for the New Year. Make it a priority to make an eco-resolution. There are many more choices in addition to those listed. Start small and slowly try a few more. In the end it is good for you and the environment and may save you money in the process. If every one of us makes small everyday changes, think what a big difference it would make! Together we can make 2019 a golden year for the environment and in turn for our own self.
1. Give up Plastic and Paper Bags: We often tend to bring home our groceries either in a paper or a plastic bag. Very few of us know that neither is a good choice. Twelve million barrels of oil were used to make the 88.5 billion plastic bags consumed in the United States in 2011. And it takes four times more energy to make paper bags. The best choice is the shopping bags made of cotton, nylon or durable, mesh-like plastic that can be used again and again. Put a few reusable shopping bags in your car so you have them handy on your next shopping trip.
2. Lower the Temp in Your Fridge: As one of the biggest appliances in your kitchen, the refrigerator is also one of the most power hungry, accounting for 10 to 15 percent of the average home energy bill each month. First, set the refrigerator thermostat to maintain a temperature between 38 and 42 degrees (F). This temperature will protect your food from spoiling while saving electricity. Twice a year, clean the condenser coil at the back of your fridge. Condenser coils tend to get dusty, making them less efficient.
3. Take your bicycle out of the shed: People who resume cycling to work and/or to the supermarket or walk often say that it is so beautiful to rediscover their neighbourhood that way. In fact, unless you live in a very mountainous area, walking or cycling could be the most relaxing resolution you take!
4. Use public transport more: If public transport connections are poor in your area, then it is time to awaken up the local crusader in you and ask for it. Make 2019 the year when your community stood up for sustainability.
5. Make your home efficient: By now, I assume most of you have switched to CFL light bulbs, so it is time to take home efficiency to the next level. Check all electrical gadgets and appliances in your house for their energy consumption values and use them judiciously.
6. Make a toxics-free household: Indoor air pollution, in homes as well as commercial buildings, is being recognized as a serious health problem. Researchers have discovered the air pollution inside your home can be much worse than the air pollution outside your home. Most people spend 90 percent of their time indoors, whether it is at home, at work, or while travelling in a car. The reasons include the construction of more tightly sealed buildings, reduced ventilation, the use of synthetic materials for building and furnishing and the use of chemical products, pesticides, and household care products.
This might take a while to study and examine, so you can plan to do it over the whole year. From beauty products to clothes detergent and computer parts, we have become used to toxic products in our daily lives. It is time to stop it. When buying new products, check what they are made of, and pick the one that will have the least toxic residues.
7. Our consumption of electronics is reaching records: Make a break, and promise not to buy new electronics this year, unless the one you already have breaks down (and when it does, ensure it is recycled properly!).
8. Spend more time outdoors: Learn to enjoy the nature again. Make a habit of taking a weekly walk outside. We have become so used to live in our houses and in our cars that many people have no idea what nature looks like anymore.
9. Green Exercise: With all the extra weight put on from feasting over the holidays the start of the New Year is a great opportunity to get in shape. And you can do it in an earth-friendly way! You don't need an exercise machine that uses electricity to help you burn calories. You can always get your green exercise by walking, running or riding a cycle around a park or neighbourhood. You can even take along biodegradable bags and pick up trash and recyclable aluminium cans along the way to help clean up your surroundings.
10. Drive Less: If you live near your workplace check to see if you can walk to your destination. If you have to drive you should carpool or join a ride share program.
11. Green Your Work Area: You spend about 40 hours a week at your place of employment, so how about making it a bit more eco-friendly? Not only will you be more productive at work, but you'll also be helping out the environment.
12. Stay in Touch with Family and Friends: Make it a point to get back in contact with the family and friends that you haven't had a chance to talk to in the past year. You can reduce paper waste by sending them an email, SMS or a free e-card, or you can purchase recycled greeting cards and notebook paper.
13. Green Your Computer: Even if you turned your laptop off at work last year it still consumed energy if it was plugged into the wall! So this year cut back on your computer's energy consumption by unplugging the cord when it's not in use.
14. Start a Garden: Even if you live in a small apartment with limited space you can still grow your own herbs and vegetables. Nothing is better and healthier than eating your own organically grown food.
15. Convince (at least) 3 friends to develop green eco habits: Why three? Because almost everyone knows three people they can influence. If those three convince three more people next year and so on, we will grow a movement capable of protecting our planet and the resolutions above will become easy and daily routine for everyone.
Happy New Year once again! |
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